TO THE EDITOR OK "THE TRESS."

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16154, 7 March 1918, Page 9

TO THE EDITOR OK "THE TRESS."

Sir, —1. regret extra mely that your reports of ray evidence before tho Defence Commission compel :nio to ask you to print this protest agiinst their evident bias and sad misrepresentation. I have never, e.g., at any time stated, because I have never at any time thought, that ''the C.O.'s were causing more trouble than they were worth," except from tho military point of' view. On the broader grounds of humanity and intellect, I consider Ihcm, on the contrary, despite their fanaticism, as one of our finest assets, srnj?e they stand, at a time when wc arc tarribly in need'of it, for freedom of c onscience and of thought. And, if I had not known before now fundamental is the need for such freedom, even :for the sake of real practical efficiency, my recent opportunity of hearing military witnesses would certainly hajfe enlightened me. The fanatical devotion to the great god, "Regulations,"' inculcated by our military .system, is really touching. But it is also quite Pmssian, and what it must, ho costing us iin time, money, and efficiency one sfiuddars to think.—Yours, otc.,

33. E. BAUGHAN,