The Waterbury Democrat., 1942-06-17

ship sinkings, the smelling of the e on Alaska would have done the tric
 But Monterey, already knew, and was able to boast that, militarily speaking, itfwas the most close mouthed spot In the nation.
 Should you, . stranger, see a soldier at bar some place on the Monterey Peninsula and say to him in friendly way:
 "Hi, Soldier. What's your out-
 ft?"
 (a) The soldier would say,
 Sorry, that's military informa-
 tiOn."
 (b) Other civilians In the place
 would eye you carefully, and if
 you measured up all right would
 say, "We're cooperating with the
 Army here by keeping quiet on
 all military subjects. Please don't
 ask soldiers any questions"
 (c) The bartender would point
 to n large poster over the bar that
 says, "Zip Your Lip"
 EVERYONE
 WAS TALKING ."
 This penchant for secrecy didn't pop out by itself. Long after De- cember 2, Monterey folk went on talking about troop movements at nearby Fort Ord and the new planes at the Salinas air base.
 Loose talk among citizens be- came a real problem.
 New troops were arriving at Fort Ord. Others were leaving. Car- loads of equipment arrived on every long freight train. Gun erl- placements went up along the less rugged sections of the Peninsula coast.
 And everyone was talking. The soldiers on pass in town talked among themselves and civilian over- heard them. Each new troop move ment was common knowledge.
 Few paid much attention to printed warnings that slip of the lip might sink a ship. Some meth- cd had to be found to make every individual personally responsible for keeping himself - and his neighbor - quiet.
 The method was found, and put over, by the Fort Ord Public Rela- tions staff, headed by Lieutenant J. K. Connell. The lieutenant, @ form Or newspaperman, actor, and pro- motion expert, believed in show manship-and showmanship made the Monterey Peninsula shut up. ADVICE AT ..-
 Most of the information, of course, came from soldiers, so they were the first to feel the impact of the Zip Your Lip" campaign.
 It started with a small box story on the front page of Panorama, the Fort newspaper. The headline was, Dummy Up, Boys, Dummy Up." The text pointed out that there were enemy aliens in this area and that they were eager to learn all they could about Fort Ord and its men.
 The Panorama ran an editorial showing how enemy intelligence uses gossip of troop movements.
 This editorial was reprinted, and other articles and cartoons were carried in daily newspapers throughout the Peninsula. Zip Your Lip!" became the theme.
 All soldiers and civilian employees at Fort Ord were required to at- tend the showing of training film pointing out the possible results of loose talk.
 Most of the men went to Man. terey, Salinas, Carmel or Watson vile on Saturday and Sunday nights. The busses left a central station in the Fort. Lieutenant Con- nell installed loud speaker system at the bus station. On Saturday and Sunday nights one of his staff members reminded the soldiers waiting in line for tickets or busses to "Be quiet when you're in town. Don't talk about your unit, your equipment, or anything else relating to troops at the Fort. Zip Your Lip"
 EVEN GET "ZIP" SLOGAN WITH LUKE BOX MUSIC
 The juxe boxes in the Forts twenty post exchanges operate through 8 central exchange. The soldier drops a nickel in the slot and names the song he wants through a telephone mouthpiece. Before the soldier hears his favor ite music he hears a short jingle, whose catch-line is ''zip Your Lip"
 There are two radio stations in the area. They are cooperating, broadcasting a "zip Your Lip" warning ten times daily.