The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1917-06-15
A scRAIsCgrY or WAR NEWS.

ftaht thNt aht Nttid w
overrun with news and II has been
observed that there il a disposition in
certain quarters 10 criticise the press
for not printing more stories concern
Ing the OF troops. wal
preparations and matters in general
pertaining % lhe part the United
states ts playing In ~unsea,ine PTus-
sianism.
shortly AFTER the declaration Of war
Ion April if. 1917. 10 be exact
committee on public information wa
created by an order signed by Pres.-
dent wilson. This committee formu-
lated and issued nertusn rules. for the
guidance or the spress No censorship
was established. fhe papers were
placed upon their honor 70 observe
h regulations issued by the COM
mlttee.
Now that Albuquerque Is to be q
training camp for the national guard
OF New Mexico there viii be many
things OF interest transpire here
which. ordinarily. would make good
reading. However. owing to the
voluntary censorship under which
the papers are working very little OF
this information can be printed.
Take. for Instance, the matter u
reporting epidemics. The commit
tee . instructions pertaining thereto
are. Many sensational and disturb
ing rumors will be brought to the
attention " newspaper men. II is
to be desired that these should not
he given publicity until they have
been most carefully verified; for ex-
ample. sporadic epidemics may break
out In some Of our training camps.
Il would be most unpatriotie 20 give
credence - cxaegered of
such inevitable mishaps. Editors are
requested 10 submit information which
they may receive on such subjects TO
the committee for verification. DAILY
reports from the chief sanitary Off
GERS Will be available. And this
committee will arrsnge to have
parties OF newspaper men and
reputable doctors sent 10 camps where
sickness occurs To check up these re-
ports"
Therefore. should an epidemic Of
measles. smallpox or any other con-
tagious disease break out IN "A training
camp no thereof should APP
pear In the press-at least not until
the matter had been, submitted 90
Washington. Then an investigation
would be made, as outlined. and the
facts given TO the public. This a.
tone to prevent wild and altogether
unfounded rumors from gaining CIR.
culatlon
f'Narrative accounts 81 naval or
military operations. including descrip-
lions 81 life In training camps are
doubtful items for publication. the
committee says, and continues while
IL Is desirable that the public should
be kept Interested In these subjectg,
there Is always a chance that a re-
porter. ~narratiRe facts, may uncon-
-%ciously mention something which
the military authorities particularly
desire 10 keep from the enemy. an
such articles should be submitted ~
the Committee on Public lnformu-
ton"
Information IN regard 60 the train
or a movement Of troops h at all
times and under all circumstance
dangerous during "a war and should
DE scrupulousiy avoided. In other
words. shopld a company cor detach-
ment u soldiers he ordered from Al
%ouquerque to do duty az some point In
the state u would not be permissible
60 state IN the papers when and on
what train they were going and their
dcstirmtion-at least not prior 20 their
departures. n there should be any
alien enemies In this vicinity his ad-
vance notice would give them a
ohance 90 commit depredations such
~ blowing up the train or wrc'hins
Il IN some other manner Mention
might be made of the matter after
tho troops had reached their destina-
ton. tut even then care w1uld have To
he exercised in reporting the item
for instance Il could be said that %
COMPANY or detachment hHi son' 4"
Las Cruces. hut ~ the account stated
that the troops would guard a certain
Bniiding In Las Cruces, OF a particular
on The Santa re railw neJr
there Il world. De ~ @yiolatirp 20 The
committees iast ctions
Headers, therefore. Will please re-
member thai when Il comes Ia re-
var lHens thr hands Of IN"
si.I na uraft,s ffohttp ser