RECORDS OF BRITISH ARMIES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17502, 19 December 1918, Page 6

RECORDS OF BRITISH ARMIES

PLEA FOR PUBLICATION.

"I hope very much *hai the names ot all- our commanders anu the , general composition of each division may be published," writes Colonel Ropington in the Morning Post, "and that the actions in which each division, has suTcccssfully participated /may bo added. Thero was good reason, while our new armies were forming, for this information to be withheld, but I can seo no reason for thb courso now. We know the intimate history of German division, and even of every company in each German battalion. The enemy knows as much about ours. General Pershing publishes the names of his divisions who have fought and of their commanders, and there seems to bo every advantage in allowing East Anglia, or Northumberland, or tho Highlands, to read tho proud records of their troops and to follow them in atl the battles. "Divisions pass from army'corps to army corps, and no strategical secret is given away' by tho course which I liave advocated. These things are only secrets from tho British public, who are the people most interested, and it is really time wo should make an end of useless and harmful socretiveness and copy tho frankness of our American consins. The deeds of our armies are not understood, because we help no one to understand them. I hope that Lord Milncr .'may concern himself with this matter, for I believe that it is a most serioos political -'and military interest -that the .great share -taken in these tremendous events by our Borne and dominion troops should be 'known to all the -world."