Arizona republican., 1918-03-11
Our Foolish Censorship and
 the Harm It Is Doing Nation
Absurd Optimism Still Uncensored

Absurd Optimism Still Uncensored Another serious aspect of the cen
 sorship is that it has been a censor
 ship against pessimism. Nothing has been allowed to pass in criticism of
 things which were going badly. No
 check, however, has been put upon op-
 timism, which is much more dan
 gerous.
 A definite reaction has set in against | America in France. It is not great yet,
 but it is almost certain to be great in | the spring. The reason lies almost wholly in the fact that the newspapers l at home and even the correspondents
 at the front have been allowed to talk 1 too big. Level-headed Frenchmen think | that there are already half million
 American soldiers in France and that 1 there will be a million in the sprlng.
 In the spring they will find that this is
 not so, and they will be disappointed and angry.
 Censorship is bad not only for what it has prevented correspondents rom
 saying, but also what it has permitted them say. It is also responsible m
 an indirect way for the singular style
 of war reporting which has surrounded
 the progress of the American army.
 
 every slight piece of news to such an ;; extent that the French and English !; laugh at us. The story of a patrol by ! American and French soldiers, rou- tine patrol such as takes place at hun dreds of points along the line every I night, was printed in one New York r newspaper under a two-column head 3 line, American Troops Go Over the f Top.'' A favorite French joke also l arose some little time after thousands
 of words were sent home about a Ger 9 man captured by the doughboys. How V is your prisoner today?'' jocost s Frenchmen would ask American friends.
 t Our Army swaddIed In Secrecy e But if censorship is bad for tht e newspapers it is also bad for the army The American army is swaddled ant d hobbled in secrecy. I have fttl e book which was given out with som' ,. general instructions pointing out tn n proper way to salute and some othe e minor points of discipline. Somebod,
 has stamped it: Confidential. No g to be taken into the trenches" s When a reporter reproached tn d press officer because he was not abl to tell him until the last minute tha d the American troops were going int the trenches, he said proudly that s. had been kept such a secret that tn s intelligence bureau itself did nc IS know
 ,e Our chauffeur knew.
 T knew it ten days ago. Wh,
 everybody around here knew about it, he said. And further up the line 's found that troops with gas masks an u tin hats had gone through village II motor trucks singing that they wei ~ going to hang the damned old kaist V to sour apple tree.'
 e' Pershing's movements are shroude U. in the deepest mystery. The chief ( te staff of a newly arrived division calle ie up headquarters and asked for Gener = Pershing.
 ce Hes not here" came the answer IS Where has he gone?" ie There was a long pause.
 e Nobody around here knows" Well, when will he be back?" II There was another pause. IS T can't find out. Nobody's be- d told"
 ed The divisional staff officer tho p- asked for the chief of staff. K Inquiry developed that he, too, hs IT. gone away, no one knew where. al ne would be back on some dateless day no a nameless month. Secrecy in pre- at and army is great stuff until you b IS gin to trip over it.