TOPIC OF THE TIMES

Southland Times, Issue 18845, 10 June 1920, Page 4

TOPIC OF THE TIMES

People in the British Empire had no means whatever during the war of knowing to what extent politics, a term with wide meaning, influenced the choice of generals, their advancement or their retirement. Nor to-day have the public become much better enlightened on the subject. In France, magnificent as were the achievements of the army itself, there was a never-ending subterranean intrigue that certain men shotlld have the glory, and its fruits, and that certain men should not be left to interfere with a carefully drawn plan, the objects of which are displaying themselves day by day. Marshal Joffre has been stopping at Glion, the little town that perches above Montieux, and from which one has a noble sweep of lake and mountain. The reporter who went to interview him found the marshal seated by a window; upright in figure, very calm and rather sad, as he sat there dressed in civilian clothes he presented a picture of great dignity. He seemed to have had none of the marks of the staff officer in mufti; it seemed to the journalist that “in him the soldier was subordinated to the Frenchman. But what a moving incarnation of the fundamental qualities that have made the triumph of his race.” The marshal was very simple and kindly; he told how years ago when he was directing the works at Pontarlicr, for he belongs originally to the engineers, he used to make little sojourns in Switzerland, and told of his admiration for the Swiss. He said rather gravely: “But you are not acquainted with all the intrigues in politics,” and the Swiss journalist honestly confesses that he could have told the marshal that he was under some slight illusions on that point. On January 4 a decree was promulgated that will have a marked effect in Italian journalism. In Italy, as in most of the continental countries, a newspaper has its Sunday issue as regularly us its weekly, in fact, both are part of the same seven-day issue. Though various attempts have been made from time lo time to do away with the seven-day issue so as to assure a day off for writers and printers, hitherto they have failed. Now that this decree has entered into action, the newspapers will be published somewhat as follows; Morning papers will come out Sunday and Tuesday mornings and the evening papers will come out Saturday and begin again on Monday. No newspapers can be sold Sunday afternoon, the sale beginning again on Monday morning. hut no newspaper may be published from Sunday morning to Monday afternoon. Working hours are regulated so that all who collaborate on a newspaper shall have about 35 hours to themselves, including Sunday. Italian journalists have long hoped to see such a decree in force and trust that the penal clause will be enforced, namely, the breaches of its provisions are to be met with a fine of not less than 10,000 lire. The Italian journalist works very hard and is in many cases a man of education and intellect, a fact that by no means insures a large income, and for this reason, if for no other, it is to be trusted that the new law will prove a benefit to all connected with Italian newspapers.