WAR REPORTING

Auckland Star, Volume LXXV, Issue 182, 3 August 1944, Page 5

WAR REPORTING

Tendency To Overplay Own Country's Part CONDEMNED" BY EISENHOWER Rec. 9.30 a.m. NEW YORK, Aug. 2. The tendency of newspapers to overplay their own country's part in the war is condemned by General Eisenhower's headquarters. A high ranking spokesman at headquarters said: "This tendency, noticeable in both the British and American Press, is just giving aid and comfort to the enemy. General Montgomery is conducting his campaign in complete accord with General Eisenhower."

The tendency to contrast the American break-through with the recent British stalemate around Caen was so pronounced in American newspapers that some even suggested that General Montgomery would have to go. American operations have been described as those of Lieutenant-General Bradley and the fact that General Montgomery is field commander in the entire Normandy campaign has been completely ignored in a recent issue of Editor and Publisher.

The ■ managing editor of the Chicago Tribune, Mr. J. L. Maloney, who is at present in London, complained that the British Press has under-played the American part, in the war. The reader, he said, was specifically told when British troops were in action. When it was the Americans they were referred to as "Allied troops." Mr. Maloney may have a legitimate grievance, but unfortunately the American Press has a similar trick of describing operations in which the Americans do not take part as "Allied," while operations in which non-American forces have a subsidiary part are called "American."