THE CENSORSHIP OF WAR NEWS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2593, 15 October 1915, Page 5

THE CENSORSHIP OF WAR NEWS

BIG CONTROVERSY IN BRITAIN

DEMAND FOR A FREE PRESS

Hy 'fclesraph—Press Assdciation-Copyrielit ("Times" and Sydney "Sun" Services.) London, October 13. Controversies are raging about tho censorship, which is condemned l everywhere. The newspapers are demanding that the public bo told tho truth. The "Pall Mall Gazette' says tho cellsorslup lias boen convict&d of gross doficiency in intelligence, cud destroying the confidence of tlie country. The "Globe" urges Lord Selbourne (President of the Board of Agriculture) to resign and conduct an anti-censorship campaign. 1 The "Evening News" says: "It is the nation's and not tho censor's war. Does the Government want to keep the censorship and lose the war?"

A leader in the "Daily Mail" says: "Tho spectacle of Lard Selbourne reproving the Censor (Sir John Simon), both membors of Cabinet, would 6eem humorous if tragedies did not lis behind. A 6 at present managed, the censorship, apparently, is to prevent bad news from France and the Dardanelles reaching Great Britain, Australia, and New Zealand, but the facts are soon known by the woundod talking."

Mr. Frederick Harrison, in a letter, says: "Conscription and tho militarisation of the human and economic energies of the Empire remain our only safety. The Balkans; are a now area of open warfare, where decisions may be expected. The Germans,- like Napoleon, hope to strike us in. a \ ulnerablo spot. Only the Press can 6ave us. It is tho duty of tho responsible Press to take the censorship into its own hands, and explain the situation without stint and without fear, and the spirit of Britain will respond." Sir John Simon, in a letter on the censorship, replies to complaints. Ho declares that the bureau is not the author of tho policy pursued, but merely the instirument carrying out instructions. He instances excisions made in France, not in London. Another controversy is on the advisability of sending an expeditionary force of four hundroa thousand men to tho Balkans. Experts are divided between the olairas of the West front and Seibia.