Mortal fear of the U. S. armed services, particularly the Navy, is uncontrolled publicity. They also fear that given a free rein, reporters, radio commentators and photographers are likely now & then to spill secrets that the Axis powers would dearly like to know.
But unless the public is informed the services cannot rely on public support which they need for a hundred important matters, from conscription to battleship building. Hence, except in actual wartime, compulsory press censorship is out of the question. Few weeks ago the Navy got an idea. Secretary...