THE END OF WAR CORRESPONDENCE.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 5737, 4 November 1905, Page 11

THE END OF WAR CORRESPONDENCE.

It is long since Lord Wolseley voiced the opinion of military commanders by stigmatising the war correspondent as ■ tno curse “of “modern armies.” Japan, practical and thorough iu everything, translated that opinion into action, and saved the press of the world a mint of money. “Blackwood’s Magazine” thinks that, for its example, japan deserves the gratitude of the world, and in expressing its hope that Britain will follow the same policy says: “With one voice the country Is demanding a reformed army. That army shall bo of small profit to us if our journals inform the enemy how largo it is, and where it may he most readily surprised. To legislate in a hurry upon so grave a question will not be easy, and we trust that Members of Parliament will be found disinterested enough to press it consistently upon our Ministers. It will not be a popular enterprise, for the journals have a simple method of revenge upon those who would curtail their privileges. But we are sanguine enough to believe that the example of Japan has not been set in vain, and we have every confidence that the wiser of our journals still act in good faith, when once their editors understand the impending danger. Not long since Lord EHcnborougb called attention in the House of Lords to this risk of disseminating news in time of war, but his warning fell upon deaf ears. Lord Selborae. admitting that the problem was of the greatest difficulty, d’eclared that it could only be solved with the collaboration of the Press. Wo might just as well undertake a revision of our criminal law on the advice of the professional house-breaker. If penalties are to be imposed upon the Press, the Government must discover those which it deems suitable, and not ask the possible culprit what punishment ho would prefer. Moreover, the case against the journals is overwhelming. Ever since the Napoleonic wars our Bri. tish armies have suffered from the recklessness of the Press. They have been forced to meet not only the open enemy in the field but the subtler , foe of curiosity at home. The examples of indiscretion, collected with praiseworthy candour by the ‘Times,’ itself an old

offender, should make ns blush for om newspapers. Nelson and Wellington were both victims, and had the Press had its way the battle of Trafalgai would never have been, fought. In e letter written in September, 1805, Nol* son urged that the publisher of tho Gibraltar Gazette" should be forbidden to mention his force. 'I have much fear/ said ho, 'that if the enemy knotf of our increased numbers, wo shall never ece them out of Cadiz." But tho harm was done—the 'Gibraltar Gazette' had babbled; and but for tho peremptory or. ders of Napoleon, the French Admiral would not have risked tho battle. Woh iington complained yet more bitterly, and with better reason. While ho was fighting in the Peninsula he sent a news, paper to Lord Liverpool, which gave an account of his works, ‘the. number of men and guns in each, and for what purpose contracted/ Lord Liverpool does not seem to have taken a sum* ciently grave view of the outrage, and Wellington protested again with some* scorn. 'lt may be very right,' said he, 'to give tho British public this informs tion; but if they choose to have it, they ought to know tho price they pay for it and tho advantages it giv« tha enemy in all their operations. That excellent sense. If the people insusto upon news to which it han no iagh.fi let it know what it , pays in blood and. money for tho ill-omened privilege.