Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-05-28
Committee on PubicM for :
nation Issues Regulations
for Carrying Out Self
Imposed Censorship.
my Associated Press.

7 for the guidance or the American
press in carrying out the voluntary
censorship the newspapers have inn
| posed upon themselves since the United
states entered the war were issued to-
| day By the committee on public nfor-
nation. Virtually all of the matter
! specified by the committee as danger
Gus and liable TO he of value to the
enemy is of the character which most
of the newspapers OF their own accord
scrupulously have eliminated from
their columns.
| In making public the regulations.
copies OF which have been mailed to
every daily paper in the country,
George Creel. chairman. announced
! that the committee was given it's name
| in no spirit of subtcrfuge. and that it's
censorship function will be subordi-
! mated TO the task OF giving the people
| information.
The one effort will he 10 open up
the business Of the government as far
as may be proper and possible to the
inspection of the people,. he said
| Channels Of information will be
cleared of dead wood. permitting Il
frcer and more continuous fow, and
in every sane and prudent manner Off
cials of the government will be in
duced TO give fullest recognition to the
truth that public support is largely a
matter of public understandings"
The committee was appointed and
Mr.. Crecl named chairman by Presi-
dent Wilson. There is. however. no
law vcsting il with censorship powers
WOULD SUPPRESS NEWS
OF VALUE TO ENEMY
! The following are the regulations:
! In order to prevent the use of our
press by the enemy. it is necessary
TO avoid the publication of news items
or articles which will interfere with
our plans of campaign or render more
easy the work of hostile spies The
suppression of all news matter which
obviously is likely TO be of direct
| utility to the enemy is urged and cx-
nected. Such matter is indicated
| specifically as follows:
"A. General:
Il News regarding naval and mill
tary operations in progress. except that
officially given out.
=, News OF the train or boat sched-
! transit through the United States. II, !
| is the duty of hospitality to surround
distinguished foreigners with every
protection.
'3. Threats or plots against the life
of the President or other high officials
unless announced from authoritative
] sources. I'm such times of tension. uu
balanced minds are especially suscep-
tibic 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 arc made. this specific
charge should be minimized by mere
mention as 'disordcrly conduct
| =. News relating to the activity of
| the secret police. Their work in pro-
! tccting the country from the enemy's
agents in our midst is handicapped by
publicity.
| -. News of possible or observed
movements of alien labor through the
territory of the United States. or their
arrival at or embarkation from anv
OF our ports.
| NAVAL IMPORTATION
THAT SHOULD he WITHHELD
| "B. Naval:
News relating to the naval opera
! tionS. as follows:
/ Il. The locality, number or identity
OF warshps belonging TO our own navy
or TO the navics OF any country at war
! with Germany.
| :. Secret notices issued TO mariners
! or other confidential instructions issued
! by the navy or the Department of
Commerce relating 10 lights lightships,
| huoNs or other guides to navigation
3, All information concerning the
! departure of merchant ships from our
! ports.
"i. All Information indicating the
| port OF arrival OF incoming ships, or
after their arrival indicating or hint
/ ing AT the port at (which the ship ar
! rived, These rules apply with equal
| force To information indicating ports
! from which they sailed. 1t is sug-
gcsteji that arrivals of merchant vcs-
sells may be published under general
heading similar to the following:
| Arrivals of vessels. At Atlantic
ports: SuTolk. Neptune At Pacific
ports: Mankato
! -. Details as TO conveys and as to
the sighting of friendly or enemy ships.
whether naval or merchant
"6. Information concerning the lay
! ing of mines or mine fields by our own
authorities. or by the authorities OF
any nation at war witt Germany
| -. Information regarding signals.
orders or wireless messages to or from
war vessels
| IS. Information regarding operations
| by or against submarines In respect
| to unvcrifed reports Of submarine vic
| tories or submarine disasters. the com
| mittce goes no further than TO urge
| restraint. and to request that tho
| greatest care he taken To avoid con-
fusion between mere rumor and oni-
| cial announcements
| - Information relating to dry
| docks and to all classes Of work, re-
Continued on Fourth rageD