The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-08-27
in A DISLOYAL ACT
Morning Paper Again Violates
Censorship Rule.
Told of Troop Movement
Against Government Order.
STATE JOURNAL knew IT ALL
With Other Papers, This Publi-
cation Withheld Story.
Second OffenSe on Part of Gov
errors Newspaper.
STATE JOURNAL KNEW IT ALL

The Sunday morning Daily Capital
deliberately violated the patriotic CEN
sorship, added an element of danger
to the lives of So Topeka members OF
Major Seth A. Hammeps field hos
pital and in the same article patted
itself on the head for self confessed
patriotism. Information concerning
the movement of the field hospital
and other Kansas military units was
published in the Capital Sunday
morning hours in advance of the
movement of the troops.
In order that it might mislead read
ers concerning the dangers which had
been deliberately thrown in the paths
of Topeka men, the Capital assumed
profound patriotism and love of conn
try. After the stating that the troops
would leave Sunday-held by military
authorities here to be military infor-
nation in violation of the censorship
the Capital added: Because of the
voluntary censorship on troop move
ments, it is not permitted 10 say at
what hour or over what road the
troops will travel" In the next SEN
tence the Capital awkwardly shows
townspeople will be at the depot"
If one-half of the things charged
against the Germans are true, any in
formation concerning the time, meth
cd or date of movement of troops is
dangerous. The committee on public
Information in Washington has held
such announcements to be military in
formation in violation of the censor
ship. If there is danger to moving
troops in this country, the Daily Capt.
tai added to the danger in the paths
of Kansas soldiers in its announce
ment. The information withheld in
the Capitals self assumed patriotism
could have been secured by a fresh
man in deaf, blind and dumb acad-
envy, following the publication of the
date of troop movement.
The Government Order.
The Daily Capital did not observe
the censorship by merely Withholding
the hour and road movement. Here
is request No. 1 from the government
in the voluntary, patriotic censorship
statement:
For the protection of our mill
tary and naval forces and of mer-
chant shipping it is requested that
secrecy be observed in all matters
of: % Information in regard to
the train or boat movement of
troops. Such information is at all
times and under all circumstances
dangerous and should be scrupu-
lousy avoided"
All details concerning the movement
of the Kansas troops was in possession
of the State Journal Friday night and
Saturday morning. The information
was checked up to Major Smith, gov
eminent mastering officer, for an in
depreciation as to publication of the
facts-the same facts printed in the
Daily Capital-being military informa-
ton.
Il would deem the publication of
any information concerning troop
movement and this particular item
military information said Major
Smith 81 have no authority nor does
the law prevent the publication of
such information. However, 1 am con-
fident such publication is a violation
of the voluntary censorship and any
publication will be reported by me to
the department
Based on this statement, the State
Journal and news gathering agencies
and special correspondents in Topeka
refrained from the publication of the
article which appeared in Sundays
Capital. Not only did the Daily Capf-
tai violate the censorship in the pub
LEGATION of this particular item of
troop movement, but on at least two
former occasions within the week re-
vealed other military information.
Publication of these items was known
to Brigadier General Martin and other
military officials in Topeka. If the
matter was reported to Washington.
there is seemingly no record of such
action. If a protest was filed with
Governor Capper, owner of the paper,
such request fell on deaf ears or was
wilfully disrespected by persons in
charge of the news department of his
paper.