Evening star., 1917-05-28
PRESS GETS A GUIDE ON
VOLUNTARY CENSORSHIP
Committee on Public information Is
sues Series of Regulations Re-
garding War News.

In order to guide the newspapers of
the United States in their voluntary
censorship of war news. the comml,eee
on public information has issued
series of regulations the subject,
comics of which have been sent 10
every newspaper in the country VII
tually all of the matter speclheu ns
the committee as dangerous and lIaoIe
to be of value to the enemy IS OF 1he
character which most of the newspapers
of their own accord scrupuiousiy nave
eliminated from their columns.
In making public the fegula!lons.
George Creei, chairman. announced that
the committee was given its name IN
no spirit of subterfuge ana tnae sis
censorship function Will De supoIui
mated to the task of giving the peopie
"The one effort will be to open up the
business Of the government as Tar
may be proper and possible. 70 .ns IN
spect;on of the people" he salo. Cnan
neIs of information will be cleared OF
deadwood, permitting a freer ana more
continuous flow, and IN every saLe an.
prudent manner officials OF soVernineiil
will be induced to give fuliest Iecos M -
t,on "a the truth that public support Is
iarreIy n matter of public under
standing. .a ~,
President Wilson. There is. however,
~ law yestine it with censorship pow
Following are the regulations:
.In order to prevent the use OF our
press by the enemy. 1t Is necessa.s ~ ~
articles which will interfere with our
plans of campaign or render more easy
the work of hostile spies. Tne suppress
sion of all news matter obviously hh
enemy is urged and expected. Such
matter is indicated specifically as 1oi-
lows:
"A''-General.
81. News regarding naval and mill
fary operations in progress, except tnat
40 Mes Of the train or boat sched-
ules of travelling official missions IN
transit through the United States. 1t
is the duty of hospitality to surround
distinguished foreigners with every
protection no.
of the President or other high ofhcials
unless announced from authoritative
sources In such times of tension un-
balanced minds are especially suscepti-
BILE to suggestion, and all accounts OF
such crimes and trials growing out OF
them are likely to influence weak
minds and incite to criminal acts. When
arrests are made this speclnc cnarge
should be minimized by mere mention
as .disorderly conduct.
~. News relating to the activity of
the secret police. Their work In pro-
tecting the country from the enemy's
agents in our midst is handicapped Dy
publicity.
as. News of possible or observed
movements of alien labor through the
territory of the United States or their
arrival at or embarkation from any of
our ports.
HBn-Naval.
aNews relating to the naval opera
tions as follows:
u. The locality, number, or identity
of warships belonging to our own navy
or to the navies of any country at war
with Germany.
.2. Secret notices issued to mariners
or other confidential instructions is
sued by the Navy or the Department
of Commerce, relating to lights, light
ships, buoys. or other guides to navisa-
s3. All information concerning the de-
parture Of merchant ships from our
ports. .
a. All information indicating the
port Of arrival of incoming ships. or
after their arrival indicating, or hint
inp at the port at which the ship ar