Sir F. E. Smith, the Attorney-General, who is visiting Amerioa,
IS reported in his first interview to have criticized our Censorship very severely, while at the same time disclaiming any such intention. " The moral of a nation at home is quite as vital to be maintained as the moral of an army at the front, and to my mind the moral of those at home may best be kept at a high point by complete news of their armies." The Attorney-General said also that " if the enemy knew what units were involved in a battle, people at home should know." As he was the first head of the Press Bureau, Sir F. E. Smith should know something about the Censorship. It Is worth while to point out that Sir Ian Hamilton, in the Intro- duction to his reprinted despatches from Gallipoli, makes precisely the same complaint that military news has been needlessly withheld
• m the public. Full accounts of the good work of our armies and of the Navy would be the best form of propaganda that we could employ to maintain public confidence at home and to reassure ur Allies and the neutrals.
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