Imperial Valley press., 1941-02-12
by Peter Edison
The Inside Track in washinqfon

WASHINGTON, Feb. 12.-News
you read about the Unieted States
Navy is now practically under a
censorship. but it's nothing 10 be
alarmed about. The navy doesn't
want it called censol ship and
since the country isn't at war,
doesn't like the idea Of having to
hold out on any legitimate news.
But national defense has to be
considered and there's no particu-
lar point in spreading before the
world at large just where the navy
is Strengthening its bases or NOV
ing its ships and men.
Secretary Knox and the navy
reSS officers are approaching the
whole problem by asking the news
papers to cooperate in a voluntary
censorship. To just what extent
this will apply is to be cleared up
within a few days, after confer
ences with publishers and the press
associations.
The whole trouble began several
months ago, when good deal oil
news CT value to potential en-
emies" got into the papers. Most
of it. the navy confesses, came
from officers who just couldn't
keep their mouths shut, gave out
figures or released statements they
shouldn't, CT talked too much at
cocktail parties. Twice the secre-
tary circularized all naval establish
ments, asking the personnel to
pipe down. When that didn't do
any good, the problem was put up
to the newspapers direct.
EDITORS
COOPERATE
First step was a personal and
confidential letter to newspaper
editors and correspondents, asking
them to refrain from using news
OF ship or aircraft movements, new
naval construction projects, or de
velopment of secret weapons. lhefe
was no intention TO crack down
OH anyone who doesn't cooperate
with this program, and It's all eli
Il patriotic appeal basis. Only three
out of come 1909 editors have SAID
they wouldn't cooperate.
Photographing naval or military
installations designed as secret OF
restricted is another matter. Presi-
dental orders of last March cOVel
this offense, providing $1,000 fine
and a year in prison for violations
and this covers also unauthorized
photographing of any factory max
Ing war supplies All news photos
therefore. are passed by army and
Eavy before publication.
II it all sounds a bit silly and
unnecessary, one hypothetical case
will show the necessity Of censor
ship, Take new army cr navy
installation in Hawaii The ; -
anese intelligence syst - -.
naturally after all the i IJtaiatior
they can get. Sooner or later they
may get it, but if we can force
the Japs to spend year OF hare
work getting the dope for them
SelveS-Spend Il lot of money or
the job, getting some of the in
formation wrong and having gaps
in what they do get right-ther
the secrecy policy has paid.
Also there's the advantage OF
keeping the other fellow guessing
II a squadron takes off frem a
naval base, its departure can be
observed But if the des tinatior
OF purpose of the ships movements
is unannounced, then the Other
fellow has to send fishing boat.
all over the Pacific to find out
what goes on.
It's amazing, too, how even tht
littlest bits OF information can b,
revealing. II news gets out that
$50 men are stationed at an islant
air base, it doesn't take a foreigf
powers intelligence service very
long to figure out just how many
planes are kept there, and wha
they're for
STILL PLENTY
OF NEWS
To keep the public generally in.
formed on military and naval af
fairs. the services do intend to GIVE
out all the general Information
they can. There is plenty of new!
which can just as we'll be printed
and will be. But there are on tht
books now, under the old espionage
act of 1917, all kinds of authority
for cutting down on the plIbIicatio,