The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-03-13
THE PRESS IN WAR TIME.
English Journalists FavoTihS = Bih TO
Curtail It's Activities.
FROM ne Fortni0htiv Reriev.

Fropt ne Forth i0htlv Rsriev.
A good case can be made out for such a
measure OF restriction AZ the Morning Post
advocates-a measure. that II to say. making
Il penal IN time OF wRr. and when war IL immi-
nent, to publish any but official news OF naval
and military 1t Is part OF p
newspapers business to supply news 10 q
public hat Is. beyond all things, greedy OF
news and in the excitement OF q national
crisis. when war IL q possibility OF the mex,
few hours. the appetite for ana
the desire TO furnis II act and react upon one
another until both are liable TO become reoR-
leesly intensified.
lord Spencer feelinRly admitted the mani
fest and manifold dangers of such unre-
strlcted publication. but he seemed 10 think
they could be overcome by an appeal 'tothe
good feeling OF those concerned" IL IL NOT
di61cult to bring that supposftlon to the test
Of experience. The Admiralty from time 70
time sends around circulars to the newspapers
requesting them not to publish any lnforma-
ton that they may happen TO possess In re-
gardtothe plans Of this or that newly launched
battleshlp. All decent papers scrupulouslS
observe that request. but II ID a lamentable
fact that In many cases 1t Ia ignored ana fhat
the details which the Admiralty In the ma
tional interests desires to have suppressed
do somehow find their way into print. now
II Journals can be found that Will publish the
ploHb Oh u DdIllBbulp-d nubboi III Vh'Sh ~
one-hundredth OF 1 per cent. Of their readers
feels the slightest interest-are they likely
to refrain from making public an item OF
news which may treble or auintuple their
circulation at a time when an excited nation
Is clamoring for all the news it can getr j
am bound to confess that | think 1t most
improbable that they would exercise any
such Belf-deniaL
To myself, as a Journalist, and I am con-
WINGED to most Of the members Of the pro-
fession, 1t is a monstrous and appalling
thought that q moments heedleesness In the
publication OF war news may be the means OF
sending brave men to their death, OF dtsar-
ranging the plans of an entire campaign and
Of jeopardizing the security Of the nation.
From SO terrible a responsibility / feel sure
that all that Is best in the profession ID but
too anxious to be relieved.
The press has no desire to remain In a posi-
tion where 1t appears to be fighting against
the national interests. 1t asks to be pro-
tected against a liberty which it cannot in
the nature of things help abusing. We are
too apt In this country TO look upon war as
a sort OF gladiatorial combat. a setto be-
tween picked champions on either side. In
which the people play the part OF passive
spectators. But the extracts / have quoted
from responsible papers show that some
Journalists. at any rate. are beginning to
realize that when a country Is at war every
man and woman that belongs to the country
is at war also. and that the first prerequisite
of fighting efficiency Is that all the strength
and resources Of the nation should be welded
into a single thunderbolt.
The press will lose nothing. and will gain
much, by taking the lead In securing the
passage Of such a bill as Is here outlined. 1t
is far too powerful to fear the thin end OF
the wedge" argument. OF to profess any
alarm lest q censorship over its freedom to