The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-05-18
NO MORE NEWS FOR SPANIARDs.
All Cable Companies Instructed MOI
to Send Forbidden Messages.

WASHINGTON, May 17.-Brigadier Gen
eral Greedy chief of the signal service and
in charge of all strategic control of tele-
graph and cable lires, has adopted ener-
getic measures to prevent the admiral of
the Spanish squadron now in Caribbean
waters from keeping posted on the where
abouts and movements of the United States
squadrons and of our prospective naval
and military operations. Last night he tele-
graphed to the New York manager of the
Haitian Gable Company forbdding the
sending or receipt of any messages except
official messages to or from the United
States government disclosing the move
ments of our fleets and ships. The man.
ager answered this morning that the inhibi-
ton would be strictly observed. If Admiral
Sampson is in Haitian waters is con-
jectured, then this cable restriction makes
it impossible for his movements to become
known, except to the government, or if
known, it is impossible to send out the in
formation except through the government.
General Greedy also teegraphed the
Apglp-American Cable Company this morn
ing renewing it's attention to the prohibition
against any messages inimical to the inter-
estS of the government and in particular
forbidding the receipt or sending of mess
ages disclosing the movements of our ships
or prospective military movements. This
latter was taken in view of the notice of the
Anglo-American Telegraph Company that
pending further decision of the chief sig
nal office we will accept press messages
without restrictions" General Greelys
order appears to cover the further decision
referred to in the companys notice. The
orders to these two companies were sent as
the channels of communication under their
control seem to be, for the moment, the
one through which the Spanish admiral and
the Spanish authorities at Madrid and Ha-
vana are most likely to secure information
as to our vessel movements. While 1t was
not suspected that spies were sending di-
rect information, yet the transmission of
press dispatches on vessel movements was
locked on as likely to indicate to the Span
ish with sufficient certainty the general
whereabouts and purposes of our fleets. The
precautions taken, it is believed, will so
restrict this character of cable information
to The government and fleet commanders
that Spanish authorities from now on will
be cut off from all knowledge Of our naval
and military plans.
General Greely's Geographic orders sup
plenlent the written orders he had pre-
viously given to all cable companies, six
in number. having lines radiating from the
United States. The written orders have
been agreed to in writing by each of the
cable companies, and now constitute an
agreement with the government
The agreement between the government
and the cable companies is as follows: THE
following restrictions regarding the trans
mission of cable dispatches, whether in code
or plain text, have been agreed to by every
cable company for much of their lines
as are within the jurisdiction of the United
States:
I'm order to safeguard the public interests
until further instructions, these companies
refuse to receive or transmit the following:
"First-Any and all messages, either to or
from officials of Spain or any of her colo
MES, except such as are addressed to or
signed by the President of the United States
or any member Of his Cabinet in Washing
''second-An code or cipher messages to
any point in the West Indies, Brazil or Ven
ezuela, with the following exceptions: (a),
messages addressed to or signed by the
President or members of his Cabinet at
Washington; (b), messages exchanged be-
tween any ambassador or minister of Aus
tria-Hungary, France, Germany Great Brit
ain. Italy and Russia in Washington city,
and their duly recognized consular officials;
(c) messages exchanged by neutral Eu
ropean governments and their consular
agents, provided, that such messages are
officially signed and addressed
"Third-All messages in plain or open text
that on their face contain information
against the United States in the present war
with Spain.
I'm addition to these general restrictions,
the cable companies at Key West, Fla, and
the Haitian Gable Company in New York
city decline to receive or forward any mes
sages communicating information as to the
movements of United States naval vessels
or current military operations.
THE United States has officially expressed
its Discrimination to exercise further military
control or government supervision over the
business of any of these telegraph cables
than the necessities of the war will permit.
1t has expressly made known it's preference
that the companies shall have exclusive
control over their own cables. To this end
the United States has accepted the formal
agreements of the presidents or authorized
agents of these cable companies, given in
writing that they will neither receive nor
transmit messages forbidden by the fore
going restrictions. 1t is recognized that
these companies cannot exercise an exhaus-
tive censorship over all messages in plain
or open text but it is expected that they
will especially refrain from transmitting in
formation as to the movements of naval
vessels or current military operations.
THE United States has expressed its de-
sire to interfere to the least possible extent
with the receipt or transmission of CONNER
cial messages"