New Britain herald., 1917-10-15
TURMOIL CAUSED
 BY PUBLICATION
 OF |SBELL'S NEWS
Washington Considers It Viola- tion of Voluntary Censorship;
 Governor Read Of It in Press
H0LC0MB FAILS TO- SEE
 ANY HARM IN PUBLICITY

| No Word Received at State Capital
 Concerning Restrictions Executive
 Says-Had No Understanding With
 All Troops Are Now Under Federal
 Control and Out of States Hands.
 Hartford, Oct. .15.-Concerning the alleged violation of censorship rules, Saturday, by publication of a cable gram from Col. IsbeI of the 102d U. s. Infantry announcing its safe ar rival across the sea, addressed to the 2 governor of Connecticut with the re- quest that it be published, Governor Holcomb today made the following statement:
 ''The first thing I knew about the cablegram was when I saw it printed in the Hartford Times Saturday eve- ming"
 If you had seen it before 1t was given out to the newspapers would you have authorized the publication?"
 Possibly I would. I could see nothing wrong in the printing of 1t especially when the colonel of the regiment who sent the cablegram re- quested it's publication by the use of the word publish and when I was assured that it was all right as 1t must have been when 1t was a cable gram.''
 Have you had any instructions from the war department or from any other. branch of the federal gov- ernment as to what should be pub- lished and what should not?''
 None that have seen and If any, thing in the way of restrictions were received in the executive office I would know about it's
 Did you have an understanding with Col. Isbell that he should notify you of the arrival of the troops?''
 'None whatever. The last time I saw Col. Isbell was when I addressed the combined regiments in his com- mand and nothing was said about notifying me then. I would be very sorry to learn that Col. Isbell has got himself into any trouble over the sending of the cabegram. I can- not see what harm can have been done by the printed publication of 
 did not give any information to the enemies of the country which could be used to imperil the safety of the troops which were landed and out of harm from submarines or mines. It would be a different matter in the case of printing news of the sailing Of the transport vessel contafning g troops for European port. It would be manifestly wrong to print any, thing about the troops leaving this country"
 Have you received any communi- cation, Governor, from Washington about the printing of the cablegranl ?''
 "No"
 Then no communications which you have received at any time from Washington were intended as a guide as to what should be given out from your of6ce?"
 "None whatever.
 "The statement is made in a special from Washington to the New York Times that the war department and George Creel, the chairman of the committee on public information, had requested you not to give out the news?"
 That request has not reached this office.'
 Washington Aroused.
 Washington. Oct. 15.-Aroused by publication in some parts of the country of private cablegrams an- nouncing arrival of American troops in France, the war and navy depart 1nents, today took steps to prevent a repetition of the incidents which may result in the court martial of the of. fcers who sent the messages.
 In one case a former Nationa Guard officer wired his governor o1 the arrival of the states troops, but so far as is known here newspapers in that locality observed the govern ments voluntary censorship reques and did not print the cable.
 In the other case, however former National Guard officer tele graphed the governor of his state O the arrival of his regiment with request that it be given fullest pub licity. The governors office gave ou the cablegram and many papers il that state printed the news. Thi morning other newspapers published the despatch and added the numbe and designation of the regiment, al In violation of the voluntary censor ship.
 The war department has most UT gently requested that nothing what ever be printed about arrivals o troops abroad, promising at the sam' time to report promptly any casualty Friends who know troops have saile' and hear nothing further may as sume they have arrived safely. Step probably will be taken to prevent tn sending of similar messages from tn other sides and to stop their delivery
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