WAR AND CENSORSHIP

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3162, 14 August 1917, Page 5

WAR AND CENSORSHIP

GENERAL ANDERSON'S CRITICISM. Brigadier-General Anderson returned to Melbourne last week, after acting for some time as commandant of the Australian administrative headquarters in London. "One thing that struck me especially on returning," General Anderson said in an interview, "was the fact that Australia still seems scarcely to rcahso what the war means. In Britain all the people seem to realise that this is a life and death struggle, and that tho position is serious. They knew that they are fighting for existence. I hey know, too, that Australia and New Zealand are being bitterly fought for on tho plains of Danders. I can say to you that there is no doubt at all about that A certain official at the War Office told me only recently that we in Australia need not live in any fool's paradise with regard to that. They have obtained special knowledge of these things. In this connection General Anderson was strongly critical with regard to the censorship. "I am afraid the true facts of the war don't reach the Australian public," he remnrked. "I ascribe that to the censor system, which is. wise enough in file individual case, but is apt to bo had in tho aggregate result. Certain items are cut out for fear that they may bo useful to the enemy, and tlio result is that only reassuring views are published, and tho bad news is cloaked. General Anderson laid emphasis upon the fact that the difficult tnsk before the 'Vllips was much more fully realised in Britain. Dealing with tho Australian troops in particular, ho said that there were some 10,000 troops on Salisbury Plain when lie left, but tho number would gradually bo reduced as tho reinforcements were needed. A. new infantry division was in coursp oF formation. For tuo whole administrative work some COOO men were- allowed, but *'ie work was carried on with 3000. "I was surprised to find That there was an idea here, he eaid, "that tho administrative headquarters at Horseferry Road were staffed with A class men-mull lit for tho trenclii-s. I hat is not so. Wcs have always used J? class men—men convalescing from wounds or sickiKWS-and girls. There is a periodical medical inspection, and, as tne men Iμcoine fit again, they aro removed, and others take their places."