The Washington herald., 1917-06-10
DANIELS CLAMPS DOWN DRASTIC GAG rule;
FORBIDS MEN TO TELL WIVES OF ORDERS
Action Follows Securing Of
Proof that American
Naval Secrets Are Leak
ing to German Officials.

As a result Of proof that American
naval secrets are reaching Germany
in a continuous stream, Secretary Of
the Navy Daniels yesterday clamped
down a drastic gag rule" on every
person in the service. and George
Creel; chief censor. went to New
York to inspect and reorganize the
cable censorship there.
Secretary Daniels action was taken
as the result of additional dispatches
from Vice Admiral William s. Sims.
at London, declaring he had received
learning of American naval move
ments and plans. Secretary Daniels
declared the gag rule" was not di-
rected against the press and that the
department desired to pursue the same
policy of Openness in event OF either
victory or disaster that he has urged
since the first
The new gag rule prevents a naval
officer even disclosing to his wife
the reason he Is leaving home II he
Is ordered to sea- It follows:
Information Reaches Enemy.
THE department has reason to be-
live that information OF q character
most valuable to the enemy, and which
might prove most disastrous to the
AidS III sOLuC way inc
enemy. In view Of the strenuous eff
forts that have been made to prevent
the dissemination of such informa-
tion. the department believes that in
practically every instance this has re-
suited from certain information being
I given in confidence to, or spoken in
! the presence Of. a close relative or a
friend who, falling to appreciate the
gravity of the offense, inadvertently
transmitted it into the hands of those
who most desired to obtain it.
The department has on previous
everyone in the naval service the
urgent necessity for carefully guard
ing against the dissemination Of any
military information which could pos
slbly be of advantage to an enemy.
The situation at this time is entirely
too grave to permit of a continuance
OF present practice in this regard.
Officers, enlisted personnel, and
civilian employees are therefore di-
rected not to discuss any question
relating to the disposition, movements,
or proposed movements of naval or
military forces Gncluding personneO
at any time, expect officially, either
among themselves or with any per-
sons outside the naval service. It
should be clearly understood that
families and relatives are to be con-
sidered as outside the naval ser
vice
"An persons who attempt to obtain
prohibited information from persons
in the naval service should be re-
garded with suspicion and reported
without delay to the proper authori-
ties.
Serious Official Duty.
Those to whom a knowledge of a
violation Of this order comes shall
consider 1t a serious official duty to
report the matter Immediately to the
Navy Department for disciplinary
action.
This order shall be read to the
crews Of all naval vessels and shall be
posted in conspicuous places on board
all ships of the navy. Chiefs of
bureaus and commandants of navy
yards and stations will see that 1t is
brought to the attention of all per-
orders"
Secretary Daniels told of several ir-
stances in which information OF a war
character was circulated through in
advertence. and his findings have
proved that dinner tables at Washing
ing, ground for foreign spies.
The order has been drafted for
more than a week, but Secretary
Daniels held it up pending absolute
proof that naval secrets were reach
ing Germany. This proof came from
recommendation of the Bureau of
Operations, the order was made ef-
fective yesterday.
1t followed another admission by
the Navy Department of a wide
spread German propaganda in this
country.
"The country is being poisoned by
reports Of battles and disasters. all
without the slightest foundation in
TRUTH said the earlier staement.