The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-04-11
OFFICIAL SECRECY
INCENSES BRITISH
Public Ia Told Little Of the
Losses Suffered by Armies
at Front.
GREATER CANDOR SOUGHT
specfaI coe,,spondsnce 70 Tnn er,.

count by "Eyewitness' OF the hzht'ng
at Neuve Chapells and In the German
counter attack on ST. Eloi was cabled
10 THE srs at the time. In an ottsr-
wise excellent story one great omission
may have been noticed. "Eyewitnes~'
makes a careful estimate OF tho oeS-
man losses. putting them at $4,000 killed
and wounded and 1000 prisoners, but he
makes no estimate OF the British losses
Sir John French In his despatch
makes the same omission, 30 TINT IL Il
evident the suppression was Intentional
either on tho part Of Dir John French
or the War once. II was. Of ooufee,
impossible IN the time to eive an aoou-
rate casualty list, or anything approach
ing one but people here fesi that IN
estimate at least as accurate a. that 81
tho German losses might and sh0u1d
have been given.
That the British toDes were 0eoWV 10
admitted. BY March Fl the casuAlt1es
among the officers had mounted - SO.
This must Indicate q heavy loss among
the rank and file. estimates varying
from 10000 20 10000. Even u the
higher figure be true. II 10 argued that
tho public should be told at once For
the attack TO infict a loss Of 10000 upon
the defence at a cost OF 5000 and then
maintain the position II had gained
would be notable feat for the pro-
portion OF loss in attack II always sup
posed to be greater than that in DE-
fence.
Candid Statements DssfyeA.
This, however, IL only one more "a
ample OF the War Omce's stubbom
secrecy when no one can see any good
reason for secrecy. while there seems 70
be ample. indeed imperative, need cor
frankness.
Here. as 40 often. t,ers Ia no Ques-
ton OF giving information 70 the enemy.
and the only reason that has been sue
gested for the policy OF tho War once
in such cases Is desire not to depress
or alarm the public. How unnecessary
this is was proved long ago. and II FUR
Their proof were needed II was given
when the Admiralty promptly announced
the loss OF two British and ono French
hattlesh'p the other day in the Oar
danelles. The news caused neither
alarm nor depression. but served TO
make thousands realize the nature OF the
work the allied fleets are doing who had
before merely reJoiced in tho reports OF
the dolngs OF the great guns Of tho
queen Elizabeth.
And therein is 70 he found the reason
why on every side the Government and
| the War Office are being urged to be
more frank. During the last week or so
the Ministerial press has taken up tho
cry for more light" as vigorously az
| any Of the moro pugnacious OF the op-
! position journals In former letter to
| THE SuS Il was stated that the Clyde
| strikers were acting as they did only
because they failed 20 realize the true
significance OF the war and the critical
situation IN which It has plunged the
country. The existence of a similar
| ignorance IN many other classes was
pointed out az the same time.
Since then the truth OF this has been
openly recognized by the whole OF the
English press and by many individuals
/ Of public Importance. The Chancellor OF
/ the EScheguer has admitted II. saying
| that the conduct OF strikers all over the
/ country was due 20 the fact that they
I had not sufficiently been taken into the
| confidence OF the Government But Nj
/ Lloyd George hitherto had taken them
/ into his confidence on.v 20 the extent %
! telling them that the situation Is critical.
that by Sinking work they are causing
the deaths OF their fellow countrymen,
aid then promising that the Government,
| would see fair play between them and
| their employers
Lord Kitchener, IN a letter which has
been cahled to THE SUS. said Il feel
sure that these men can hardly realize
| that their action delaying food
ann lnlitIbllN IflAlTfu ny our Hltli a.
the front. IS having q very serious and
dangerous eFcu'" But neither OF these
I wcr who have the confidence OF tho
country 20 a fir greater extent than any
Others Of .ts leaders gives the public the
Information vN'oh would make Il realize
the true situation.
J. II Thomas, one Of tho most prom
lnert and representative labor leaders,
makes the same complaint lie points
out that when men hear only 81 victories
and never OF repulSes or losses they
naturally 10 not understand how things
are we often hear" 10 says "o'
| trenches being rst1ken, but We never
| heard when they were lost To With
| hold had news, to let casualties appear
In long lists long after they have hap
| 1ened. ami in such manner that the
ordinary reader can form no iiea OF tho
engagements IN which they occurred in
short, the whole policy ~ the Govern
ment with regard 70 news % the land
forces IS. nc the Times says, 20 treat the
public like babes
See Truth at Last.
In another recent letter 70 THE SUH
an eminent English authority was quoted
az saying that this war was 20 be won
| by the SIDE that inflicted the creates
| 'os= of life upon lts enemy. since then
"EyevItuess" has said the same thing IN
other words The struggle between Tho
nations" he said, has now become one
~ exhaustion, ard success will favor
that side which can put on; Of action
thc greater number Of its opponents
Many are row beginning 20 recognize
this grim truth; yet men ar" still on
strike, refusing 10 work a. fuN pressure
or refusing 20 work overtime the docks
are couEestei VIII vessels that Cannot
discharge their cargoes OF foods NUM-