The sun., 1917-05-29
HOW THE CENSOR WORKS.
Some Inclients Of Governmental So
pervision OF News.

some lhcleents OF 0OvekmmenMl 81
pervision Of News.
To THE EDITOR OF THE suH-ssr: On
the last occasion when q censorship was
imposed here an American cruiser--the
Minneapolis. II memory serves--engaged
in scouting for signs Of the Spanish feet
of the Atlantic coast put in at Turks
Island, a station on the Halifax Ber-
muda cable line connecting Canada with
tho British West Indies
Her lone presence there was promptly
made known to the entire world. except
that part Of the world which next to the
enemy was most interested In her, the
people of the United States An Ameri-
can correspondent sought to advise. a
New York paper; the censor here pre-
vented the delivery Of the despatch.
A little later another correspondent
filed for the same paper long and
interesting account Of daily happenings
of tho Cuban coast. happenings inti-
mately observed by the spaniards. and
known to many other peoples of the
world. An English correspondent sent
the same news to London. This despatch
was held UP by the censor In New York.
Before sailing again the next day tho
correspondent advised his paper Of the
extent Of the message, and an inquiry
through washington. where the con-
tents Of the message had been made
known, brought authorization for its
publication. The censor had gone home
for the night. but an axe brought the
despatch from his desk and Americans
read the news which their Government
itself was willing they should have but
which the wisdom Of the censor declared
bad for them.
Referring TO the Minneapolis incident
again. 1t might be said that while the
world might know Of the cruisers lonely
whereabouts there was no wireless to
notify the Spanish fleet But there we're
German ships touching at all Caribbean
and other ports and plying the Atlantic
waters. and the Germans Of those days
were In the service OF our then enemy.
One German skipper at Kingston. ia
maica. made the mistake Of saying to
two correspondents, and saying II with
true Teutonic insolence. that lie was
going to report tho presence Of a small
American gunboat that had that day ar
rived at Kingston rs soon as he fell In
with the Cervera feet, which was then
approaching. He made a second mis-.
take in postponing his application for
papers---he was bound for United
states port--until after Office hours. by
which time the American Consul found
himself unwilling to stretch his pre-
rogative and referred the skipper to the
business hours OF the succeeding day
But Fritz was sure he was going 70 meet
the spaniards. and Wss therefore bound
TO sail that night and sail he did, and
his ship was fined handsomely on ar
rival at his American port. on the ser.
viceably technical charge Of being with.
out proper papers.
Directly on the point Of the censor.
ship again: The commanding General
gave to an American correspondent In
Porto Rico news Of battle so soor
after he himself had received IL that
the local censor was not unnatirally
surprised when the correspondent Of.
fered a despatch containing some details
He asked the correspondents source OF
information. and accepted the polite re-
ply that he. the censor, was quite well
aware that the news could have come
at that hour only from ono place.
This censor properly sent that news
and therefrom ensued a strange sequel
The comma nding General had sent of his
official report before giving informs tion
to the correspondent who happened 10
he calling on him, and he knew further
that his official matter had precedence
on the wires. He was safe. or he had
n right to feel So The next day he sent
for the correspondent and very mildly
ms perhaps befitted the occasion, asked
how the correspondent had managed to
get his news into New York ahead Of the
arrival Of the officlal report. The Gen.
eral went so far as to say that Wash
ington had called uron him for that bit
Of information and he was taking tn,
only means Of complying with the De
partments request.
The fact was simply this The cor.
respondent had left New York with q
map OF every cable line In the West In
dies and neighboring coasts in hi,
pocket. Before he reached the Carib
| bean 1t was In his head Although or
dinarily cabling by the customary rout,
or routes. on this important despatch h
| paid n high rate for short section oi
| the transit to New York over n dstinc
| and separate cable line. Of which IN,
Government apparently did not know
This shorter route enabled his despntcl
to reach New York ahead Of the officia
report, and as by friendly arranee
| ment the White House was "cut in oil
this newspapers service from the from
there was not unnaturally a little mys
| tifcation In Washington when new!
| which was TO prove official arrived be
| fore the official news. d. II. q.