The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1914-08-19
Prevents Public From
Getting War News.
A BAD POLICY IN THE MAIN
Because II Is The Cause Of
Much Fictitious Stuff
Being Printed.
BETTER THAT FACTS RE KNOWN

The outbreak of the greatest wal
in the history of the world was the
signal for the establishment of the
most rigorous censorship of the news
that has ever been known. While
stringent regulations in the matter
of informing the world of the daily
events. each Of which is bound to
nave a most important bearing on
the final outcome. were anticipated.
nothing like the existing rigor with
which such information is kept from
the world at large was expected,
and. while from a strategic view
point the various nations are abso-
lutely justified in keeping their
movements SECRET, it is doubtful
whether or not such secrecy will
eventually be of universal benefit.
The first move of the Austrian
government at the outbreak of hos
tilities with Servia was to take over
the telephones. telegraphs and other
means of communication, and every
word that went over the lines had to
be passed upon by the censor. Nat
urally nothing which might reveal
the activities or the whereabouts of
Austrian or Servian forces was per-
mitted to go through But not
oil in 4 IA
trian government prevent the world
from knowing what was going on.
War correspondents, several of
whom started out from London and
other capitals. We're almost prohib-
tied from even being near the scene
of operations. The war correspond
ent of large London paper who
had been in the Balkan States for
years and who on previous occasions
supplied his paper with daily dis
patches, lasted just two days and
was then expelled. The correspond
ents of other papers We're recalled
after. this incident.
Then came the day when the 9TH
er powers of Europe stepped into
the fray, their action taking the
form of diplomatic exchanges Their |
first move was TO muzzle the press. |
and in this there is little doubt that !
the gravest error was committed. In
stead of permitting the world at
large to know what was going on |
behind the curtains of the various |
cabinets and instead of informing |
the population of the various coun-
tries OF the contents of the numer-
Gus notes exchanged between diplo.
mats, the newspapers were allowed
to speculate as to their import, thus
a situation which at ey-
cry moment was near the exploding
point. Not that these newspapers
anything which might be
detrimental to the country in which
they were published. for such infor-
nation would have been suppressed.
but ii must be remembered that
hints and rumors. whether erro-
neous or based upon a modicum of
fact. are worse in their effect than
the publication of actual facts.
While We would not make the asser-
ton that the publication of facts
the diplomatic exchanges
would have averted the present IT,
tanic conflict in Europe. there is no
doubt that the world at large would
have been better able to obtain an
Insight into the developments, which
would have assisted in determining
he right and wrong of the situation.
Il is too late for that now.
The rigorous suppression of news
military movements. par
icularly concerning the mobiIiza-
lion OF troops while the diplomatic
parleys were in progress, about
which there is not the slightest
ioubt. was again justified, from
military point of view, as wen as
rom a desire to suppress as much
rs possible the rampant war spirit
hat gripped the nations of Europe
rs soon as rumors of International
iifficulties arose. !
The world will know little that is
iennite concerning the progress of