The Censorship

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 70, 12 August 1914, Page 6

The Censorship

i A REQUEST TO THE PRESS. The censorship of news is at present causing a good deal of public comment, but it is now recognised that what is being done by the authorities is solely in the interests of the Empire. We have been officially informed thatstrict orders are contained in the regulations on which censors are working : to the effect that press telegrams emantiiv from the theatre of war,and which lliave been passed in the case of those referring to naval operations by the naval authorities, and in the case of, those referring to military operations by the military authorities in the field, will not be stopped in transit except for veryurgent reasons, the ease being reported by cable at once by the censor here to the chief censor in London. It is pointed out that there is no exaggeration to state that the victories gained by Germany over France in 1870, by Japan over Russia in I!KM, and by .Bulgaria over Turkey in 1U1.2 were due in no small measure to the secrecy that veiled their operations—a secrecy that extended to the preßs in each case. In the 1870 campaign, MacMahon's downfall at .Sedan was primarily due to his «movements being given away by the British press in London. Moltk'e was ignorant of MacMahon's movements, but their publication in London led to then 'transmission to Berlin, and thence to the German General. There is, also, the story of the Japanese General, who, "siting down'' outside a beleaguered Russian city, place.d so high a value on ablute secrecy that lie set his example to the army. He did not write or send one line to bis family from beginning to end of the siege. It is urgently asked, with regard to the publication or circulation of information relating to the. present crisis, that no reference should be circulated: (1) Movements of the British naval vessels in the Pacific. (2) Coaling arrangements or hire of colliers, whether connected with th .• navy or private interests. (•') Routes taken by British shipping. _ (4) Shipping news, except as regards ■New Zealand coastal shipping. (5) The destination of any expeditionary force should it ever become necessary to send one or the date of the despatch.