The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1918-01-02

CENSORSHIP COMMITTEE MODI.
FIEs FORMER REQUEST.
May Give More News but Board
Urges Newspapers, However, TO
Publish Nothing of Military Value
to Enemy.

washington, Dec. 30.--Revised reg
ulations or requests to guide the
American press in the voluntary CEN
sorship Observed since the country
went to war were issued tonight by
the committee on public information
Several important changes have been
made representing the lessons learned
by the committee and tho army and
navy officers since the first regulations
were issued last June.
Three Of the original requests to
which special importance was attach
ed and under which loyal newspapers
have gone to press without many an
interesting piece Of news have been
withdrawn entirely. They are the re-
quests that nothing be published tend
ing to disclose the names of line off,
GERS or individual units of the expe-
ditionary forces. the identity of Amer
lean merchant ships and their crews
defending themselves against subma-
rines, or giving information relative
to dry docks ard repair and construc-
tion work.
Unofficially 1t is explained that these
prohibitions are withdrawn largely
because of the difficulty in having
them universally. observed. and in the
belief that such information would
be obtained by the enemy regardless
OF whether It appears in the Ameri-
can newspapers.
Other changes are made and there
are some additions. but most of them
are Of minor character.
With the regulations the committee
Issued this statement:
The committee on public informa.
ton makes public herewith a revision
OF the request Of July 20 with respect
70 the concealment Of military infor-
nation for the guidance of CORES.
pondents and editors who have pa.
triotically placed themselves under
censorship Of their own enforcement.
Future revisions will follow in con.
formity with the changing military
The committee is requested by the
war making branches of the govern.
ment to urge again upon the press
Inc serious necessity for observing
these reQuosts It 10 highly import.
ant that military Information be KEEP.
out OF print II is matter OF little
consequence how widely military in.
formation Of the important character
a'known- -viishsn-the borders of tlrt
United States. The purpose of these
requests Is to prevent such informs.
ton reaching the enemy.
The committee is without legal au
thority or moral right to bring any
form OF pressure on publications to
enforce observation Of these requests.
These pare graphs embody what the
military and naval experts of ous
country held to be the minimum tha,
can be asked. at this time, for the
protection Of our soldiers and sailors
and the success OF our military plans,
In order that the American people
may clearly understand why certain
news does not appear itisurgedthat 2
these requests be printed in full:
The attention Of the press is call.
ed to the provision that these requests
do not apply to news. dispatches CEN
sored by military authority with the
forces or In those cases
where the government itself. in the
form Of Official statements, may find
II necessary or expedient to make
public information covered by the re-
quests"
The requests follow:
II. Advance information of the
routes and schedules Of troop NOV
ments. (See Paragraph 81, .
"a. Information tending to disclose
the number OF troops in the expedi-
tionary forces abroad.
"3. Information calculated to dis
close location of the permanent base
or bases abroad. ~, ..
-. Information that would disclose
the location Of American units or the
eventual position Of the American
forces ct the front
IS. information tending to disclose
an eventual or actual port OF embark,
alton, or information OF tho move,
ment OF military forces towards sea-
port. or OF the assembling Of military
forces at seaports from which infer.
ence might be drawn Of any intent
to embark them for service abroad;
and information OF the assembling of