New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-05-18
RIGID CABLE CENSORSHIP.
INFORMATION WHICH WOULD AID THE
ENEMY NOT TO BE TRANSMITTED.

NEW AND STRICT POPULATIONS MADE BY GEN
ERAL GREELY.
Washington. May IL - Brigndier General
Greedy Chief of the Signal Service and In charge
Of all strategic control Of telegraph and cable
lines. has adopted energetic measures 10 pre-
vent the admiral Of the Spanish squadron now
IT, Caribbean waters from keeping posted on the
Whereabouts and movements Of United states
squadrOns and on prospective naval and mill
larry operations. Last night he teieeraphed 10
the New-York manager OF the Haytian Gable
Company. forbdding the sending or receipt OF
any except official messages To or from the
United States Government disclosing The move
ments Of fleets and ships The manager an
swered this morning that The inhibition woud
be strictly observed. II Admiral Sampson Is IN
Haytian waters is contectured this res'ric-
ton makes 1t impossible for his movements
to become known except TO the Government OF
If known 1t IS impossible to send out the In
formation except through the Government
General Greedy also telegraphed to the Anglo
American Cable Company this morning calling
attention TO the prohibition against any mes
sages inimical to the interests OF the Govern
ment, and in particular forbidding the receipt
or sending OF messages disclosing the move
ments Of ships prospective military move
ments. This step was taken In view or the
notice Of the Anglo American Telegraph COM
pany that pending further decision by the
Chief Signal officer, We will accept press mes
sages without restrictions" General Greelys
order appears TO cover the further decision re-
ferred to in the company's notice. The orders
to these companies were sent because the chan-
nels of communication under their control seem
to be for the present the ones through which
the Spanish admiral and the Spanish authorities
fk.-iy 10
information as to movements OF American YES
sells While II was not suspected that spies
were sending direct Information. yet the trans
mission of press dispatches regarded as
likely TO Indicate with sufficient certainty the
whereabouts aud purposes Of the fleets. The
precautions taken. 1t is believed. Will so restrict
cable Information that the Spanish authorities
will be cut off from all knowledge of American
naval and military plans.
General Greeys Geographic orders supple
ment the written orders he had previously given
to all cable companies. six in number. having
lines radiatng from the United States. The
written orders have been agreed to In writing
by each of the companies. and now constitute
an agreement with the Government.
THE AGREEMENT WITH THE COMPANIES
The agreement between the Government and
the cable companies is az follows:
The following restrictions regarding tho tlhn5-
mission OF cable dispatches. whether In code or
plain text have been agreed 10 by every cable com
P@ a4y for 80 Of g 1S 81 iE s as are "
In order to safeguard the public Interests unti
receive or transmit the following
First-Any and all MESSAGES either TO or from
such are addressed 10 or signed by the president
second~An code or cipher messages to any point
IN the West Indies Brazil or Venezuela, with the
following
IA, Messages addressed to or signed by the Pr.s-
dent or members OF his Cabinc, at Washins'on.
% MESSAGES EXCHANGED between any Anin .sador
or Minister Of ff9nce GGrtnsny;
city and their duly recognized consular officials
ernnents and their consular agents. provided mat
such messages officially signed and addressed
their face contain Information against the United
States II The present war w' sra N. cab.
Wo1p a1 N NewYorf t deciine 70 re-.
ceiye forward any messages communicating m
formation az TO the movements of nitei states
The United states has onicialy Expressed IT, dis
ncnaon 10 cscrGise further mn military ss or an f
Of these telegraph cables than the necessities o,
us preference that the cOmpani.s shall have *.
elusive control over their own cables. To mis- end
ments OF the presidents or authorized agents OF
these cable companies. given IN wIitlns. that they
den By the foregoing restrictions II IS recognized
that these companies cannot exercise an exnan.ive
hut II In expected that they will especially refrain
from transmitting Information as to the movements
OF naval vessels or current military opera tons.
The United States has expressed If desire 10 In
,erfcre 20 the least possible extent with N" receipt
or transmission OF commercial nessages
The managers Of all the cable Offices in this city
Yesterday afternoon received orders regulating the
transmission Of messages relating 20 tho operations
of the United States Army and Navy. The orders
were signed by General Greedy Chief Signal ON
Ger and read as follows:
Press messages containing Information OF pros
pectlve naval movements current military
operations regarded as inimical to The interests
OF tho United States during the present war, and
are consequently forbidden.
The cable superlntendents Immediately Informed
all the operators OF the orders received and their
{ execution went into effect last evening.
The following notice was sent out yesterday
from the central cable office Of the Western Union
Telegraph Company
NVn adj isad nv he Yves Indian and Panama