Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-03-18
Wi+hhoIdinq
OfWar News
Not Justified
Babying Methods Shake
Public Faith in Reports
BY HUGH S. JOHNSON

ulSdstfOdS naval Ddttle OF
Java, a story began circulating
in Washington Of great Amer
lean naval victory in which the
main japanese fleet was pic
tured as being caught of
guard and taking a terrific
mauling.
Nobody mentioned il in the
press, because it had no official
-the-record confirmation. and
because OF the voluntary censor
ship which makes commentators
wary of giving out even "it-is-
said" stories Of this kind.
The official idea is that
enough time should be given TO
get our ships out OF the dam
gerous area before the enemy
learns OF the engagement.
THAT is a pretty hard one to
L understand, because the
enemy is more likely TO hear OF
its own naval engagements in
Far Eastern waters before we
do. Also the japanese have
been pretty liberal with news
even Of their own set-backs.
Now, however, that question
is not very important. APP
parently with the approval OF
whatever censorship applies 10
broadcaSting, our two foremost
radio prophets and Projectors
have broken the story over the
air 10 about the effect given
above. 6
II still hacks Official corrfirma-
tion, but, whether IL is true or
not. this is censorship and
propaganda - or both 49, at its
worst.
II the story is true. il GER
tainly should not have been
withheld until the acknowledged
defeat of Java had occurred.
nor should il have been officially
delayed on any theory Of serv-
ing up 10 us a big sweet dish 10
be taken AS an antidote for a
smaller, bitter one. We can take
our medicine more manfully
than that
The tendency of any such
babying is 10 shake public faith
in any war story that comes
out OF Washington. especially
after so many embroidered ones
have been handed 10 US
If THE story is not true. II is
one of the few and certain
cases where an effective ban by
censorship would be amply iusti-
fed and approved by all thought
full people We don't need TO
have our courage stimulated by
falSehoods or our judgment
warped by untrue statements OF
our condition and our danger.
Whatever harm we can do 10
Japanese naval power IS all on
the credit side Of our ledger and
We want 10 know about IT, But,
barring such a Gripping OF il
and its attendant air power,
that, regardless Of the distance,
difficulties and handicaps. II IL
incapable Of sustained resist
ance. the current talk of car
rying offensive war 10 Japan"
and her defeat in 1912 is equally
misleading
Incendiary bombs dropped on
her highly combustlble cities by
Overwhelming air power would
produce more destructive results
than elsewhere But il has yet
10 be proved that a strong mill
tary nation can be completely
Subdued by bombs alone. and We
simply do not yet have the
equipment and trained armies
and, above all, the ships 10 send
and supply sufficient ground
force to Japan TO take advan-
tage OF the havoc we might
cause by our bombing
I'VE WON'T and cant have Il
w in 1912, especially If we
engaged IN "all-out' offensive
operations IN Europe.
The success and principal
characteristic Of the gangster
nations has been the thorough
ness af planning and preparation
for each great blow before it
was struck. We lack all this.
We are building with more
raplditY than many Of us
thought possible. But we are not
ready yet.
We must be patient until we
are ready. and our government
must abandon its policy, since
the beginning of our prepare.
tons, of leading our people 10
believe that we are stronger or
more successful than we are.