Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-07-31
list Of REGULATIONS
TO GUIDE CENSORSHIP
New Rules Set Forth by Committee
on Information to Govern Pub
licity in Newspapers.
VIOLATIONS ARE CHARGED
Crcel Says Restatcmcnt Is Made to
Prevent Papers From Revealing
Military or Naval Secrets OH Score
OF MISUNDERSTANDING.
LRy AssocIatcd Press.

WASHINGTON, July 30-A new list
OF press regulations making material
, rules under which American newspa-
pers have been operating was promul-
gated tonight by the Committee on
Public Information.
The new regulations contain the first
general request that there be no pub
ilshed mention Of the arrival of Amer
lean troops at European ports, replace
ing In that respect an express authors
zation In the old rules for use OF any
cable dispatches passed by the censors.
other sections of the old regulations
are made more severe by specific stip-
ulations in place of tho more general
language employed in the rules in force
until now. Information which the gov
eminent considers might reveal mill
tary movements or policies IL described
In great detail
SERIOUS VIOLATIONS
CHARGED ny CREEL
In the statement announcing the
new regulations. George Creel. chair
} man Of the committee. says that re-
peated and serious violations of the
voluntary censorship have been at
tempted to be excused on the score OF
Misunderstanding. and that re
statement" Is made with the idea that
hereafter there shall be no room for
doubt as to the committees desires.
rous charges of violation have been
made. however. have not Resulted from
Misunderstanding of the committees
rules. but from following them implic-
lily. These instances have involved
publication of dispatches passed by the
European censors, announcing the ar
rival of American military units in
Europe. On this subject the commit
tees only standing rule, contained in
the general list promulgated May IS.
and never replaced nor revoked. was
as follows:
IAN messages received from abroad
by cable or wireless are censored at
the point OF dispatch or receipt and are
free for publication. unless some es-
pecial circumstance arouses the sus-
picion OF the editor"
The new rules. instead OF restating
in any way this principle. substitute
for IL a prohibition on publication Of:
Information of the arrival at any
European port Of American war ves-
sells. transports. or any portion OF an
expeditionary force. combatant or non
combatant. until announcement Is au-
thorized by the Secretary of War or
the Secretary Of the Navy"
DESIRES SET FORTH
IN SPECIFIC REQUEST
The committees statement follows:
The desires of the government. with
respect TO the conccalmcnt hom the
energy OF military policies. plans and
movements, arc set forth in the follow
ing specific requests. They 30 10 the
press of the United States directly
from the Secretary of War and the
Secretary of the Navy. and represent
the thought and advice Of their tech
meal advisers.
For the protection of our military
and naval forces and OF merchant ship
ming il is requested that secrecy he
observed in all matters of:
IL Information III regard to the
train or boat movements Of troops.
Such Information is at all times. and
under all circumstances. dangerous.
and should be scrupulousiy avoided.
Authorization tending directly or
indirectly TO disclose the number or
identity Of troops in the cSpeditionary
forces abroad.
80 Information tending to disclose
the names of line officers in eNpedi-
tionary forces. and reference to indi-
vdual units of these forces Only
names OF staff officers are permissible.
e. Information calculated TO disclose
information OF the permanent or tenn
porary bases abroad
- Information that would disclose
location of American units or the event
ual or actual position of the American
forces at the front.
&c Information of the movement of
military forces towards seaports or OF
scaports, from which inference might
be drawn of any intention to embark
them for service abroad: and Informal
ton of the assembling of transports
or convoy: and information of the
embarkation itself
INFORMATION OF ARRIVAL
OF TROOPS FORBIDDEN
az. Information Of the arrival at any
European port of American war ves-
expedtionary force, combatant or nom
combatant, until announcement is au-
thorized by the Secretary OF War. or
the Secretary OF the Navy.
IS. Information of the time OF de-
parture of merchant ships from Ameri-
can or European ports, or information
OF the ports from which they sailed
80 Information indicating the port
OF arrival Of incoming ships from Eu-
ropean ports or after their arrival in
dicating. or limiting at. the port at
which the ship arrived.
10. Information as to conveys and
as to the sighting of friendly or enemy
ships, whether naval or merchant.
I'll Information of the locality,
number or identity of warships be-
navies OF any country at war with
Germany. Papers published in ports
should, with especial. care, 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 it can be safely pub
lished. Nonpublication of dangerous
news obliges the enemy to rely on spies
actually in the localities concerned,
thus adding difficulties and delay in
It's transmission.
"12. Information Of the identities OF
American merchant ships defending
themselves against submarines and
the Identities of their captains, their
gun crews and crews. No matter from
which side of the ocean comes the
news. 1t is asked that this information
=. withheld from publication. Editors
gill appreciate the Importance of CO.
operation to withhold from The enemy
such information as might expose the
officers and men Of merchan. Ships to
the danger of cruel and outrageous
reprisal.
"l3 Information of the coast de-
lenses of the United States. Any in
formation of their very existence, as
we'll as the number. nature. or position
h'afr 10 la