Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1917-06-16
SAYS A FEW papers
IMPERIL OUR FORCES
Information Bureau Asks for
Suppression Of News
OF Troops
MOST PAPERS
ARE HELPING

WASHINGTON. June 16. The
Committee on Public Information, OF
which George Creel IS chairman, has
issued a statement stating that one
per cent. OF the newspapers in the
country were not observing the volun-
tsry censorship. although the other SO
per cent. we're doing so "scrupulous-
ly.' An appeal was made anew for
the suppression OF all information
concerning train or beat movements
OF troops and the assembling Of mill.
tary forces at sea ports
A second statement was issued by
the committee. urging the suppression
of the names Of armed merchant yes
sells that might engage in fights with
submarines, and requesting OF the
press "the restoration OF the agree
ment to its original force"
No statement was made OF what
newspapers we're offending against
the general spirit OF voluntary cen
sorship.
The first statement issued by the
committee road:
while 80 per cent of the news
papers Of the country are scrupulous.
ly observing the rules of voluntary
censorship. d certain few are print.
ing daily information that may expose
American soldiers and sailors to dead
ly peril. ...
the passage Of troops through the
communities In which these papers
are published, but the names and
equipment are given in detail. also
exact information as TO destination
and date OF arrival together witt
speculation as TO probable sailing,
1T does not matter that the Gov
ernment's plans for concealment o.
troop movements across the watei
have failed in any particulars. Abso
Lutte secrecy still remains the object o
the strenuous efforts. The press of Che
country. realizing the necessity, hal
pledged its aid and cooperation. Tit
one newspaper that breaks the fsitl
undoes the work of all papers tina
keep the faith. Attention is agaii
called to these specific and repeate,
requests OF the Government for sup
preston Of news with respect to:
a. Information in regard TO thi
train or boat movements of troops
80. Information regarding the as
sembling OF military forces at sea
ports from which inference might b.
made Of any intention to embark then
for service abroad"
The second statement which was
request 10 newspapers not 20 publisl
the names of armed merchant vessel
that encounter U-boats. said
"A prime concern Of the voluntar
censorship. imposed upon itself by IN
press. has been the suppression Of IN
identity OF the armed merchant vel
sells that may engage in defense el
counters with submarines. The cal
tains Of these vessels. not being
part Of the recognized naval organi
alton Of the United States. are outs'd
the protection OF laws OF war as N
German Empire interprets them.
event OF their capture. death woul
be their fate The judicial murder {
Captain Fryatt makes clear the &c
man attitude to these men.
THE peril OF the destruction Of III
vessels themselves in subsequent vo
ages also is intensified by establishir
the identity as the destroyer OF
submarine. The added danger 10 n
picked gun crews OF fine young Anne
leans is equally apparent
1.-THE agreement Of secrecy W.
shattered last week by cable dl
patches from France. naming the 5
yer Shell as the victor in a submaril
combat The act was unintentionf
and the Government OF the Unite
States has since been assured tn
both the French and British Cover
ments will cooperate in the future Z
the protection Of our merchant shi
and their captains.
in the case Of the encounter OF a
other merchantmen with a submarir
recorded Wednesday. the volunta
agreement was broken. a few NJ
York evening newspapers printing {
name OF the ship and the name
the captain In spite Of this, all b
three Of the morning newspapers
New York City kept the faith thou
aware that in this particular instar
the damage Of publicity was dol
The effort was to prevent error fri
establishing a precedent.
"The agreement must he restor
In no other way can there be less
ing Of the danger Of future attaC
upon the ships that fire on subm
ines. or their captains saved from
noble death in event OF capture. II
a Fryatt horror that Is being guart
against
THE Navy Department Of the {
ted States makes formal request NJ
the press for restoration Of the agr
ment to it's original forces. No mat
from which side of the ocean cor
the news. It is asked that the mar
and Identities Of captains and sh
damaging or sinking submarines
withheld from publication