RESTRICTED                                                                                                         29 September 1944

                                                CENSORSHIP MEMORANDUM #2

The following extracts on the subject of telephone messages from "Censorship Regulations" are published for information and compliance:

While in HAWAII, NO personnel of this ship will use telephone, radio-telephone or cable to the STATES; nor request or permit friends, acquaintances, either individuals or corporations, to use the above for them. Letters may be sent from HONOLULU requesting family or bank to send you a money order or check in care of ship's Fleet Post Office, San Francisco, California, address with NO REASONS given for the request.

While this ship is in the STATES no personnel are authorized to communicate with the press, radio or motion picture representatives without previous authorization of the Commanding Officer, in which case all statements must be written out, censored and approved by the Commanding Officer. It is the individuals responsibility not to allow his statements to be quoted in the local newspapers or make statements concerning the ship while on leave, that will get to the local papers.

While in the STATES, Fleet personnel are authorized to send telegrams, if they are previously censored and passed by a naval censor in the ship. Telegraph blanks will be available in the main communication office, and the duty CWO will have any telegrams submitted sent to the officer designated in each watch section for censoring telegrams. Personnel may notify addressees of own location, BUT such telegrams must not mention the name of the ship or other prohibited topics.

While in the STATES your telegraph address will be:
                   Example: JOSEPH ALOYSIUS GISH, S2/c, USNR
                                 U.S.S. INDIANA
                                 Care of Commandant
                                 13th Naval District
                                 Seattle, Washington

If while on leave, it is necessary for you to communicate with the ship, the address for such telegrams will be:
                                The Commanding Officer
                                U.S.S.INDIANA
                                Care of Commandant
                                13th Naval District
                                Seattle, Washington
NOTE: The above addresses are correct and will be quickly delivered. A Navy Yard address is NOT correct and will not be delivered.

While in the STATES: No mail will be mailed ashore, but will be censored as usual aboard ship. No mention of the ship's whereabouts or your whereabouts are allowed in letters mailed in the ship.
 

The following extract from Censorship Regulations is published for the Guidance of all hands:

PROHIBITED TOPICS - Under no circumstances shall open or hidden reference be made in any personal communications or messages to any of the following:
1. The location, identity, movement or prospective movement of any merchant ship, aircraft, naval vessel or naval or military force.
2. The defensive or offensive forces, weapons, installations or plans of the U. S., or her Allies. Discussion of strictly naval information such as fire control apparatus, turret gear, torpedoes, mines, guns, target practice, radio apparatus, aviation equipment, contents of secret or confidential publications, etc. is also prohibited. Reference shall not be made to weather conditions.
3. The production, movement, or supply of munitions or the location or progress of war industry in any form.
4. The routine or employment of any naval or military unit of the U. S. or her Allies.
5. The effect of enemy operations or casualties to personnel or material suffered by the U. S. or her Allies previous to the official publication of such information.
6. The criticism of equipment, appearance, physical condition or morale of the collective or individual armed forces of the U. S. or her Allies.
7. Matter, the dissemination of which might benefit enemy military, economic, or financial interests or which might interfere with the national effort of or disparage the foreign relations of the U. S. or her Allies.

No cables or radio-telephone calls shall be made or received on this ship while in HAWAII.

Naval personnel stationed outside the continental limits of the United States shall not request or permit civilians (individuals, firm or corporations) to:
1. Place or receive radio telephone calls, and/or receive cablegram or radiograms for them in their behalf.
2. Mail or receive cards, letters, parcels or packages for them. All outgoing correspondence or packages shall be presented for naval censorship and forwarding through the Naval Postal Service. Naval personnel shall not give a ship's name or a unit designation as a return address to commercial firms ashore. The notation, U.S. Navy, will suffice.

The mailing of picture postcards by ship based personnel of the Pacific Fleet is prohibited.

                                                           Signed  W. A. HAMMOND
                                                                       Commander, U. S. Navy
                                                                        Executive Officer
 
 

Last Updated 25 March 2002