H.—l9b

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Surprise was expressed that articles by Captain Bean, the Australian Official War Correspondent, were sometimes received here before those of our own correspondent. This was owing to the system adopted by Australia of having its correspondent's articles telegraphed to Melbourne from Fremantle. I thought it advisable to communicate with you on the subject, and you at once gave permission for Mr. Ross to cable any news of important engagements or events. Prominence had for some considerable time been given to the operations of the Commonwealth Forces by an arrangement made by the Australian Government to have duplicates of the articles by Captain Bean, sent to their High Commissioner for publication in London newspapers. To my- suggestion that a similar arrangement be made for the publication in London of our correspondent's articles you at once agreed. In this connection 1 desire to remark that no correspwondent could be present at all engagements extending over a wide front. Correspondents have therefore-to help one another. For instance, Mr. Ross would get from Captain Bean information with regard to what took place in the Australian lines, and would reciprocate by supplying Captain Bean with information about the operations of the New-Zealanders, as at Hill 60, where Mr. Ross was the only war correspondent present. Under this reciprocal arrangement wider publicity is given to the general operations. As regards censorship of war correspondents' articles, 1 learned that, if any discrimination existed, it was certainly in favour of New Zealand, on account of its distance from the theatre of operations. The policy of censorship is laid down in printed regulations. Mention of names, except in very special circumstances, is not permitted. Historical Matter. I received a cablegram from you on the loth October as follows : — " Would be glad if you would communicate with Mr. Malcolm Ross with a view to securing his co-operation in our endeavour to obtain a collection of historical material, such as trophies, newspapers printed on transport and in camp, photographs and sketches, autographs of principal military and naval officers, home-made utensils illustrating the ingenuity of troops, and geological specimens of soils and rocks in which the trenches, Ac, are excavated." On the sth December I wrote you as follows from Alexandria: — " Your cablegram of the 15th October with reference to a collection of historical matter, &c, reached me shortly before I left for Anzac. While there I discussed the cablegram with General Godley, also with Genera] G. N. Johnston, R.F.A., and Mr. M. Ross, our Official War Correspondent, and left copies of it with them. " Mr, Ross undertook to do what he could in the matter of collecting newspapers printed on transports and in camps, and has himself taken numerous photographs at the front. I would not care to put our correspondent to the task of collecting the autographs of senior military and naval officers, as these officers do not care to be bothered in that way at a time like this. Moreover, war correspondents have at all times to walk warily. " I did not see any home-made utensils illustrating the ingenuity of troops that would be worth bringing back to New Zealand. These generally consisted of kerosenetins and oil-drums fitted into clay banks as cooking-stoves. "As to geological specimens of soils and rocks, I think these could be more easily collected after the war is over, the trouble at present being to get them packed and despatched. The same difficulty applies to shells and shell-cases. I may say that, General Johnston, R.F.A., had made a collection of artillery shells, which he intended to send to the Wellington Museum, but which were taken away by some one else. I have, however, asked him to collect some more and to send them to you. Perhaps if you sent him a note it would still further stimulate his interest. The time fuses, marked with Turkish figures, appear to me most interesting trophies. These are generally brought home by the finders —in fact, I saw men running to get fuses when shells were bursting." * I might, add that while I was at Helles Colonel (now Brigadier-General) G. S. Richardson promised to send you some interesting war souvenirs, but it is probable that owing to the evacuation he was unable to give effect to the promise. Message from His Majesty the King. I was privileged to meet Field-Marshal Lord Kitchener at Gallipoli in November, when he was good enough to make me the bearer to the people of New Zealand of a message which His Majesty the King had entrusted him with for the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps. This message I cabled to you on the first opportunity. It was subsequently embodied in the following Special Army Corps Order issued by General Birdwood : — " 25th November, 1915. "Lord Kitchener has desired me to convey to the Australian and New Zealand. Army Corps a message with which he was specially entrusted by the King to bring to our Army Corps. "His Majesty commanded Lord Kitchener to express his. high appreciation of the gallant and unflinching conduct of our men through fighting which has been as hard as any yet seen during the war, and His Majesty wishes to express his complete confidence in the determination and fighting qualities of our men to assist in carrying this war to an entirely successful termination.