The Press: On Their Own

Newsmen in the Pacific got out of the fryingpan of censorship last week—and found the fire not altogether to their liking. As the Army withdrew its control, it also withdrew its help. And much of this help—transportation, post offices, banks, hospitals, even food—was irreplaceable in remote areas.

¶ In China, where the Army decreed that correspondents would be "disaccredited" Oct. 15, newsmen discovered that they would consequently be unable to move from one city to another in U.S. planes and cars. Shanghai newsmen tried to cable Secretary of War Patterson: "We feel the provision grants Army officers too much authority to decide what the American people may read and what they may not read about activities of troops in China." An Army PRO refused to transmit the message. But since the officer had lost his censorship powers, Bob Patterson could read the message in the newspapers, which received it by Press Wireless. Apparently, the message was also read by Lieut. General George Stratemeyer, acting commander of the China Theater, for at week's end the deadline was extended to Nov. 15.

¶ In Tokyo, General Douglas MacArthur told correspondents that they would be on their own after Oct. 27. They were told that they could wear Army uniforms without insignia, and that they would be given some billeting and food.

After granting these favors, General MacArthur set up a quota system which would please his public relations chief, Brigadier General LeGrande A. Diller, who has a theory that "there are far too many newspapermen over here."

Each press association will be allowed five correspondents in Japan, three in the Philippines. In Korea, a political tinder box, no special correspondents will be allowed, and only one man from each press service.

General MacArthur said that his decree had been "concurred in" by the War Department. Newsmen wondered how censor-free they were so long as an Army officer could decide who could go where.