New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-09-07

cen make up to her for that impotcnt
solitude.
The Press Bureau Again.
Patient and even slow as are these
English people, their patience with the
thing called Press Bureau is near
the breaking point, The most discreet
as it is the most powerful Of English
journals, the Times itself has spoken
out. Other journals have spoken.
In Parliament there has been an at
tack on the "oficial ineptitude" Of the
Bureau; and rather lame defence Of
II by the Prime Minister. II is one
of those subjects on which he has to
take his material for speech from
subordinates. Everywhere the COM
plant is the same. The Press Bureau
does not know its business. 1t does
not know what news of military
movements may safely be published,
and what may not. 1t does not know
what news is. II does not know what
war is.
The French and the Russians take
their people into their confidence.
The French perhaps publish too much,
and some Of their war Office cont
nWniQUeS are not quite in the right
tone. But they keep in touch with
events. The English are allowed to
know almost nothing of what befalls
their English forces. A soothing SEN
tence or two from Sir John French
whose dispatches, like all others, APP
pear to be censored-just tributes to
their splendid fighting and spirit
and the rest almost q blank.
What is the result? The English
public is bewildered, and its first en-
thusiasms are growing apathetic. Re-
cruiting is embarrassed and the war
spirit half stihed. A most dangerous
state of things.
Now the difficulty with the Press
Bureau is primarily Mr.. F. +, Smith.
the head of it. He handles news as
Judge on the bench handles evidence;
which he admits or excludes by rules
which are purely technical. BY the
Judge who relies on technicalities JUS
tice is often defeated; and by the
Censor who doctors his news accord
ing TO prescriptions of his own MAX
ing the public is misled or left IN the
dark at a moment when illumination
is the thing wanted. II is now admit
ted that there is not a journalist IN
the Bureau.
The Duke of Westminster.
All these, like war itself, are rather
serious matters, but the bow is not to
be kept always bent, and here is an
Gnecdote:
The Duke of Westminster is on Sir
John French's staff. His presence there
has not, | think, been mentioned IN
print, but there he is. He tried first,
before the English Field Force had
found it's way across the Channel to
join the French army. He knows
France and the French and by them is
known and liked. He has place near
Biarritz, where he hunts a pack OF
hounds in the English manner. Land
ing at Boulogne with his motor, he
made his way as far as Amiens. There
and through all that region the roads
were blocked by troops, artillery, pro-
vision wagons and all the impedimenta
of an advancing army. There was no
room for his motor, no horses could
be had, and he was obliged to turn
back
On his return to England the Duke
applied for and obtained an appoint
ment to the staff of the English Field
Marshal commanding Said my friend:
81 dare say it was hob. II he hadn't
been a Duke he wouldn't have got it."
JOD OF not IL was g BVOA mONO' az
saw fighting as a boy of twenty IN
South Africa. He is known as horse
man-one of the best-a hard rider to
hounds, with g nerve of which ! have
never seen the like" said my friend,
himself a soldier and a horseman. He
is quick, intelligent, capable of any
fatigue, and loves war. "He has way
with him which endears him to men
and women ale has three of the best
motors in England with him, perfectly
equipped for war, and three of the best
chauffeurs. and is himself one of the
best drivers known. He has his hunt
ers. He puts himself and everything
at the disposal of Sir John French.
1t is such examples as these which
would-were they known, and there are
many others kindle the English
spirit where it needs kindling. For all
that has come and gone, Duke is in
this country still a Duke; provided he
plays the game. To be Duke is, or
ought to be, to be leader. And this
is a war in which leadership is one Of
the things needed; since without
leader people will not follow.
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