The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1915-11-26
CENSORSHIP ROBS
TROOPS OF GLORY
Public Knows Nothing Of.
GaIlantry and Suffer:
ing of Arrlies.

LONDON, Nov. 20! The bitter cry.
against the Censorship heard from the
front Is that neither regiments nor
individually are allowed to gain any!
recognition or publicity for unusual
exploits. This is one Of the iiandicaps
o democracy meets IN trying to- con.
duct war on most modern lines OF
secrecy. The Japanese army in the
war against Russia was the pioneer
in this policy. The Japanese carried
their attempts to keep the enemy in
the dark so far that none OF the SOL.
diers wore any regimental marks on
their uniforms. 4 i
Very few officers or enlisted men
have been made popular heroes
through this war, and no regiments
stand out conspic uouslys In the public
eye, although officers say that sever.
al Of them have achievements to their
credit equalling the charges OF the
Light Brigade at Balaclaya. So far,
as the regiments Of the old army,
the Little Contemptibles," are con-,
cerned. more than a majority OF their!
members have figured In the casualty
lists months ago. 8
John Redmond, the nationalist lead
or. cited one of the grievances OF Ire.
land In the debate which followed
Premier Asquith's speech on Nov. q.
He said: How could It bring help
70 the enemy to let the people Of Ire.
land. Of Scotland, Of England and
v Wales knowgwhat their own regiments
are doing r. He, said that the landing
at sedult Bahrl In April. which was the
most difficult operation of that bat
tie. was carried out by the Dublin Fus-
Hers and the Munster Fusiliers, but
that Ireland had no knowledge Of
their work except in letters from the
few surviving Officers. Hetcontinued:
THAT kind of thing is doing us un.
told mischief In ireland. One OF the
Dublin Fusiliers was known as the
Pals II was made up Of well.edu:
Gated young men from the uniyersi:
ties. public schools and the profess
sions. They were all practically an.
initiated. know scores of families
In Dublin who are in terrible anguish
over the death Of their children. i
have seen numbers of letters from sur
vivors who speak in the highest terms
of the gallantry of those lads.n
Referring to the landing at Suvla
Bay, Mr.. Redmond said: II have re.
ceiyed communications relating to the
Tenth Hrish) Division, not from men
IN the ranks or subalterns, but from
Officers Of high position, which i dare
not read to the house. I have felt
II my dlitytt to send them to the War
Gfftce and the Prime Minister. Sir
Ian Hamilton Is back here now, and
rome day these things will have to
he inquired into, and when they. are
Known i think Il will be found that
never In your military history have
troops been subjected to such horrible
sufferings, or have shown such gallan-
try as the Tenth Division commanded,
by Sir Bryan Mahon. Yet not one.
word otsrecognltion has been written
about them.s' "
Mr.. Richmond dealt particularly,
with the War Office censorship over
official reports in this speech. In the
earlier months of the war; the govern:
ment had an official y" Eyewitness
IN the field to NIL the void, caused by
the prohibition Of war correspond
ents, and to attempt to satisfy the
pubic ueHtuu luE suesSllPtioh VI ehe
work Of the British army His mes.
sages, however, were robbed OF nine.
tenths Of their possible interest by
the absence OF the names of organi-
zntions and individuals. Since linz
tied number 81; British correspondents
have been permitted at army head
quarters during the past season the
official "Eye:W itness" has been with.
drawn, but the newspaper men are
under the same restrictions of writ.
Ing mostly In generalities: