The Washington herald., 1918-04-27
FIGHT
SILENT POLICY
ON WAR NEWS
War Department Raped
for Withholding Informa-
tion About US. Soldiers.

Continued silence Of the War De-
partment concerning the military ez-
ploits Of American expeditionsry
units brought from members Of the
House Military Committee q sharp
protest
At the weekly conference between
the COMMITTEES and the War Council
members asked why Il is that daily
statelpents. similar 10 those OF all
other beliigerent nations. can not be
issued
Belsted Lists.
The Congressmen said that long
casualty lists, many Of them not up
to date, are arousing resentment In
tbs country. A similar message Is
likely TO be carried TO the department
today by the Senate Military Com
mittee. Senator Wesley L Jones Of
Washington I'm q statement last night
said the government was not only In
iicting an injustice on the men. but
was negiecting an opportunity 10
each community know Of the expert
enC6t O1 IL D0yE ~ me
One Of the members Of the House
Committee told the department that
IN q town Of 1900 IN his district 81
casualty telegrams were received BY
parents from the Adjutant Generals
ONCE IN one day. There was no in
formation as to where the boys had
fought; whether they had been at
tackled or were on the aggressive: or
how they had conducted themselves IN
their first baptism Of the Hun fire.
e Instead, said the Congressman, OF
the town being afire with pride at fits
soldiers part In the great battle. Il
was rather stunned and puzzled
Contrast AIIies Plan.
Strongly contrasted with this attt-
tude by the department, members Of
the committee pointed out, is the
practice OF the British government
in not only giving official communi-
ques. but where troops from indi-
vidual counties. such as Yorkshire.
Lincolnshire or Wales, distinguish
themselves, local pride and rivalry is
stirred with full accounts Of their
heroic exploits.
Delay in publishing the casualty
lists from the Marine Corps has at
tracted the attention Of several SEN
ators and has caused unfavorable
comment.
When Il became known today that
the action IN which the marines were
killed and wounded took place quite
a time before the publication Of the
lists In this country, surprise was
evinced.
Senator Jones, Of Washington, who
has before this commented on the
floor of the Senate that this country
seems to be getting some Of her news
from Germany before il comes out
here" expressed his surprise, by
saying:
II certainly do not wish to be nut
In the position Of criticising the war
plans. but I cannot understand why
so long a time has elapsed since the
engagement before the lists were
printed.
Probably the War Department
pursued its policy OF letting the rela-
uves Of soldiers know before the lists
were published. But that cannot have
taken a very long time.
AS i say, ! certainly do not wish
to apear captious. and 1 fatIy dis
claim any intention whatever to criti-
else military strategy, but 1, for one,
cannot understand why the informa-
tion is not published earlier.
Huns Seem to Know.
The Germans seem to know all
about our men. What harm can It do
to tell in this country where they
come from?
Il should think that the publica-
ton Of localities from which these
captured. wounded or killed boys
came would have an effect on the
people at home. The knowledge that
man comes from q certain definite
place, especially when that place is
near to your own domicile. brings Il
home to you much more forcibIy than
when you do not know exactly where
he does come from
The knowledge that a boy from a
certain town has given his life. or
has been wounded, in defense OF his
country, would be the very thought
that would fire other men who knew
him or who came from his own town
tc offer their services to the flag.
I'VE should have more information,
especially il IL will do no harm . to
our military plans. And I certainly
do not think it can affect the situa-
ton to tell where our boys come fror,
or to publish more quickly what has