New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-06-29
Avoid Censorship Blunder,
Lord Northcliffe' Warning
London Editor Urges Every Man Here with
Pen or with a Printing Press to Awake the Ma
ton to the Fact That the War Is Just Beginning

Lord NorthcliGe, in his first impor-
tant speech since his arrival IN TINS
country as the head Of the British wal
mission, expressed the hope yesterday
that the United States would not make
the censorship blunder that Britain
made. He was speaking at an informal
luncheon given in his honor by isaac
F. Narcosson at the Players Club.
Lord Northcliffe said;
america can and will do a tremen-
dous part in this war, first, because she
is fresh. and. second, because she un-
doubtedly vii! profit by the mistakes
of the nations which have been fighting
since August, 1914. What the war
needs more than anything else IS
brains and speed
"I trust that the United States VII!
70. make the censorship blunder that
England made. and which IS Just be.
coming an evil Of the past. England
was kent in the dark for nearly three
wears. The people were blinded by the
fatuous optimism of soldiers and poll
ticians. who. while efficient in peace.
were incompetent in war. The people
were not permitted 20 know the truth.
and when the truth finally emerged out
of costly blunders and sacrifice they
were loath to accept II.
81 hope that America may permit her
newspaper and magazine writers to be
absolutely frank about what is going
on. II is important for the nation TO
know the worst as il is for the nation
In know the best. For one thing and
We have found it out from actual ex
perionce-it is great stimulus for
the men fighting in the field to know
that they are being written about at
home and that the country they are
fighting for knows precisely what they
are doing.
Writers Should Wake Nation
Every man with a pen in hand and
a printing press near by can 90 pa1l'-
otic service TO his country by awaken
ing his people TO the iact that TINS
war is just beginning, and that every
ounce of energy, that every re'oIutloh
of Americas vast Industrial machihe'
and. what IS equally important every
gallon of gasolene, Will be needed 10
bring the war TO a successful end.
III Is only by an absolute mobiliza-
tion Of man power and machine power
that this war can be won. industries
that at this moment seem remote from
mobilization for the war viii sooner or
later be called upon TO do their part.
In Europe. for example, one OF the
largest corset factories is now turning
ouf very delicate pieces Of machinery
reeded in the construction OF aero
planes.
"The effect Of the war on the maga-
zinc in America | believe will be that
the bulk Of certain kinds Of advertising
must necessarily be reduced. ] am told
that in the instances of the most widely
read periodicals nearly half OF the
advertising comes from The automobile
companies The war. which has proved
the efficacy of motor transport TO an al
most incredible degree, viii make n
tremendous drain upon the automobile
industry Of your country.
"For one thing. the great bulk OF
automobile output will have 10 be con,
centrated on trucks. In the second
place the automobile factories will IN
evitably be commandecred for the
manufacture Of aeroplane parts and
aeroplane construction generally.
"In the seroplane lies one great
hope Of Allied victory. me war hs'