Evening star., 1942-01-23
Some U.boats
Won't Return,
Navy Intimates
Public Urged to Keep
Sinkines or Captures
Strictly Secret
By CLAUDE A. MAHONEY.

Dy OAhOOE As WhnONE1s
A Navy spokesman intimated
today that United States patrols
in the Atlantic have sunk or cap
tured "some" submarines recent
ly, but refused to give details
until time when such informa-
tion will no longer be Of value to
the enemy.
Some of the recent visitors to
our territorial waters will never en-
Joy the return portion Of their voy-
age" he said. Furthermore, the
percentage Of one-way trafi1c is in
creasing, while that of two-way traf-
nc Is satisfactorily on the decline"
Discussing further the submarine
activities that have sunk at least
six ships and taken rs lives in little
more than a week, the spokesman
said secrecy regarding our activi-
ties against the subs is part Of the
psychological counter offensive of
modern warfare.
He asked the public to join the
press and radio in disciplining them
selves in the matter Of reporting
incidents that have come to their
attention.
Will Be Told Later.
"If you hear something. stop its
circulation with you-dont pass it
on" he said He asked citizens of
the Nation to adhere to this silence
even II they had seen q submarine
captured or destroyed.
Whenever the time comes that the
story can be told without giving
aid or comfort to the enemy, 1t will
be told, frankly and ofiicially," the |
spokesman said The Navy had |
been beSieged with inquiries about |
counter measures against the sub |
marine menace that has stretclaed |
from Cape Hatteras to Far Northern |
points, and today's statement was |
an answer to those queries. Text Of |
a prepared statement OF \ Navy
spokesman follows:
There are many rumors and un-
oficial reports about the capture
or destruction of enemy submarines.
Some of the recent visitors to our
the return trip portion Of their voy-
age. Furthermore, the percentage
of one-way trafic is increasing, while
that Of two-way trafic is satisfac-
torily on the decline.
Psychological Warfare.
But there will be no information
given out about the fate of the
enemy submarine excursionists who
don't get home until that informa-
ton Is no longer of aid ano COM
fort to the enemy.
This is a phase of the game Of
war secrecy into which every Amer
lean should enter enthusiastically.
"It is phase which is not only i'm
portant from the purely military
viewpoint Of naval operations, but
from the viewpoint of psychological
counter offensive as well.
THE Nazis think themselves pref
ty clever in the field of psychology
1cal warfare. Secrecy regarding the
fate of their submarines is a coun-
ter blow the American people can
give them which may serve to shake
some Of their super confidence.
"It is game in which every
American can and should partici-
pate. The Navy will take care of
enemy submarines, and the people
can help the Navy and the country
by keeping quiet about what they
see or hear of the process or its re-
suits.
THE press and the radio have
made great, patriotic contribution
by voluntarily disciplining them
selves in the matter Of reporting
such incidents as may have come to
their attention unoffcially.
Let the Enemy Guess.
"All the people can make the
same contribution. Even If you
have seen submarine captured or
destroyed, keep it to yourself. Let
the enemy guess what happened.
Whispers and gossip can give
information of value or comfort to
the enemy. If you know something,
keep it to yourself If you hear
something, stop its circulation with
you-dont pass it on.
by this conduct every American
can make his contribution to the
Nays worldwide effort to elm
mate the enemy submarine menace.
Then, as soon as the whole story
can be told without giving aid or
(see SUBS, Page 2-X0