The sun., 1917-07-06
CENSOR CABLES HERE.
Not Wise, 1t Is Said, to Leave
Work to Allies I'm Europe.

: Suspicion that the submarine attacks
made on steamships carrying United
States troops to Europe may have been
made possible by information furnished
By German spies in this country has
given rise to a widespread discussion Of
the effectiveness Of the prevailing censor
ahip system.
Contrary to general belief the Amer
lean Government does not censor cable
messages addressed to points in Europe
further than to bar the sending of des-
patches which obviously contain informa-
.tion which would be OF use to the
enemy. such as plain statements of the
dates OF sailings of vessels.
The navy censorship bureau at ss
Broad street, this city. censors only
messages destined to points In Central
and South America, Japan. the Philip
pine Islands and China. All such cable
grams are subjected to strict scrutiny,
but those intended for delivery in Europe,
neutral countries as well as belligerent
are left to the tender mercies of the
British and French Governments.
scrutiny Abroad IL Searching.
The termini of the Atlantic cables are
IN ireland and France and at these
reception points. as we'll as in London
and Paris, incoming messages are sub
sJected to the closest examination. That
this Is so and delivery Is refused II II
SHOWS on its face the slightest indica-
con of an intent to aid the German
cause liz evidenced by the large number
OF complaints by American business
firms to the effect that cable advices
intended for European correspondents
have failed to reach their destination.
Many OF these dispatches, doubtless
were perfectly legitimate, though unwit-
tingly something had been placed In
them which aroused suspicion Their
rejection speaks well for the vigilance
OF the European censors.
On the other hand, II has been pointed
out In this country of late, tina, the
British and French censorship officials
are not In position to Judge OF the
character of the men who file MESA yes
mere for European transmission, and to
this extent even the closest scrutiny and
a conscientious effort to detect inpro-
sised cable keys must be ineffective.
Secret Codes Employed.
Moreover, spies no longer rely on rec
ognized codes in transmitting informa-
non abroad. This fact has been demon
etrated on numerous occasions. The
most innocent appearing message NAV
conceal hidden meaning beyond the
power of the most astute Sherlock
holmes in the censorship service to de-
tect. Such one, for instance, was the
despatch reading:
Sister out OF danger"
II CHANGED that the operator kneyr ,h.
sender had a sister who had indeed mean
ILL., but who on the date of filing had
passed the convalescent stage He did
not know. however. nor did the censor in
England suspect fact which was after
ward revealed. that the initial letters of
the four words formed a code known
only to the sender and the receiver but
which spelled important information TO
persons interested in Germanys well
fare.
There was the message, too. made up
or four words from one of the four
universally recognized codes. Combined
they formed sentence of no military
value. II happened, however, that the
numbers OF the code book pages from
which these words were taken presented
combination of figures in which a
wealth OF meaning was hidden.
Telegraphers and secret service men
are agreed, therefore. that no amount
Of vigilance can thware the work OF
spies II censors have only the subIec,
matter OF dispatches on which to pass
: judgment. The impossibllity that the
!
! have a working acquaintance with Amer
lean firms has suggested the advisability
of maintaining censorship at this enc
OF the line also, while the deception
known to be practised in the filing oi
messages has convinced many American
business men that authority should bt
given to refuse messages submitted fol
Transmission by persons to whom tn,
: slightest suspicion points.
The cable companies are without tn,
right to reject messages on suspicion
!. The Government alone possesses tn,
power OF censorship. On this subjAc
George @. Ward, vice-president and gen
+. eral manager OF the Postal Telegraph
Z and Cable Company, said yesterday:
I'VE accept no messages of any l1inC
Z for points in Germany or Austria.
would be futile TO do 30. because ever,
. message passes through either Grea
Britain or France. both of which main
a tain strict censorships In behalf of tn,
Allies Every message which goes I,
Europe, whether to belllgerent or
neutral country, Is scrutinlzed In a
least one of those Offices
I'VE have no authority to reject
message on suspicion that IL contain
a hidden meaning. Most spy messages
II Is to be assumed. are sent to neutra
y countries In Europe. Even had re tn
> authority to pass upon the nature o
\, dispatches IL would seldom be possibl
70 detect one intended for enemy con
Z. sumption, so cleverly Is secret informa
ton disguised"