Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-12-21
YANKS TIGHTEN
GRIP At COBLENz
Hun Propaganda Through
Newspapers and Theaters
Checked.

COBLENZ, Tuesday. December II
(by the Associated Press).-German
propaganda and the tendency to criti-
cism of conditions in the district &C.
cupied by the American forces have
been abruptly checked by the estab-
lishment of a censorship by Maj. Gen.
Dickman upon the newspapers and
the theaters. His act was the first
indication that the Americans pur-
posed tightening their grip on local
affairs.
The regulations governing the press
were formally made public, but those
which applies to the theaters were
communicated verbally by Col r. H.
Williams, chief of the intelligence
department, who also explained per-
sonally to the newspaper owners
what was expected of them. me
managers of the theaters. ranging
from opera to moving picture pro-
auctions, were informed that there
was no objection to their giving per
formanceS except in cases where at
tempts were made to inject propa-
ganda or criticism, either directly or
by innuendo, into the productions.
Not even apparently friendly COM
ment, if it were otherwise undesir-
able. would be tolerated, it was ex-
planned.
Strict Rule Laid Down.
To the newspaper owners it was
pointed out that the question or
whether they offended or not lay
with them-that the Americans would
not be bothered with censoring the
publications before they were issued,
but that the first six copies from the
press should be delivered to American
Headquarters Meanwhile the run
ming off the edition could be contln-
ued. If it were then discovered that
the regulations had been violated
prompt punitive action would pc
taken.
A memorandum delivered to the
newspaper owners specifies that the
following matter shall not be pub
lished:
"All articles, editorials. dispatches
and news items which, from their ma
ture, are calculated to or might in
fame the people or incite them to
disrespect and disobedience or insub-
ordination to the armies of occupa-
ton.
Comment or articles which reflect
discredit upon the United States gov
eminent or the governments of the
allies or the military forces of those
governments"
Comparisons between the army
commanders of those governments or
the military governments of occupied
territory is forbidden. To obviate
any discussion of regulations made
by the French or British forces, it is
stated specifically that nothing must
be printed relating to the regula-
tions for occupied territory outside
the zone occupied by the Americans"
Roundup of Germans in Uniform.
further indication of the inten-
ton of the American authorities to
curb any abuse of their leniency was
afforded by a roundup of discharged
German soldiers who had failed to
secure civilian clothes and by the
arrest of a merchant who had been
found profit eering in money exchange.
The merchant made the mistake of
boasting that he had sold a soldier
--asss for francs at twenty points be-
low the rate of exchange fixed by the
Army. and had then further increased
his profits by reselling at the bank.
There has been little of this sort
of thing. however. and so far the
public appears disposed to conform
with the order that prices must be
the same to the Americans as to the
Germans.