Evening star., 1942-04-23
Information BIackout
Keeps Public in Dark
On Many War Feais
u. S. Policy Involves
Principles OF Surprise,
Movement and Security
BY WALTER B. CLAUSEN.

+ PEARL HARBOR. T. H, April
% LII the shrouds OF secrecy
drawn over the Pacific by the mas
ters Of tactics and strategy could be
parted even temporarily, thrilling
and fascinating answer would be
provided 10 the question as TO what
the Navy and air forces Of America
are doing.
The blackout on information of
/ operations put into effect December
7 involves three fundamental prin-
ciples-surprise, movement and
! security.
If the strategists chose to take
time from their planning of oper-
ationS they could point, for example,
/ 10 the confusion in the minds of the
/ Japanese as TO where the planes
/ came from which appeared over
/ Toxic and other japanese cities last
/ Saturday. Up to now all informa-
tion on the raid has come from
Japan.
| Reports from Japan so far indicate
/ the strategic success of the con-
/ cealment of this information. The
actual sources Of the attack Is of
even greater consequence than the
actual damage from the raids.
Japs' Ship Toll Over 200.
American naval and air forces
have been mighty busy. The Japa-
nese know far more than the Amer
ican public can be told OF the effects
OF the farflung American opera
tions in the Pacific Only when it
is known definitely that the Japa-
nese high command has learned of
its tragedies is the veils of secrecy
lifted by the American commanders.
Losses OF Japanese fighting and
supply ships sunk and damaged by
American forces amount to well over
zoo and include every classification
Of japanese naval craft.
The heroic exploits of individuals
and units operating thousands of
miles from their American bases
and within japanese waters become
known only after some time has
elapsed. Even the bestowal of dis
tinguished service honors is with
held until it is certain that no in
formation thereby will be released
that Will be of value to the enemy.
Many Stories Must Wait.
Many amazing stories of the war
in the Pacific may not be revealed
until peace comes.
Operations thrilling in their mag
nitude may have become quite com
monplace before the cloak of secrecy
is lifted. For instance, the mass
movements on a phenomenal scale
| OF troops, supplies and aircraft to
Australia becomes a regular Serv-
ice, simple, fast, safe and effective,
before the story can be told.
The United States forces in the
Pacific are fighting on the surface,
in the air, and under the sea. It
is phase of naval war that strate-
glsts term war of attrition.
From time to time, glimpses of
this war are made public, such as
the sudden thrusts neutralizing
enemy installations on the islands
dotting the western half of the
North Pacific. The raids on the
Marshall, Gilbert and Marcus Is
lands provided but a glimpse many
undertakings must remain untold.
Brilliant Achievements.
The commanders OF submarine
divisions, aircraft squadrons, cruiser
divisions and all fighting elements
OF the feet are writing into the
records of their units achievements
which they will be proud to disclose
some day.
But for the time they are content
to rest on their accomplishments.
A principle that has figured in naval
training problems of the United
States feet for many years is: Keep
the enemy guessing; deny him in
formation.