New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-09-05

he did not name them, but everybody
understood him to mean "The Times
and "The Daily Mall" ] do not stcI
to ask whether such an attack WAS In
accordance with the traditions Of dig
nifty attaching to the great Office which
Mr.. Asquith holds "The Times" suf-
fered his censure TO pass without one
word Of comment, and its silence was
thought 70 be in accord with the great
traditions Of that paper. "The Daily
Mail, which practises less reserve, re-
tortedi fitted on the cap, and flung
back sarcasm for sarcasm. II glor!ec
in its condemnation. II dwelt and re
dwelt on the phrase melancholy and
notorious" Il hung out the phrase as
fag. When people burnt II on the
Stock Exchange and elsewhere, II re-
ported these proceedings IN full. When
they said its circulation had gone down
because Of its attacks on LORD
Kitchener and the Ministry as whole
IL proved by the certificates OF two
leading firms Of chartered accountants
that its net sales had been from a
million 20 a million and quarter a
day Tor each month of this present
year.
The Offences of Each.
The offences Of 1.-The Times" began
with its protest against the return OF
Lord Hnldanc TO the War Office az the
beginning of the war. He had actually
returned. He was driven out, and Lord
Kitchener was made Minister Of War
Il was the salvation of England. Then
came last spring the published state
ment Of its military correspondent at
the front. Colonel Lexington, that the
operations Of the army were hampere
by the want Of shells. The statement
was passed by the Censor a. head
quarters, by the French Censor and
By the Press Bureau in London. il
was true. Except by Mr.. Asquith, IN
his Newcastle speech, it has never been
denied. and Mr Asquith's denial in
cluGoG a similar statement by Lord
Kitchener end Mr. Lloyd George. II
Tho Times" was guilty they, too, were
guilty. $50,
The offences Of "The Daily Mali
were many. They began with Its warn
ings to England against Germany be-
for the war. They included some just
criticisms on the methods by which the
war was conducted and on the want OF
Ministerial leadership. They culmirat-
ed in criticism on Lord Kitchener.
That criticism was really levelled at
the mismanagement Of the Ordnance
Denortment OF the War Ofhce, but was
impaired by comments not germane to
the real point and not just TO Lord
Kitchener. Strike out these blemlshes
and the substance Of the criticism was
true But Lord Kitchener is a national
idol. rightly so, and the attack on HIM
incensed his friends and the public
generally.
A Personal Issue.
NAV add that both these papers
were accused privately by Ministerial
lists OF irving to get rid Of Mr.. Asquith.
Lord NorthcliTe controls them both,
and the accusation was directed against
him. do not believe II. but refer TO
II as part Of the history Of this case
Il may explain in part Mr.. Asquith' 5
attitude. | do not know. think not,
for | think Mr.. Asquith above that
sort Of thing. Lord Northcliffe was
supposed also to be i'll content with
the proceedings Of the censorship, but
could that be ground of complaint
against any man? There were other
stories, but have given those that
seem TO me most important on both
sides.
Then, since these two journals have
been singled out for condemnation in
contrast with all other papers, | will
say one thing more. Be the faults Of
The Times" and The Daily Mail"
what they may. think their services
since the war began outweigh those OF
all other newspapers. And of Lord
Northcliffe ] will repeat what have
said before, that know Of no man
more public spirited, Of none with a
truer patriotism, of none with more
s+atasToanlike mind. G.. W. s.