1951-01-09 — Page 5

THE HONGKONG TELEGRAPH, TUESDAY, JANUARY 9, 1951.

KOREAN WAR CENSORSHIP Inconsistencies In Treatment Of Stories Submitted No Longer Possible To Say Anything About U.N. Troops

as

(Reuters called for a report on the working of censorship from its team of correspondents covering the Korean war.

Here it is received by cable. It did not pass through censorship on the basis that no security was involved).

Tokyo, Jan. 8.

Censorship of Korean war news has grown so tight in three weeks of trial and error that it is no longer officially possible to say anything more about British troops or, indeed, any United Nations troops than that they are in Korea.

Dalai Lama Now In Yatung

New Delhi, Jan. 8. Authoritative sources to- day said that the Tibe- tan capital of Lhasa: had been quiet since the flight of the Dalai Lama, boy spiritual leader of mil- lions of Tibetans. They said the Dalai Lama bad- reached the city of Yatung but there was no indication that he planned to come to India.-United Press.

comfies from communiques which are sometimes 24 hours

behind events.

The spotlight turned on com- muniques has re-opened a long- standing criticism of Air Force

announcements which often appear to enter details it would be impossible to observe from a fast aircraft.

Three months ago, after 001- respondents questions about pilots' claims to have killed

Communists in numbers down to the last digit, the Air Force began issuing claims in round opera-figures.

AIR FORCE CLAIMS Asked today about London. press criticisms of "over ac- curate" Air Force reports, a senior spokesman

said that claims were based on:

(1) The observation of ex- perienced pilots.

From the original ban on pinpointing move- ments, positions and plans, the censors now blue- pencil derogatory comments on United Nations troops or commanders, any mention of casualties or even movements of Communist guerillas. There are frequent inconsis-, summary of the day's tencies In the treatment of tions filed a few hours later. stories submitted for censorship Correspondents in Tokyo findi

the delay in

censors' in the field and in Tokyo thosh little

-CON- there is daily liaison betweek handling of news though

at Eighth Army the censor groups at American respondents Eighth Army Headquarters in Headquarters sometimes Korea and General Headquarters their stories delayed up to two here.

or three hours.

General MacArthur's

(2) It appeared to laymell M. P. Echols, that fighters flying at 500 miles officer. Colonel

a uniform.

an hour could have only a under pressure for interpretation of the rules,

momentary glimpse of a target, insists that the censorship but, in fact, department is

a pilot coming still "shaking down" and will soon sort out its his sights "quite a long time," into attack could keep men in

noting the effect of his machine guns firing ahead,

From the British point of view the most serious instance of this was during the with- drawal

ä

from Seoul when teading American news agency reported that the Royal Ulster

Rifle Battalion of the British 29th Brigade had been sur- Founded and wiped out.

It was understood here tha: this story-published throughout the world with the Royal Ulster Rifle Battalion identified-was cleared by an Eighth Army cen- sor in Korea.

difficulties.

have

press

Correspondents also criticised the basic censorship rules now laid down by headquarters.

The blanket ban on "deroga- tory comments" is attributed by most correspondents to have

followed

effect of

(3) The blanket bombs were known to cover a napalm (jellied petrol). Fire

certain area and all inside this

to was assumed

be

a story from an space on American correspondent criticis-casualties. ating General MacArthur's leader- (4) Planes seldom flew singly

ship and planning of the Korean and pilots watched the effects: campaign.

of each other's attacks. Also, slow-flying observation planes usually watched fighters and bombers at work, providing | another check on results,

A Reuter correspondent Tacgu, in South Korea, was in- structed to investigate the report and was told by an Army spokesman there that the facts as reported were not true.

But a censor prevented the Reuter correspondent from filing a dispatch denying the false report on the grounds that it mentioned a specific unit and might, therefore, be of value to the enemy.

In fact, the Brigade suffered in an ambush some casualties but the original report was much exaggerated.

Whether this is correct or not. the censors admit that headquarters is sensitive to criticism "because it gives aid and comfort to the enemy".

But correspondents feel that this reaction to criticism might, closely watched, un- wittingly result in a dangerous

unless

way as

1

(5) When ground troops were able to advance into positions attacked from the air they fre quently found more dead than the pilots had claimed

for

The object shown in the punt above is a stone, but not the Stone of Scone. It was recovered from the Serpentine, Hyde Park, following a phone call to Scot- land Yard saying that a heavy object had been dropped into London's famous lake after the robbery from West- minster Abbey.-Central Press.

Some Of Truman's

Programme Will Be Sharply Contested

Washington, Jan. 8. Congressmen generally applauded President The censor maintained this extension of control measures instance, last January 2 when Truman's notice that the United States will get attitude though it was pointed which were originally intro-

the Air Force claimed 1,500 ready to fight if necessary against Russian im- out to him that the families of duced to prevent tactical infor-killed, the infantry reported men in the Ulsters had beenmation of, possible value reach- double that number.

perialism. But their reaction showed that some left believing that the battalion ing the enemy.

The spokesman declared that had been annihilated and that With regard to the exclusion in the long run it was expected details of his programme will be sharply contested. suppression of the throw-down of any. reference to national that the success of air onslaughts

Senate Republican would

leader pletely" endorsed the President's now indica- would be "considerably greater Kenneth Wherry denounced the programme and cause them further forces there are

predicted that needless worry. ;

tions that the censors

than now claimed." are

message as a "shocking dis- it will have wide public support, interpreting this rule in such a But independent observers appointment" and challenged Acting chairman James

to allow

still through

feel that enthusiastic President Truman's policies in Richards of the House Foreign colour stories or behind the young pilots tend to claim they Europe. He said he will offer Affairs Committee said the lines activities so long as actual killed every. Communist tank

a resolution to put the Senate President should have "touched It is understood that the cir-positions are not disclosed they attacked,

on record against sending more more o'n the obligations of cumstances of this episode were

either directly.. or by implica-

• British correspondent's troops to Europe until the Con- (other) democratic countries reported to the War Office in tion.

question is credited with having gress passes on the issue, against the common menace." London in official dispatches Censorship has brought in stopped Press briefings in House Republican leader Republican Party Whip L from Korea.

much greater dependence on Tokyo about a month ago. It Joseph Martin said, "We are Arpeda said the "President will official releases for news of followed an Air Force spokes-all ready to unite to what is have the Fullest co-operation ANOTHER INSTANCE the tactical situation,

man's briefing statement... necessary to make a strong from the Congress" in building Censors are now cutting hard "and 50 Communist horses America."

up "our military strength." But Another instance occurred in at frontline reports of the were destroyed."

Speaker Sam Rayburn of the United States foreign policy reporting the rescue of four fighting which previously The correspondent simply Texas said it was a

completely TQ- British wounded by helicopter. gave the

strong "should be up-to-date picture asked the spokesman, "Can you message, but "not too strong" examined and made more realis- Mention of the wounded was often well in advance of "official please say how many anti- under the present circumstances. tic ..... There must be no secret twice approved in Reuters' information. This means that Communist horses were killed?”

Senale Democratic leader commitments of secret agreË- stories but was deleted from a most of the hard news now-Reuter.

Ernest McFarland said he "comments"-Laited Press.

NANCY

Knot So Dumb

NANCY, COULD I

BORROW YOUR

| SUNGLASSES

SURE

BUT ONE OF THE GLASSES IS BROKEN

DAT'S O.K.

By Ernie Bushmiller

BASEBALL

TODAY

When there's bif I needn't use my

fist!

bif

WITH 5% DOT

SURE MILL

| SPLAGANIE:NAN KANG CO.1992:

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