The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1942-11-05

Elmer Davis has said approx
mately the same thing, but Elmer's
dictatorship Of the Once Of War
Information is in a different clas-
sihcation from Byron's censorial
dictatorship. Elmer's job is quite
largely in the nature Of a publicity
agents. There's news of a kind
that he outright WANTS to circu-
late, which is what makes him an
information director For dope on
current events, curious folk are
told. consult Elmer and he'll in.
form EN- correctly. A censor's
stunt essentially is hush-hushing.
Anyway, congress, as well as
executives like Byron Price and
Elmer Davis, is beginning to COM
plain of the suppression or delay
in the disclosur- Of unsatisfactory
tidings from our fields Of actual
fighting. In the lower legislative
chamber, for example, Representa-
tive John NJ. Costello Of California,
a member Of the military affairs
committee, and consequently espe-
cially in touch with our national
war effort, the other day men
toned "a growing lack Of conf
dence" in Uncle Sans releases
concerning our activities.
Foolish and Unwise"
In a Navy Day address Senator
Harry f. Byrd Of Virginia referred
to phases Of our censorship as
very foolish and unwise." Appar-
emily this remark wasn't intended
TO apply definitely to Censor Price,
since the latter also thinks the
hushing's being overdone. It's like
lier that all the commentators are
less critical Of the civilian detail Of
war news preparation than Of the
commanders in direct charge Of
the fighting, who don't like to ad-
nit reverses and don't report 'em
at all fully even to Washington
headquarters.
Naturally nobody wants news to
reach cur enemies thatl be help
full to 'enn.
It's pointed out, though, that
there are kinds Of it that weaken
their morale, and bother eFi4 like
sixty.
THEIR story Is that II isn't
genuine news but democratic
propaganda. Nevertheless they
strenuously object to have 1t filter
ing into their respective countries,
and impose penalties, up to killing,
upon folk who risk listening to it
over the radio.
There are Axis subjects, though,
who accept the perils and go on
listening, as is proved by their own
wireless energetic pooh-pooh'ing
Of the reports that reach 'em, re-
CARELESS Of consequences.
nlustratiyely the story evidently
got through to Germany that Mar
shall Goering is profteering enor-
mously upon war investments in
the United States. II so, 1t goes al
most without saying that he's do
ing it strictly under cover. but the
tale clearly has driven the Eazis
nearly frantic, to judge from the
fury Of their denials.
I'm not altogether prepared to
discount EN-. 1t would seem TO me
that Herr Goering would suspect,
after his wartime record, that he'll
have a dickens Of time in CASH
ing in, after the war. on such as
sets as he may have in the U. S. A.
All the same, this is a type Of
gossip that, altering into Germany,
shouldn't require censorizing from
our end Of the line.
Troubles in Italy
II appears that Italy is a deal
more difficult for Signor Mussolini
to keep bottled up than is demo-
cratic news to be excluded from
Germany. That was TO have been
anticipated, since Italy hasn't been
very totalitarian and is becoming