REPINGTON'S CRITICISM

Evening Post, Volume XCV, Issue 42, 18 February 1918, Page 7

REPINGTON'S CRITICISM

RISKING THE CONSEQUENCES

EDITOR AND CRITIC PROSECUTED

■-' i ■ LONDON, 16th February. ■,'■■ Mr. Howell Gwynne, editor of the Morning Post, and Colanel Bepington "';'. (military correspondent, and late of the London Times) were charged at 80w- ..] street under the Defence of the Realm- Act with publishing information re-;;-3 specting the proposed plans and conduct of the military operations on the ..■jj Western front. •'I _ The Solicitor-General, who conducted the prosecution, said that the Morn- <*| ing Post published an article by Colonel Bepington purporting to give an ac-;-'.|l count o£ ''momentous decisions'"' at the Allied Council at Versailles, and ad-;-j versely criticising . the supposed decisions, especially that the Army reserves ,;| .we're no longer to be under the control of the Commander-in-Chief, but undtr

an external authority, which, said the writer, was contrary to all sound military tactics. Mr. G-wynne submitted the article to the Censor, who refused it fat' publication, warning Mr. Gwynne that its publication would be an . infl'inffement of the Defence of the Realm Act. Mr. Gwynne replied that he would modify the article, but that the national interest demanded its publication, The article was then published without further submission to the Censor. It contained all the material points the Censor had condemned, and was prefaced by the statement : "There are times when we must take our courage in bpth hands and risk the consequences."

The case was adjourned till 21st February.