The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-07-08
rAE PRESS IN TIME or WAR.
Interesting Discussion On Germany o. the
PRINCIPLES OF 0wnership.

1bmHotkttu "
The well known German naval magazine
Marine Rsndsehau In It's May and June num-
bers has discussed the question OF the press
In time Of war. from the points Of view OF sew
eral noted authorities.
In the May number Captain Won dem knese-
beck OF the German navy suggested the adj
vlsability OF having ready organised In time
OF peace . war information bureau By which
the prsss 10 to be shown the proper way to
eonduot itself In time Of war.
DR.. III. Msntlsr, Director Of VOLTS Bureau.
thinks that less will be accomplished By Q
stricter law affecting the press b By fos-
tsrins Q better feeling between thu authorities
and the Drees. q feeling which should be en-
trely free from the influences Of actual war
or OF periods OF great excitement or strained
relations. Recognising the information bu-
reau Of the Navy Department 40 . source Of
fruitful activity. Or. Mantler advocates the
establishment Of information bureaus In the
army. with at least one for zach army corps.
DR.. 4. Franoks lays particular stress on the
Importance OF permanent. trustful and inti-
mate relations between the Government au-
thorities and the press both before war and
during the progress OF the latter. Franoke
too. does not believe In the efficacy Of laws
prescribing severe punishmerts in these
anairs. and the organization OF a satisfactory
commission just before the outbreak OF a
war or during It's progress he regards a.
lmprsotioable. Frsncke recommends finally
that q committee. composed Of members Of
the War Department. the Navy Department,
the civil bureaus and the press. be assembled
and authorized to formulate the principles
on which information in time Of war IL to be
given to the press for publication and the
preparation for this information service In
time OF peaae.
A Navy 0f1cer" In spother article con-
siders the points which will influence the con-
duct OF the press In Japan. England and
Germany. The silence Of the Japanese press
during the recent war Is ascribed to the ex-
traordinary strictness OF the censorship, which
allowed only the publication Of onicial reports
on the war. The Japanese have thereby fur
nished . model for the civilized world. The
author lays particular stress on the way In
which the Japanese we're able to keep secret
their losses In battle.
On this point the rest of the world has
much to learn, and the American public las
well az most European nations) will probably
demand as . private right what is kept secret
only In the public interest.
In England there 10 q strong tendency to
assist the Government by proper laws In the
control Of the Information to be given out by
the press. But no law has yet been passed,
because consultation with leading members
OF the press led to no definite conclusions as
to the limitations to be placed on the press.
In Germany It IL also doubtful II any Law
limiting the press could be passed so Ions az
neither press nor Reichstas has taken up the
subject.
The author emphasizes the necessity. how
ever. the moment war breaks out Of throwing
. veil over everything military and saying.
with the Japanese: This IL our war, We are
not conducting IL for the newspapers"
What the public has q right to know should
be given out from one authority. and only
ono. and to all members OF the press without
fsvoritism. as rapidly and fully a. possible.
The conclusion 10 the same a. that arrived
at by Captain Y. d. Knesebeck. namely. the
necessity for organizing . war information
bureau,