THE CENSORSHIP

New Zealand Times, Volume XL, Issue 9175, 15 October 1915, Page 5

THE CENSORSHIP

GENERAL CONSIDERATION SIR JOHN SIMON AS APOLOGIST. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright "Times" and Sydney "Son" Services. LONDON, October 13. Controversies are raging about the censorship, which is condemned everywhere. The newspapers aro demanding that the public be told the truth. The "Pall Mall Gazette" says the censorship has been convicted of gross deficiency in intelligence, and destroying: tho confidence of-the country. The "Globe" urges Lord Selborne (President of the Board of Agriculture) to resign and conduct an anti-censor-ship campaign. The "Evening News" says: "It is the nation's, and not the censor's war. Does the Government want to keep the censorship and lose the war?" Another controversy is on the advisability of sending an expeditionary 'force of four hundred thousand men to the Balkans. Experts are divided between the claims of the West front and Serbia.

A leader in the "Daily Mail" sav3: "Tho spectacle of Lord Selborne reproving the Censor (Sir John Simon), both members of Cabinet, would seem humorous if tragedies did not lio behind. As at present managed, the censorship, apparently, is to prevent bad news from France and the DardanelleSj reaching .Great Britain, Australia, and New Zealand, but the facts are soon known by the wounded talking." Mr Frederick Harrison, in a letter, says: "Conscription and the militarisation of the human and economic energies of the Empire remain our only safety. The Balkans are a new area of open warfare, where decisions may be expected. The Germans, like Napoleon, hope to strike us in a vulnerable spot. Only the press can save us. It is the duty of the responsible press to take the censorship into its own hands, and explain tho situation without stint and without fear, and the spirit of Britain will respond." Sir John Simoii, in a letter on the censorship, replies to complaints. He declares that the bureau is not the author of the policy pursued, but merely the instrument carrying out instructions. Ho instances excisions made in France, not in London. "THE NEWJXPEDITION" ENGLAND .MUST KEEP UP SUPPLY OF MEN. "Times" and Sydney "Sun" Serviote. October 14, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, October 13. The "Westminster Gazette," i hitherto a stout upholder of voluntarism, says :t—"lf we undertake the new expedition we "must provide men in addition to those relied on to keep the existing lines up to strength. The House of Commons must be prepared to pass whatever measures are necessary to obtain the men.'' AUSTrTIiFdAY~ FUND NEW SOUTH WALES TOTAL. By Telegraph—Presß Association—Copyright SYDNEY, October 14. The New South Wales "Australia Day" fund totals £745,000. ■•nlght^clubs" MEASURE TO ABATE PUBLIC SCANDAL. By Telegraph—Press Assooiation—Copyright LONDON, October 13} Sir John Simon introduced a bill m the House dealing with night clubs, to bo confined to the duration of the war. It authorises the closing of the clubs at 12.30 nightly, and inspection by superior police officers and military authorities. Those responsible for misconduct will be liable to a fine and imprisonment. Sir John Simon insisted on the pernicious diameter of these, clubs, which have been springing up in great numbers since the war began, and have become a public scandal. A TURKISH REPORT ALLD3S' NAVAL ATTACKS DRIVEN 'OFF. / By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received October 14, 8.45 p.m.) LONDON, October 14. Constantinople communiques state: "Our artillery at Anafarta on the 10th hit an enemy torpedo-boat and then a cruiser. Another torpedo-boat unsuccessfully replied to our fire. We exploded a. mine in one, of the- enemy trenches and killed the majority of the occupants, while the remainder fled. "A torpedo-boat near Ari Burnu kept continually bombarding our right wing, but without success, and a monitor was firing, without effect, in the direction of Maidos." . ITALIAN_CAMPAI6N AUSTRIANS BEATEN MITH HEAVY • LOSSES. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received October 14, 9.40 p.m.) ROME, October 14. A communique states:—The enemy sruffered heavy losses in the Tyrol and on the Trentino front. We were,victorious in encounters at Valribor, on St. George Plain, and in the Val Campezll. We repulsed a furious attack at Palpuolo, on the Santa Croce Pass, with severe enemy losses."