Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-07-31
u. s. CLAMPSLD
ON NEWS OF WAR
Creel Urges Secrecy as to All
Military and Naval
Operations
BANS EVEN LAUNCHINGS
Would Suppress Names of Ships
Firing on U-Boats to
Avert Reprisals
BANS EVEN LAUNCHINGS
WASHINGTON. July a..

The committee on public information Of
which George Creel Is chairman, mas
issued the following regarding the voluntary
censorship OF military news by the Presi-
dent Of the United States:
Tho desires Of the Government with
respect to the concealment from the
enemy of military policies, plans and
movements, are set forth In the following
specific requests They go to the press OF
retary Of War and the Secretary OF the
Navy and represent the thought and ad-
vice of their technical advisers.
For the protection of our military and
naval forces and of merchant shipping, II
Is requested that secrecy be observed In
all matters of:
First. Information in regard to the
train or boat movements of troops. Such
information is at all times and under all
circumstances dangerous and should be
scrupulousy avoided.
Second Information tending directly
or indirectly to disclose the number or
identity of troops in the expeditionary
forces abroad.
Third. Information tending to disclose
the names OF line officers in expeditonary
forces and reference to individual units
or these forces. only names Of staff Of
hcers are permissible.
Fourth. Information calculated TO dis
close locations of the permanent base
or bases abroad
POSITION OF AMERICAN FORCES
Fifth Information that would disclose
the tsri,,cp location Of American units or the
can forces at the front
Sixth. Information of the movement
OF military forces towards the seaboard
or the assembling of military forces at
seaports. which Inference might be drawn
OF move to embark them for service
abroad, andinformation of the assembling
Of OF transports or convoys, and informa-
tion of the embarkation itself
Seventh. Information of the arrival
AT any European port Of American war
vessels transports or any portion Of an
combatant, until announcement is au-
thorized by the Secretary of War or the
Secretary of the Navy.
departure Of merchant ships from Amer
lean or European ports, or information Of
the ports from which they sailed,
Ninth Information indicating the port
or arrival OF incoming ships from Euro
pean ports or after their arrival, indicat-
Ing or limiting at the port at which the
Tenth. Information as to conveys and
as to the sighting of friendly or enemy
ships, whether naval or merchant.
Eleventh. Information of the locality,
number or identity of warshlps belonging
to our own navy or to the navies of any
country at war with Germany. Papers
published in ports should use especial care
and refrain from giving information to
enemy agents In regard to ships stationed
or calling at such ports. Because dan
gerous news Is known locally. 1t does not
follow that 1t can be safely published.
Nonpublicaton of dangerous news obliges
tho enemy to rely on spies actually in
the localities concerned. thus adding difh-
culties and delay in its transmission.
IDENTITY OF ATTACKED SHIPS
Twelfth. Information of the Identities of
American merchant ships defending them
selves against submarines, and the identi-
ties Of their captains. their gun crews and
crews. No matter from which side of the
ocean comes the news. It Is asked that this
Information be withheld from publication.
Editors will appreciate the Importance OF
cooperation to withhold from the enemy
such information as might expose the OFF,
GERS and men of merchant ships to the
danger of cruel and outrageous reprisal.
Thirteenth. Information of the coast
defenses of the United States. Any in
formation of their very existence, as well
as the number, nature, or position OF
their guns is dangerous
Fourteenth. Information of the laying
of mines or mine fields or of any harbor
defenses
Fifteenth. Information of the aircraft
and appurtenances used at Government
under military authority.
Sixteenth Information OF all Govern
ment experiments In war material.
Seventeenth. Information Of secret no.
tices issued to mariners or other con-
fdential instructions issued by the navy
or the Department of Commerce relating
to lights, lightships, buoys or other
Eighteenth. Information as to the num-
Der, size or location of ships of the navy
or of the merchant marine ordered laid
down at any port or shipyard or in actual
process of construction, or information
that they are launched or In commits
sion.
DRYDOCKS AND ALL REPAIRS
Nineteenth. Information relating to dry
docks and to all classes of work, repairs,
alterations or construction performed in
connection herewith.
Twentieth. Information of the train or
boat schedules on travelling official mis-
sions In transit through the United States
Twenty-frst. Information of the trans
portation of munitions or of war mate
rial
| Photographs conveying the information
specified above should not be published.
Repeated and serious viplations of the
voluntary censorship have been attempted
| to be excused on the score of misunder.
standing or lack Of positive Information
Pains have been taken to MAKE this re-
statement of necessary secrecies so com
plete and explicit as to leave no room
| for honest ignorance of dishonorable ava
| sion. Neither the requests go forti
with any time Nmit. Their application
| covers the period of war. At no point de-
| they touch opinion or criticismS being cen
| tered entirely with the protection of tn,
| lives of Americas defenders and the sue
| cess Of military plans.
These'requests go to the press withou
| larger authority than the necessities o
| the war-maling branches. Their enforce
| ment is a matter for the press itself. IT.
| tho overwhelming proportion Of newspa
| pers who have given unselfsh, patriots
| adherence to the voluntary agreement, tn
Government extends its gratitude ant
| high apDreciatiOn,