Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1917-07-17
EDITOR
GETTING AT THE SPIES.

Lord Northciffe has with accustomed acutenes
put his finger on one weakness in democratic gov
concerning its effort to keep military new
from Germanv-the private cable message.
What is printed in the newspapers rarely if eve
nowadays affords any real information to tn
enemy, though such information may irrtate tn
old bureaucrats, Northcliffe points out
in effect. Northcliffe said in recent interview:
The cable censorship Of private and commercial
messages presents the greatest difficulty.
1T would be easy for a weLinforned spy cable to
neutral country few domestic or business phrases
conveying news Of priceless value to the enemy Spies
who have been caught tried and shot in England have
usually been found IN possession Of what appear to be
business codes.
People are much too prone to consider the news
paper leak which il open to all eyes and not to con-
slider the private cable leak which is the really deadly
Power TO open overseas mail such as is possessed
by the British government, is also essential.
Newspaper censorship is a comparatively simple
matter, helped as II is by the good will Of the news
papermen themselves who in Great Britain frequent
ly help the censor.
Newspaper censorship In England is effected
through the channel Of institution known the
Press Bureau The story Of its early eccentncities Is
best forgotten Il has now, of its heads, Sir
E. T. Cook, formerly one Of our leading newspaper
editors. All war news passed through this central
tablishment. Technical army and navy matters
referred by the press bureau to experts. Delays
cur, but delays are part Of the war The commander
inchief in the field, Sir Douglas Haig, has supreme
control Of all news sent out by the correspondents
with his armies. There you have censorship at q
glance
Democracies entitled to the fullest of their
soldiers and sailors. The correspondent is
longer regarded as q nuisance in the early days
OF the struggle He 10 looked upon valuable ally
and 10 % treated BY the British and French armies.
We have found that the more news the fewer ugly
rumors. Press comment IL invaluable to democratic
goyernmenta The newspaper focuses the ideas and
suggestions OF millions Of watchtul minds. It ofen
alfcras valuable pointers to government departments
ls criticisms suggest and stimulate The recent strug
gle for the reestabhshment Of free press in Great
Britain has restored liberty Of expression to patriotic
writer's.
The systematic publication Of the news good and
bad. 10 means Of giving confidence to the govern
n1ents Of democracies"
The English publisher told of the case of Ger
man spy and his accomplice posing as travelin,
statesmen for Dutch cigars, various brands of cigar
representing various kinds of ships This recall
the local instance Of the German named Wehde
who passed in Honolulu as a businessman particu
larry interested in flowers who had pursue,
his harmless hobbies in the Orient He was arrested
here charged with completely in the India plcts an,
taken to Chicago for Indictment. That his suppos
ca interest in natural history masked his intrigue
Is the accusation.