New Britain herald., 1917-07-31
BAKER and DANIELS
0VERRULE CENSOR
Substitute Rules for Guidance Of
Press Issued

Baker and Secretary Daniels have
approved a set of regulations for the
voluntary guidance of newspapers in
handling military information. These
substitute for set written by George
Creel soon after he was made chair
man of the COMMITTEE on Public In
form ation.''
The Immediate cause of the issuance
of the new regulations was the fact
that the army and navy have become
alarmed at the danger caused to
American soldiers and sailors as a. re-
suit of the haphazard methods en-
ployed up to date. The situation has
become acute during the last few
weeks.
The war college reported to Secre-
tary Baker nine instances in which the
present system endangered American
lives and gave valuable information to
the enemy Mr.. Baker said, however.
that the great majority of American
papers had scrupulously suppressed
information which they We're Informed
should not be printed.
From every section of the country
reports have come that, newspaper
editors have found it impossible at
times to decide what they should print
and what should be suppressed Cases
nave Dceu C1lSu repeatedly WnGrG IL
was impossible to get an opinion from
the COMMITTEE on Public Informa-
ton" that could be followed safely for
a few hours at a time. The new army
and navy statement follows:
For the protection of our military
| and naval forces and of merchant
shipping it is requested that secrecy be
observed in all matters of:
Il. Information in regard to the
train or boat movements of troops.
Such information is at all times and in
all circumstances dangerous and
should be scrupulously avoided.
"2. Information tending directly or
indirectly to disclose the number or
identity of troops in the expeditionary
forces abroad.
Only Staff Names.
"3. Information tending to disclose
the names of line officers in expedi-
tionary forces and reference to in
dividual units Of these forces. Only
| names of staff officers are permissible.
~. Information calculated to dis
close location of the permanent base
or basis abroad.
IS. Information that would disclose
the location of American units of the
American forces at the front.
So Information of the movement of
military forces toward seaports or of
he assem- bling of military forces at
seaports from which inference might
be drawn of any intention to EN- bark
them for service abroad; and infor-
nation of the assem- bling of trans
ports or conveys and information of
the embarkation itself
81. Information of the arrival at
any European port of American war
vssels, transports or any portion of
an expeditionary force, com blatant or
neon blatant, until announcement is
authorized by the secretary of war
or the secretary of the navy.
IS. Information of the time of de-
parture of merchant ships from Amer
lean or European ports, or informa-
! ton of the ports from which they
sailed
80. Information indicating the port
of arrival of incoming ships from Eu-
ropean ports, after their arrival
indicating, or limiting at, the port at
which the ship arrived.
80. Inform alton as to conveys, and
as the sighting Of friendly Or enemy
ships, whether naval or merchant.
I'll. Information of the locality,
number or identity of warships be-
longing to our own navy or to the
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 dam
gerous news is known locally, it does
hot hn
lished. publication of dangerous
news obliges the enemy to rely on
spies actually in the localities con-
cerned, thus adding difficulties and
delay in it's transmission
Conceal Identity of Attacked Ships
"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, it is asked that this Informal
ton be withheld from publication.
Editors will appreciate the Importance
of cooperation to withhold from the
enemy such information as might ex-
pose the officers and men of merchant
ships to the danger of cruel and out
rageous reprisal.
"13. 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 posi-
ton of their guns, is dangerous.
"a. Information of the laying of
mines or mine fields or of any harbor
defenses.
"15. Information of the aircraft
and anp1lrtenanceS used (1oVarn.
ment aviation schools for experiment.
al tests under military authority
"16. Information of all Govern
ment experiments in war material.
Conformation of secret notices is