Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-11-14
Public Informed
On War, owl
Director Insists


WASHINGTON. Nov. IA (INS)
Elmer Davis, director of tn,
Office of War Information, sait
today the American people ar
being kept very well informed
on the progress of the war.
Although refusing to commen
directly on the strong attack or
90 the governments information pol
Icy by Rep. Melvin Mas tR) o.
Minnesota. Davis said;
81 am convinced that we arc
being kept informed Of every
thing that the war and navy
departments get In the way Of
operationaI information.
GET FACTS QUICKLY
'The public Is getting what
ever our military people know
as fast as they know Il, limited
only by genuine considerations
for military secrecy"
The Owl chief proclaimed him
self satisfied" with current re
lations between his agency ant
the armed services on the releas,
of war news. Davis took offic,
nearly six months ago.
The situation has greatly i'm
proved" he said.
for a time in the Solomons. sale
that America was losing the wal
In the Pacific. charged that thu
public vas being misled by officia
war bulletins and asserted tha'
one naval battle was acclaimed a,
a great American victory when
in fact, our losses were greater
than those OF the Japanese.
BATTLE NOT NAMED
Although Mas, a marine corps
reserve colonel. did not specify
the battle. he may have had ref
erence 10 the battle of Save
Island in the Solomons. where
three United States cruisers and
one Australian cruiser were lost
Demands were made in both the
House and Senate for a congress
sional investigation of Mas
charges. The Minnesotan said
that he was prepared 10 back UP
my claims with specific evidence"
'In every naval sktion fought
In the Notwithstanding with
Coral Seattle enemy has re-
treated without accomplishing
his objective" Davis said.
AS far a. we know. there has
been no action except Savo
Island In which our losses were
heavier than the epemy's. Even
In that case. the enemy stiIi re-
treated. indicating that he
wasn't convinced OF the extent
OF our losses"
PROTECTING TRANSPORTS
Davis pointed out that the
cruisers were protecting troop
transports which. he said. must
have been the japanese objective
Even ut Savo. the enemy
turned around and vent h~~k
without attacking the trans
ports" he said
Davis agreed. however. that thu
announcement OF the sinking oI
the three United States cruiser,
was held up too long-nearly two
months-while the Australian gov,
eminent announced the loss of the
Csnneberra 10 days following tho
battle on August SO.
II quite agree, I'm retrospect.
that the announcement was held
mn too long" he said THAT
was my fault. as much ~ the
navy's. knew about u as
soon as they did"
RECALLS COMMUNIQUE
He recalled, however. that the
first navy communique on the bat
tie stated that one cruiser haC
been sunk and two damaged.
THAT was all we knew Mt
that Time" he said. The two
damaged cruisers did not sink
until the next day"
Davis asserted that 1--WE ar,
getting out all the news from
North Africa that our people her,
know"
ut IL fact. however, that
news reports come In SLOWLY
when operations are going on"
he said "Most Of the COM
munications facilities are needed
for operations stuff. This II
especially true OF naval battles.
THE news from 1t. Gen.
Eisenhower IL limited to what
he knows. IL IL factual and
direct"