MR. ASHMEAD BARTLETT.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 144851, 1 December 1915, Page 7

MR. ASHMEAD BARTLETT.

i A VOTE OF CENSURE. I CONSIDERED BY PATRIOTIC COMMITTEE. Tho dispatches of Mr. Ashmcad Bartlett came in for some adverse criticism at the meeting of tho New Plymouth Patriotic Committee on Tuesday night, hut a proposal*to censure tho notable journalist and war correspondent was, after so mo discussion, negatived. Mr. C. Carter proposed the following resolution; “That too New Plymouth Patriotic Committee voices its strong protest' against tho indiscriminate transmission of news to the Dominion as per Ashmcad Bartlett’s cabled statements belittling the war operations at the Dardanelles and oilier fronts, and is convinced that no good purpose can be, achieved by such criticisms, particularly the giving of world-wide publicity to events that are long since past. Such indiscretions only tern! to discredit us with our enemies, weakens the confidence of neutral nations, and belittles Britain with her Allies + committee tspresses its unabated confidence in tho Allies to overthrow the enemy and aeccue u; uu; uouu a immanent and lasting peace.” The resolution was seconded by Mr. J. Paton.

The Rev. A. H, Colvilo said he rather deprecated the resolution. First of all, tho fact that these messages had come through with the permission of the censor showed that there was some object in allowing a brilliant journalist —and there was no doubt Mr. Ashmcad Bartlett was a brilliant journalist—to make these .comments some lime after the actual events had taken place. it was not as if the information could be of any use to the enemy. There was a great deal of dissatisfaction in England hocau.se so much news was held back, some with need and much of it without, and although some Home newspapers had done a lot of harm by their criticisms there was no doubt that tho papers which went to the other extreme —“hide the truth” papers, papers that were foolishly optimistic—did just as much harm. Those who read the current number of Life would realise that very grave mistakes had been made. There could bo no special gain in shutting our eyes to these blunders, and there was something to bo said in favour of allowing such reports to come through. Pointing out blunders which had boon made would be a help in avoiding like mistakes in the future. He did not believe these messages gave any-encouragement to the enemy, and to us they might do" some good. In regard to recruiting, for instance, it was tho experience that if we were kept up by optimistic articles that everything was going well, reports of easy triumphs and terrific slaughters, there would arise a feeling amongst men that they were not needed, whereas articles telling tho bitter truth, and showing that everything was not well, acted as a stimulus to recruiting. It was this straight talk—this brutal talk, if you like--which stimulated people and put backbone into thorn. Tho Times and Daily Mail had bard things said about them which ho thought were not entirely justified, and they were somewhat harshly treated in tho local papers. They had work to do, and had done it as the other papers had dono thoirs. In conclusion, Mr. Col vile said ho did not think any useful purpose would be served by tho New Plymouth Patriotic Committee passing such a resolution, which ho deprecated, and personally would vote against. Somo further discussion showed an absence of support for tho resolution, which was eventually withdrawn.