Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-07-04
Leak of Information
as to Ship Movements
Will Be INVESTIGATED

transports. Each OF the transports
was conveyed by warships The other
warships already in European waters
had been notified by cable where to
meet the transports.
The army had laid itself out to give
the men everything in the shop Army
depots were practically stripped. that
the first armed force to carry the flag
to Europe might be a model contin-
gent. equipped to the last word and
fit and ready to take its place in the
trench lines.
GOES To IT'S UTMOST
TO PROVIDE SAFETY
The navy had gone TO its utmost to
provide every means OF safety. The
undersca grenade described by Secre-
tary Daniels was held in reserve for
just such an emergency as that in
which 1t proved itself SO effective. 1t
is new weapon of onense against the
submarine. an American Offering to
democracy. The grenade was per-
fectcd. 1t is said, by the special Naval
Consulting Board. which has been at
work on methods to combat the sub
marine for more than three months.
The navy had heard of the first attack
on the transports while they were still
outside the danger zone. That is why
unheard-of efforts were made to call
back. to prevent publication at any cost
of the report from Paris OF the arrival
Of the first contingent. There were
other contingents to follow. and their
peril was believed 20 be doubled by the
publication Of the report. But it was
too late for action to be taken The
committee on public information had
approved the story. and It had been
flashed by telegraph all over the coun-
try and run off in extra editions of
the newspapers. So. in order to put
the best aspect on things and, If possi-
BILE. TO throw the Germans off the scent
ii was printed broadcast next morning
that the troop movement was complete.
that all of Pershing's men wero in
France and had crossed the sea with
out the loss OF life.
Meanwhile the War Department
moved to prevent repetition of such
an error. The censorship system was
changed. and BriGadier-General Frank
Mcintyre was placed in sole authority
relating to military matters. \ day
later 1t was announced that no further
arrivals OF troops would ever be made
known; that all expeditions overseas
in the future would be secret to the
utmost as result OF the leak OF in
formation to Germany
CENSORSHIP ON CABLES
ALSO TO BE TIGHTENED
The censorship on cables also is TO
be frightened. 1t is believed tonight.
American officers censor the cables to
South and Central America, but the
European cables. both outgoing and in
coming. are left practically entirely to
the British and French censorships.
The government depends upon the
allies. trained by long study of the
question. to halt any doubtful mes
sage TO Europe. To other nations. to
the south. only certain codes are al
lowed by the United States censorship.
and they must be designated in The
message But there was n leak some
where. In several South American
countries Germany has established
powerful radio stations. and there is
believed to be a possibility that n
harmless" commercial message con-
tanned the news which to the trained
eye Of German spy meant that the
American troops were sailing II
might then be relaycd by radio 20
Nauen. But where the inside irfo,-
nation" OF the routes they would take
and their plans for rendezvous leaked
from is something to be determined by
the proposed probe