Evening star., 1944-01-23
Censorship
Continued From Page C-1.)

character and movements of United
States Army, Navy or Marine Corps
units, within or without the continental
limits of the United States-their loca-
ton, identity, exact composition, equip
ment or strength; destination, routes
and schedules; assembly for embarka-
ton, prospective embarkation or actual
embarkation."
Even in the field of production, the
disclosure of statistical information,
without appropriate authority, was for
hidden regarding specific weapons, such
as bombers, fighter planes, 155-mm guns
and medium tanks. These and all other
restrictions were based on the possibil-
ity that items published or broadcast
would arrive by one means or another
in hostile hands.
Eruption Kept. Secret.
The American record in withholding
vital information from the enemy has
been so checkered that there may be
general bewilderment in the United
States as to the efficiency of its coun-
tereSpionage. An eruption of Mauna
Loa directly after Pearl Harbor shot
forth pillar Of flame which was visible
100 miles away for three weeks. The
blazing cone was seen by Hawaii's en-
tire population, including 10000 Of
japanese birth or descent But no men
ton of the phenomenon was permitted
to escape from the islands by letter,
personal or business cable or press dis
patch; nor was there a single reference
in any local newspaper or broadcast.
Not an inkling of the beacon provi-
dentially offered to its night bombers
appears to have reached Toxic. This
volcanic mischance, which might well
have proved fatality, was shrouded
in silence so impenetrable that even
today few Americans have so much as
heard of it.
Triumphs of secrecy enveloped Ameri-
can losses at Pearl Harbor. Prime Min
lister Churchills first Washington con-
ference, in December, 1941; President
Roosevelt's tour of munitions plants in
October, 1912, and his later trip to
Mexico. An impervious screen was
eAAoWiA dOouU VIC 11i1CO CApCulllOL W
Northwest Africa American censor
ship reached high tide in the brilliant
exploit of concealment which veiled the
meeting of Roosevelt and Churchill at
Casablanca.
Yet the Axis acquired exact details,
gleefully put on the air, about the
Roosevelt-Churchill consultation in Au-
gust, 1941, which resulted in the Atlantic
Charter; and also about the Prime Min
isters second visit to Washington in
June, 1912. Several weeks of quiet at
Guadalcanal were broken by q concen-
trated, all-night bombardment during
a visit of Secretary of the Navy Knox.
He had stopped off shortly before at
an obscure Pacific island On the eve
ming of his arrival the American out
post suffered its first aerial raid Of the
war.
Every American newspaper except one
held IN confidence the visit of Foreign
Commisar Molotov to the United States
in May, 1912. But the news of his ar
rival was communicated by a Latin
American emissary in Washington to
his home government, leaked into news
papers there and became known to the
Axis long before the American public
was informed.
Society Columns Scanned.
Society columns in American news
papers are favorite hunting ground
for Axis spies. A Washington daily
related that q naval officer uas vicitipo
the city while his vessel, which was
named, was being repaired. Through
the item Toxic possibly learned for the
first time that the vessel had been
damaged. The presence of a British
warship in New York Harbor was
"blacked out" in the news. But a social
item gave a list of guests entertained
at dinner. Among the names were those
Of officers Of the ship. Tho rest was