The Sunday telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1914-1927, 1914-12-20
BRITISH Gems ORSFIIP
1 BltIlytsS THO GIT HOME
ThatissWhile Everybody Knows
It All is Well So Long as It
is Kept 0utiof Papers.

1 Correspondence OF Associated PressJ
l LONDON, Dec. 19.-The British
press censorate has not yet permit
tied the British newspapers to make
fany mention Of the loss OF the battle
Ship Audacious. The facts that the
Audacious was put out Of commission
by a mine, or by German submar-
inc, of the northern coast OF ireland
on October % and that the white
Star steamer Olympic took on her
crew are we'll known in all English
newspaper offices, however, and are
a matter OF common report among
the public
The policy OF the admiralty in de-
Ginning to have any statement made
| in England is dictated by the view
that in the absence Of official confir-
nation the Germans may think that
the report is another canard which
has gained general credence like the
widely spread and firmly believed
story of the passage of Russian
army through Great Britain 10
France. American newspapers con-
tanning the story have been sold ION
the newsstands Of the London hotels,
and offered on Fleet street by the
newsboys. This has made the London
papers chafe under what some Of
them consider the unnecessary rigors
Of their censorship. The Daily News
and Leader, one Of the strongest
Iparty organs of the present govern
ment published pointed protest re-
Gently. A censorship is wholly new
experience for English newspapers.
They have quickly adjusted themsel-
YES to the possibilities Of defying Il
in the spirit while observing 1t in
the letter: The Daily News and Lead
er did not mention the Audacious,
but it said any everyone understood
its meaning:
Learn Away from Home
"Rumors Of an event of very great
Importance to the British public have
been circulating for. long time past
now in this country. Very fun ac-
counts of the event in question have
now been published in the Swedish,
the Dutch, the American and finally
the German papers. There is scarce.
lily an important public in the world,
that is to say, which has not now re-
ceived full report Of the alleged
occurrence, except that one which is
most directly affected by it.
1.-THE truth or falsehood Of the re-
ports is matter on which judgment
may, and indeed for the moment must,
be suspended 1t is ineligible that
the authorities may have good reas-
ons for delaying the publication OF
news, favorable or otherwise, until a
time when IN their Judgment its pub
lication will be most effective or least
prejudicial to the public interests.
The sincere study and understanding
Of national psychology may be of i'm
portant assistance in struggle such
as that we are now waging. But it
is surely psychological blunder OF
the first order to conceal from the
British public news, which good or
bad, is the common property of their
neighbors.". t's
The Times dwells editorially upon
the same matter, saying:
"0ur Office is Uttered with German
newspapers containing news we are
forbidden to publish. We have also
many American newspapers contain
ing the same news, which was further
sent broadcast in the German wireless
messages. The present position,
therefore, is that the whole world is
acquainted with news this country is
not permitted to know; and the ridic-
ulous feature Of the situation is that
very large numbers Of individuals in
these islands know it quite we'll"