Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-08-08
u. ). Censorship
Aiding Enemy,
Publisher Says
Americans Dependent
on Axis Sources for
News, He Charges

20 X i l. a \ II, ore, Aug.
INS) - Accused Of unreliable
and incomplete handling OF wal
ews. the federal government to-
day was under criticism by Palmer
Hoyt. publisher OF the Portland
Oregonian. for failure TO obtair
the complete confidence of the
American people.
AS an editor. 7 wouldn't hire
the government as n reporter
because II does n bad job Of re-
porting the biggest story In
history 10 the people" Hoyt
said in radio speech II
wouldn't hire the government
as news service because It's
stories are too often unreliable
and incomplete"
BY its strange handling" oi
unfavorable war news, the gov.
eminent has failed 10 gain the
public's full confidence and is un-
Willingly building I'D an audience
for Axis propaganda broadcasts
Hoyt charged.
DEPENDENT ON TOXIC
Actually" he said. "the long
dry spell Of facts on the Aleu-
tian situation from the initial
phases until the Wheeler stories
broke made our public depend
ent IN Toxic for news from the
Aleutians.
"A series Of eyewitness ac-
counts of The Alcutian cam
paign ny Keith Wheeler. Chi
caco newspaperman. was re-
leased for publication in the
latter part Of july
TOO often government fail
tires 10 enlighten the people has
been attributed 10 the necessity
for military secrecy. hut too
often military secrecy has not
justified misleading reports. No
one wants To help the enemy,
hut none can endorse policy
Of silence II IL he utilized To give
aid and comfort to the men re-
sponsible for our military or
civil failures"
for our military or civil fail
ures."
Hoyt claimed the "difuse. nebu-
lous and conflicting reports on
domesrr shortages have created
confusion in the public mind and
pointed out that public confidence
IS vital 10 a democracy in peril. %
LOSE on NEWS FRONT
Just NJ we have experienced
many defeats In armed warfare.
30 have We suffered manX. losses
In the sector NJ news Md in
formation" Hoyt said From
Pearl Harbor 10 the Java Sea,
from the Java Sea TO Murmansk
and the Aieutian<. We have
failed 10 utilize the great tonic
that the stark realism of bad
news can give r determined End
united people.
fuse. nebulous and conflicting
reports Of gas rstioning. rubber
shortages sugar stocks. oil sup
plies. have left the public groggy
and uncertain.
II think Americans are will
ing ~ 60 without sugar. gas.
rubber or oil IL II will win this
war; am sure Amer leans
would 60 barefoot in the streets
N II would bring victory.
MUST KNOW FACTS
"But To riothe themselves
with such n psychology. Ameri-
cans must he sure that priys-
ton IL necessary--that IL stems
from fact and not the theorcti-
cal conclusions OF some so-called
expert.
To-day, our government does
not have the confidence Of the
people To the extent essential In
all-out victory. II does not have
II because the people do not feel
the government has heen real
lstic about the facts of the war.
FAITH NEEDED
"No one wants To help the
enemy, hut press and public
alike wonder whether the naval
and military establishments are
awake To the fact that American
security is even greater than
nayai or military security.
American security - faith In
ourselves--fsith In our leader
ship-faith In our government"
Turning to the Aleutian Situa-
ton, the publisher criticized fed
eral authorities for attempting 10
sugarcoat bad news.
"Shortly after the attack on
Dutch Harbor. the Japanese an
nounced the occupation Of some
~ the Aieutians. The claim
was promptly denied by our
own naval headquarters.
TOXIC SUSTAINED
Two days later we officially
admitted landings at Attu and
kiska, but said they had been
small.
as the New York Times said
editorialiy, An adequate report
IF events occurring in the sec
ond week Of June was not made
public by the navy department
until the third week OF July
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