Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-07-04
CENSORSHIP FOR
ITALY is REVISED
From a Newspaper Point of View the
Reorganization is a Great I'M
prOYement-MOr Freedom.

Headquarters of the Italian army
Correspondence Of The Associated
Press.J The Italian censorship has
been reOrganized and vastly improved.
particularly from a newspaper point
OF view Little censorship is now
eXercized over mail matter coming
from or going to ally countries, such
as France or England. but every
mailed letter or package going TO or
coming from the United States and
switzerland is opened and read The
CenSOrS, however, are sometimes cOur-
teous enough to notify person send
ing suspected matter that it is being
held for explanation. In the case OF
cable messages. the censor tries his
best 70 let them go through. either
holding the message for a time before
sending it, or else cutting out Objec-
ttOnable information, seding the mes
sage in the new form, and then notify
ing the sender what portions have
been eliminated
One of the reasons for the more fav-
orable attitude of the Italian censor
ship is an abatement Of the spy mania
and the realization that this class OF
information is not as harmful as was
formerly supposed.
Another reason has been the in
flUence of certain officers, patriOtic
journalists and business men who feel
that Italy has not been fully under
stood in this war and that correspond
ence both OF private individuals and
newspaper men visiting or living in
the country would. if not too severely
censored, let the outside world know
the truth about conditions and the
reasons for Italy's war.
A direct result Of this attitude has
been the establishment recently at the
headquarters of the army of a press
bureau. One Of the first steps taken
by the officers in charge was 10 secure
permission for both ally and neutral
Journalists to visit the army front and
see the fruits OF Italy's effort to or
ganizea-splendid new army. Previous
to the existence of this bureau but
very few civilians had been allowed on
the Italian front The impression had
gotten abroad that Italy did not want
her front visited and therefore no re-
quests to visit II had been made, par
ticularly by neutrals.
The visitors a present adm ~e~l on
the front, once the officers Of tina Eyess
bureau had satisfied themselves rnese
visitors are without unfriendly inten
tons, are shown fully and freely all
that they wish 10 see. In the hand /
the front the largest latitude is per |
mitted the writers. Restrictions abou: |
naming geographical locations, are ,
cast aside, since IL is evident that the /
Austrians have military maps OF the /
region and. as they are within speak |
ing distance OF the Italian soldiers for /
nearly every foot OF the 400 miles OF /
front. fl would be difficult TO hide from /
them the names Of the rivers and /
mountains and towns along the front. |
The press bureau, although not long |
formed. has already justified itself, IT /
is stated. in the better understanding /
by France and England OF the terrific |
difficulties under which the Italian
army works in mountain territory,
where II takes weeks TO move large /
bodies of troops or put artillery into
new positions, and where the taking
of a single mountain involves the pa
fient effort and stannch heroism OF
months Of hard fighting.
The numbers frequently referred 20
in official military bulletins, in con-
nection with operations at places the
names OF which are not mentioned, has
given rise 10 the popular impression
that the number is used, in order TO
withhold exact information as TO the
of the operations.
AS a matter OF TACT. and particularly
HR