The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1917-07-05
CENSORSHIP IN
WASHINCTONIS
TEMPORARY ONE
Will Exist Only Until Per
shing Organizes Head
quarters.
NO ATTEMPT TO FIND
LEGAL AUTHORITY
War Secretary Empowered
To Take Any Steps
Necessary.

Washington, July 5.-Secretary Ba-
ker issued today a statement explain
ing the operation of the war depart
ment censorship over cable dispatches
from France dealing with the Ameri-
can troops, saying that the present
arrangements are temporary and soon
will be supplemented by method that
will not delay delivery.
Pending the complete organization
Of Gen. Pershings headquarters in
France the statement said, with
the arrival there of correspondents ac-
credited to represent American news
by which the catblegrams from France
dealing with American troops move
ments' are transmitted to the war de-
partment here for distribution will be
continued.
"It is in the interest alike of the
army and the newspapers to afford a
certain reliance as to the propriety of
the publication of messages from
France. The arrangement is tempo
rary and will be replaced speedily by
a more direct method Of dealing with
this news. In the meantime an ade-
quate force to deal promptly with the
dispatches will be on hand "a hours a
day and wifi deliver the dispatches in
the order in which they come, so that
no disadvantage will result in any
thing beyond the brief delay in send
ing the dispatches to Washington and
ajbck to the center of distribution
The work Of reading over the press
dispatches is done by the committee
on public Information, much OF it per-
sonaHy by George Creel, the chairman.
Secretary Baker explained that the
plan worked ouIt provided, however,
that the opinion of Brig. Gen. McIn-
tyre, censor for the war department
here, was sought where there was any
DOUBT as to the advisabihty of puibIicaL-
ton on any item
Mr.. Baker has made no effort te
find legal authority for the establish
ment of the new censorship, he said
and does not intend to ask for legisla-
ton in that regard.
Fs7The~~seeretary of wGr,'' he said
ssby unanimous consent is empowered
to take any steps necessary for the
protection of American soldiers
The censorship arrangement to bt
set up by Mai. Gen. Pershing, it i.
understood, will cover, British OF
French publications regarding Ameri
can troop movements as well as dis
patches to this country. Mr.. Baker
aQueQ LndC II might De FOUND neCeS
sary to supplement that censorship
with an additional reading in New
York in order to make certain that ev.
cry press or personal dispatch hat
been read to prevent Information o
value to the enemX from leaking out
Neither Secretary Baker nor Sec
retary Daniels would express an,
opinion as to whether word of the de
parture of American troop transports
had been transmitted to Germany il
such time that U-boat trap had beer
laid. Both indicated that they had M
specific information on this point.
was made clear, however, that addf
tiona1 precautions to prevent such /:
happening were being considered, tn,
nature of which was not disclosed.
The war department censorship ha.
been in operation since Tuesday, whel
| by official order all news cables from
France began to be diverted to tn,
secretary of war for his inspection in
stead Of being delivered to those t,
| whom they were addressed.