“THE TIMES”

New Zealand Times, Volume XL, Issue 9210, 2 December 1915, Page 5

“THE TIMES ”

ANZACS WANTED! TO SUPPRESS EMPIRE'S ENEMIES Cy Talcsrranli—Press Association—Copyricbt (Received December 1, 10 p.ra.) LONDON, November 30. In the House of Commons, Sir John Simon referred to the article .in tho “Rnsskoe Slovo” on ‘.‘The .Times” .and ‘'Daily Mail's” attitude. Ho said; “-As soon as I discovered that it was not a statement of opinion hold in Russia, I wrote an explanation to ‘The Times.’, Since then Lord Northcliffc’s papers have made groundless charges against me, and even suggested that the pari)-' graph was inspired by tho British Go comment. They made an. insinuation against my honour and good -faith. The, charge? arc absolute!}' untrue.", Sir John Simon continued: .“The question is how tar, the Harrasworth press, however unintentionally, c-oinri--uated to tiro propaganda .of., the enemy. This could not be decided by a foreign correspondent, but was a question of fact. The “Daily Mail” on October 11th. published a map headed • “The Road to India” at tho moment when the Germans had entered Belgrade; Jt was Obvious what use German propaganda could mako of such a misduievous instrument' to influence Eastern opinion. The German newspapers had republished the map as a supplement which was distributed gratis to neutral nations in tho East by- the German Consul-General. The Germans added the inscription; ‘‘Britain’s Empire, in trembling fear of Germany.” ..It. was printed in seven languages. The map was not submitted to the Press Bureau, and nothing could bo now done tq iecall the damage.” Sir John Simon next referred to Mr Linchan’s dispatch on tho battle of Loos, and said that “The Times” had suggested that sentences praising tho bravery of tho Gormans had been excised. That was untrue. In Spain there was a certain number of proGerman papers regularly supplied with matter from Germany. What , was lamentable was that nine-tenths of tho matter originally came from Lord Northcliffe’s papers. A voice: “Why don’t you suppress tho paper?” Sir-John Simon: “I am going to deal with that in a moment. Was this continual fouling of. our own nest calculated to encourage the soldiers at tho front?” in connection with a London evening paper, ho had been asked if he could not take a gentler way. -What he was now taking was a ! gentler .way. Tf it was not effective, it was perfectly possible to take more strenuous action. It was not a case wherein ho could take a single instance and 'base thereon strong measures. It was a question of a tendency, and therefore more difficult to check or control. Sir John added: “I have no personal quarrel with Lord Northcliffe. I don't know him. Lord Northcliffe appears to be like tho prophets of Baal who, in moments of excitement,.had the odd habit of leaping. upon the .altars they had made. It is not too much to say that one of the greatest of German assets has been the encouragement, given, to her people, and the concern created in the minds of our friends, by tho false picture almost daily presented to the world by a portion of onr press. They have presented a caricature of the country deprived of the very military which gives it strength. I make no imputations, except of recklessness, folly and failure to appreciate that what they are doing has become a public danger. I think I have done my duty in bringing tho matter fairly before the House. No paper’s services could atone for, or excuse, a course, of conduct which 1 believe is threatening the safety of the country.”

QUEEN OF SWEDEN A VISIT TQ GERMANY.' "Times" and Sydney ■'Sun" Service*. LONDON, November 30. The Queen of Sweden goes on a visit to Germany. ' [The Queen of. Sweden (Princess Victoria of Baden) is a first cousin of the Kaiser .1 SWEDEN’S NEUTRALITY. COPENHAGEN, November 30. Swedish newspapers have unfavourably received Dr Sven Hedin’s great book on the war, in which he appeals to Swedes to abandon their neutrality, in favour of Germany. . A SEPARATE PEACE ALLEGED AUSTRIAN ATTEMPT' VTimoa" ‘ and Sydney "Sun" Service© (Received December' 1, 5.5 p.m.) , ROME, November 30. The “Tribuna'V publishes a remarkable unconfirmed statement, that Austria is attempting to conclude a separate peace. The Paris press states that important changes have been decided on by the Austrian Cabinet. MAJOR-GENERAL LEGGE ILL IN HOSPITAL. Gy Tclceranli—Press Association—Copyriffhl SYDNEY. December 1. Major-General Legge, commanding the 2nd Australian Division at Gallipoli, is in hospital ill. His condition ia not serious. Colonel Holmes has taken over the command. ALLIES* DAY FUNDS MONEY CABLED TO LONDON. B/ Telegraph—Press Association—Copyrighl SYDNEY’, December 1. The sum of £45,000, raised in connection with Allies’ Day, has already been cabled to London for distributioon in France. Poland, Serbia, and Montenegro.