MEN, MEN, MEN.
[To TEE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOL'rj SIR,—It is not to be wondered at that the ordinary public have not yet grasped the real meaning of this war and the result it may have for our Empire; indeed, it would be a matter of surprise if they did, as no one can possibly under- stand a subject about which he is not informed. Men are now asked to volunteer and risk their lives for an apparently indefinite purpose, to give up comfortable positions well knowing that anything they may do is expressed by
The truth is, a voluntary Army is incompatible with strict Censorship. To raise a voluntary Army of any numbers it must be a people's war—a war which the people can follow intelligently, and in which the doings of their friends can raise a spirit of emulation. A Censorship such as now obtains
can only be used with a compulsory Army, and where the war is really a Government war, and where the Government have the power to increase their armies at will ; and we are now trying to wage this war as a Government war on the basis of a people's war—which is impossible—and to attempt the impossible can only end in failure. Another serious factor is the fact that the people are continually supplied with false news. The Censor is supposed to suppress false news that might alarm the people, but to my mind such news is prefer. able to the continued statement of false victories with which we are daily supplied, as the former does bare the effect of encouraging recruiting, while the latter discourages it on the ground that if we are doing so well no more men are wanted. The truth is, the papers must fill up with something. The war correspondents are not allowed any real information, and consequently indulge in " intelligent anticipation " in the hopes of bringing off a journalistic " scoop." They know they are not permitted to publish bad news, so they are compelled to employ their intelligence in the anticipation of good news. Let me instance Ostend. How many times have the Allies occupied that city ? How many times have the Germans been on the verge of retreat ? One great daily recently "headlined" the reoccupation of Lille by the Allies, and I see in Sir John French's despatch that we were once almost in the suburbs of that city—another case of intelligent anticipation. Again, take these series of Russian victories, all of which, to say the least, appear to be gross exaggerations. The truth is, there is a great deal too much calm confidence. An enemy who has been preparing for thirty years cannot be subdued in a few months by peoples who have made little or no preparation, and the sooner people realize this the better, and I am afraid no realization is possible under the present system of Censorship. It is either Censor or voluntary Army ; we cannot have both.
—I am, Sir, &c., W. S. KING. 43 Carlisle Road, Eastbourne.
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