Bisbee daily review., 1917-07-31
WASHINGTON ISSUES
 DRASTIC CENSORSHIP
lBy Review Leased wire)


 pers have been operating was promul- gated tonight by the committee on public information.
 The new regulations contain the first general request that there be published no mention of the arrival of American troops at European ports, replacing in that respect an express authorization in the old rules for use of any cable dispatches passed by the European censors.
 Other sections of the old regulations are made more severe by specific stip- ulations in place of the more general language employed in the rules in force until now. Information which the government considers might re- veal military movements or policies is described in detail.
 "Re-Statement' Made
 In the statement accompanying the new regulations, George Creel, chair man of the committee, says that Ire peated and serious violations of the voluntary censorship have been at tempted to be excused on the score of misunderstanding" and that a Ire statement" is made with the idea that hereafter there shall be no room for doubt as to the committees desires.
 The instances to which the most ser ious charges of violation have been | made, however. have not resulted from misunderstanding of the committees | rules but from following them implic- itly. These instances have involved publication of dispatches passed Dy the European censor announcing the arrival of American military units in Europe. On this subject the commit tees only standing rule contained in the general list promulgated May 2S and never replaced nor revoked, was as follows:
 All messages received from abroad by cable or wireless are censored at the point of dispatch or receipt and are free for publication unless some especial circumstances arouses the suspicion of the editor.
 Censorship Approved
 The new rules instead of stating this principle, substitute for it a prohibit tion of publication of:
 Information of the arrival at any European port of American war yes sels, transports or any portion of an expeditionary force, combatant or non combatant, until announcement is au- thorized by the secretary of war or by the secretary of the navy"
 Secretary Baker and Mir. Creel were seen together at the formers office to- night by a representative of the Asso- ciated Press. In reply subscribed to the language in the paragraph discuss |, ing alleged violations, Mir. Baker said he had approved the whole statement, although he had not written it. MT. Creel said that Secretary Daniels, who could not be reached tonight, also had the statement before it was issued.
 MT. Baker authorized the statement that he had in mind, in relation to the strong language employed by MT. Greet, no specific newspaper or press In the harsh language used, he insisted the purpose has been to do what many press representatives asked to be done, to "scold" offenders. The secretary said he had received report from the war college showing nine. separate items published in American papers of resent date which 2 the officers at the college regarded as valuable information to the enemy.
 New Press Rules D MT. Greet declared that the purpose ! of the paragraph referred to was gen sral, not directed at any specific case or cases.
 The whole purpose of the new regu- I both MT. Baker and MT. Creel } was to make impossible any further misunderstanding of what was a desired. . The committees statement follows: ! "The desires of the government With to the concealment from the e enemy of military policies, plans and are set forth in the follow Is ing specific requests. They go to the ti press Ol lut 1iiltu OldlCS htlNNtis | VI from the secretary of war and secre- t' .ary of the navy and represent thought g and advice on their technical advices. For the protection Of our military si md naval forces and of merchant ship n ping. it is requested that secrecy be ob- Ia served in all matters: 1T T. Information in regard to the II rain or boat movements of troops. 1T Such information is at all times and Inder all circumstances dangerous and d should be scrupulously avoided. p
 Can't Mention Officers fC 70 Information tending directly or to disclose the number or SC Identity of troops in expedi,-onary 1T ,orces abroad.
 @. Information tending to disclose he names of line officers of expedi- ti ionary forces and references to in lividual units of these forces. Only III names of staff officers are permissible. pl "4. information calculated to nisiU ,ation of the permanent base or baess Il