Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-08-12
A NEW CENSORSHIP ORDER.
Operation and Use of Military TeIe-
graph Lines.

|
| The chief signal officer has issued the
| following general order, providing for the
| operation and use of military telegraph
| lines and including a censorship of press
| dispatches:
The following rules, subject to moditica-
ton by orders of the commanding general
| of the army in the field. will be strictly fol-
| lowed in the transmission of dispatches over
military telegraph lines, or lines under mil
| !tary control during active military opera
lions. and are published to the army for
the information and guidance of all con-
Cerned:
Dispatches will be sent in the following
order of priority, due regard being had TO
| the importance of messages in the same
| class: Those relating to the movement or
administration of the army in the field and
of the navy. Other messages relating TO
the army, TO the navy and TO governmental
departmentS or bureaus of the United
States. Messages of state, territorial or
other civil officials, relating TO public busl-
ness Messages between diplomatic agents
of neutral governments. Press messages
| Miscellaneous business, those relating to
death or serious illness having priority.
Dispatches containing matter deemed to
be injurious to the interests of the army
must be submitted to the commanding gen
eral of the army in the heId lor MS ORDERS
relative to their transmission.
officers and soldiers are strictly prohibit
| ed from communicating, except to command
ing officers or under special authorization
from proper military authority, Information
| by telegraph relative to numbers, move
| ments or operations of troops, or details
regarding Notifications, armament or eX-
periments made in connection with mill
| tarv matters Neither shall they be permit
| ted to file dispatches containing opinions on
military operations or other military mat
| tiers relating to any part of the army or
command with which they are serving
and messages NAV, under
conditions not interfering with military
| business be transmitted free over field mill
tary telegraph lines That are closed 10 the
general public.
The use of any cipher is forbidden, except
| in communication to and from commanding
officers and their superiors, or in cases OF
civic officers specially authorized; PERSONAL
and press codes. however, may be utlllzed
for the economical transmission OF dls-
patches upon filing copy of the code with
| the central office and under such other reg
ulations as may be formulated by the gen.
eral commanding an army in the field.
The chief signal officer of an army operat-
ing in the field, or of district under mill
| tary control in carrying out his general
Instructions will formulate necessary regu-
lationS for the management and operation
| of military telegraph lines under his con-
| troll. General rules should be reduced to
writing, be clearly defined and lmparually
enforced.
Messages relating to military operations
| will be received and transmitted over the
| flying telegraph lines when filed by a cor
respondent in the field who is furnished
| with written permission to serve in such
| capacity.
| Press messages when filed on military fly
ing telegraph lines will be transmitted in the
order of filing, but no correspondent will be
| allowed to monopolize the line. When spe-
cial circumstances demand special reSula-
| lions will be formulated, subject to the APP
prevail of the general commanding the army
| in the field to prevent monopoliZation.
Signal officers should afford press cores
] pondeEts in the field the fullest telegraph
| facilities consistent with the public inter-
| ests.
| Unvaryng courtesy and strict impartial
| ity indispensable qualities for successful
| dealings with non-military officials or in
divfdrals are strictly enjoined on officers
and men of the Signal Corps.