The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1914-11-30
MUzzLED PRESS
IS DISCUSSED
soNAR LAW SAYS MUCH OF THE
NEWS RELATING TO THE WAR
SHOULD BE GIVEN TO NEWS
PAPERS.
BY ASSOCIATED PRESS.


London, Nov. 28.-'TAe Muzzled
Press was discussed by Bonar Law,
leader OF the Conservative party, in his
address before the House of Commons
at the recent opening of the special
war session and Premier Asquith was
asked for a statement on the govern
ment's position in regard to the sup
preston of war news.
There is a general feeling, which
share said Mr.. Law, that the press
is more muzzled than is necessary for
military reasons, and secondly, If that
be so, 1t is odisadvan tageous from the
point OF view Of every other
interest in this country. It may be
that to a large extent the government
is powerIess. Our army in France is
only part of a great force. and it would
be quite right that we should not do
anything that by any possibility could
injure the operations Of that force
which was against the wishes OF the
government responsible for the chief
part of the force. quite admit that,
but I would like to impress upon the
government that where there are not
military reasons there can be no other
reasons for keeping back information
as to what our soldiers are doing. 1t
is bad in every way. It is bad for
recruiting. One of the honorable mem
bers opposite spoke of the action of
the London Scottish. I think we are
all proud of them, but they are not
the only regiment. The effect OF their
action was immediately to stimulate
recruiting for the London Scottish
There are other regiments to my
knowledge representing other districts
in the country which have fought as
IoV-oT nd a11ffarad 1nGEnG hTaVplV
and the people of those districts know
nothing.
A GREAT MISTAKE.
ct am sure that nothing could be
a greater mistake-I am not suggest
ing that the government is acting for
this reason-than to suppose there
would be any advantage, apart from
military considerations, in letting the
country know there have been heavy
losses when such losses have taken
place On, the contrary 1t is good that
we should tell them. One of the things
which as a nation We have most rea-
son, so far as the civilian population
is concerned, to be proud Of is that
what most stimulated recruiting in this
country was not eloquent speeches
knowledge Of the risks which our SOL
diers were running which made our
recruits join the army.
Personally should have preferred,
if it were possible, to have accredited
reporters at the seat Of war. That
may be impossible, but I do hope the
government will try to give all the in
formation that can be given apart from
military considerations, and they will
tell the house frankly the principle
upon which they are acting in regard
to the whole matter. am quite sure
that nothing could be worse than to
conceal misfortunes, if we have any,
from the people of this country. do
not mean that it may not be right to
delay publication of incidents, perhaps
for a considerable time for strategical
reasons, but l am sure 1t would be
wrong for us to do what may have
been right in the case of Japan, to
conceal disasters until the war is over
The main object with us would be to
prevent a panic, and in my belief one
thing which would cause panic would
be if the people Of this country got
the idea that they do not know the
whole truth
The press throughout England has
attributed slackness in recruiting very
largely to the strict censorship. Con-
seuuently Mr. Law was voicing an
opinion which has been current in the
United Kingdom for many weeks.
What is the principle which ought
to govern u.s." Mr.. Asquith remarked
in his reply. "You should be ready
to divulge everything, whether favor
able or adverse, subject only to mill
tary considerations. I can say with
the utmost confidence that as far as we
are concerned, and as far as We have
in the matter, that is
the principle on which we have acted