Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-05-04
PRESS IN WARTIME.
English Journalists Favoring Bill to
Curtail It's Activities

From the Fortnlghtly Review
A good case can be made out for such a
measure of restriction as the Morning Post
advocates--a measure, that is to say max
ing II penal in time of war and when war
is imminent, to publish any but official
news Of naval and military movements. 1t
is part of newspapers business to supply
news to public that is, beyond all things,
greedy of news, and in the excitement of
national crisis, when war is a possibility of
the next few hours the appetite for infor-
nation and the desire to furnish 1t act and
react upon one another until both are liable
to become recklessy intensified.
Lord Spencer feelingly admitted the mani
fest and manifold dangers of such unre-
stricted publication, but he seemed to think
they could be overcome by an appeal ito
the good feeling Of those concerned" 1t is
not difficult to bring that supposition to the
test of experience. The admiralty from
time to time sends around circulars to the
newspapers requesting them not to publish
any information they may happen to pos
sess in regard to the plans OF this or that
newly launched battleShtp- All decent pa
pers scrupulously observe that request, but
It is lamentable fact that in many cases
1t is ignored and that the details which the
admiralty in the national interests desires
to have suppressed do somehow ma their
way into print Now, If journals can be
found that will publish the plans of bat
tleship-a matter in which not one-hun-
dredth of l per cent of their readers feels
the slightest intereSt-are they likely to re-
frain from making public Item Of news
which may treble or quintuple their circu-
lation at time when an excited nation is
clamoring for all the news 1t can get? l
am bound to confess that l think it most
improbable that they would exercise any
such self-deniai.
To myself as a journalist, and I am con-
WINGED to most of the members of the pro-
fesSion, 1t Is monstrous and appalling
thought that q moments heedlessnesS in
the publication of war news may be the
means of sending brave men TO their DEATH
of disarranging the plans of an entire cam
paign and of jeopardiZing the security of
the nation. From so terrible a RESPONSE
bilty 1 feel sure that all that is to be re-
lieved.
The press has no desire to remain in a po-
sition where it appears to be fighting against
the national interests. 1t asks to be pro-
tected against liberty which 1t cannot in
the nature of things help abusing. We are
apt in this country to look upon the war as
a sort of giadiatorical 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 e. country is at war every
man and woman that belongs to the coun-
try is at war also. and that the first pre-
requisite OF HSntlHs eiiiciency is that all the
strength and resources of the nation should
be welded into a single thunderbolt
The press will lose nothing, and VIII gain
much, by taking the lead in securing the
passage of such a bill is here outlined
1t is far too powerful to fear the thin end
of the wedge" argument, or to profess any
alarm lest censorship over its freedom to
criticise the conduct Of campaign and to
expose, If need be, its shortcomings should
be hereafter evolved. Such a censorship is
impossible In this country. and would not
be desirable even II 1t We're possible. The
nation as a whole places the safety of the
state above every other consideration
am not unhopeful that even party poll
ticians may for this once be induced to take
the same VIEW If the government thinks
the aim worth attaining Ii has only to
throw itself frankly upon the press, parla-
ment and the country to achieve it.