Evening star., 1941-07-22

NdSl ltlt Liz " lIp OIl tllt ulONC-
ment Of naval forces to Iceland.
Careful examination of the society
columns Of newspapers in the
vicinity of various naval stations
disclosed the same information 1t
is certainly not new thing for
naval facts to be obtained that way.
Indeed, the British government has
had to take drastic steps to prevent
leaks on naval movements which
come from members of the families
of the naval personnel.
Discussion among the Navy De-
partment officials here led to the
belief that this kind of information
could be suppressed by asking the
newspapers to refrain from printing
st, but the job of keeping such news
out of print is accomplished much
Easier by stopping it at the source.
For it could hardly be known in
advance through just what channel
the information about naval move
mentS might leak. One marine is
reported to have written to his
newspaper to transfer his subscrip-
ton to Iceland. Another instance
reported is that of a naval officers
wife who gave the society columns
the information that she was moving
away because her husband had been
ordered to Iceland
The technique of foreign intelli-
gence systems is well worked cut
so as to keep in contact with the
families of naval people. The Navy
Department here is just beginning
to take cognizance of that difficulty
and orders have been issued to
censor the mail emanating from
naval ships to the families Of the
naval personnel. This had to be
done because officers in their let
ters told of purchases of certain
frticles of clothing needed In certain
localities.
Injustice to Wheeler.
1t will be- recalled that Prime
Minister Churchill in public
utterance deplored the fact that
Information about the American
occupation of Iceland had leaked out
before the transfer could be effected.
Since that time the administration
has been placing the blame on SEN
ator Wheeler of Montana and the
other day, in press conference,
President Roosevelt permitted the
correspondents to quote him as not
desiring ito pull another Wheeler"
which was intended to convey the
Idea that he did not want to publish
certain information prematurely
1t turns out, however, that an in
Justice has been done to the Mon
tana Senator, for he was not the
first to mention the naval movement
to Iceland. In fact, the Presidents
message announcing the first ar
rivals of American forces in Iceland
was made public before the whole
troop movement was completed and
while some of the American forces
are believed to have been en- route.
Senator Wheeler,s comment about
iceland was made on July last
and the Navy Department is said to
have been exercised before that day
by the publication of notices in the
society columns of newspapers in
Virginia telling of prospective move
nent Of certain American naval
officers to Iceland. 1t is extremely
doubtful, therefore. that the first in
formation about the Iceland move
came to the Axis powers through the
public comment of the Montana
Senator.
It's Up to Army and Navy.
This correspondent has not agreed
with the views of Senator Wheeler
on foreign policy, but believes the
Montana Senator is entitled to an
apology by the administration if the
Navy Department did. in fact, know
about the publication of naval off,
GERS movements to Iceland before
the Montana Senator gave his in
tervieW.
1t is regrettable that such personal
accusations are being banded about
80 that, as in the case of Atlanta,
the use of an auditorium for speak
ing is denied the Montana Senator
because allegedly he has made pub
lie naval secrets.
The best way TO stop the leakage