NEWS FROM FINLAND Sm,—Some of the journalists in Finland have
themselves made it clear that many of their reports are not sent on the evidence of their own eyes. In the Daily Telegraph dated February t7th, the special correspondent, Mr. George L. Steer writes: " An eventful fortnight. . . . I have not been to the front, nor has any other journalist during that time. . . . Our knowledge in the main has been built up from Finnish communiques." The special correspondent's report in the Daily Telegraph dated February loth said: " Very little real news is now coming out of Finland, where the censorship is getting tighter and tighter. This is partly to restrain mis- guided enthusiasts who have reported a smashing Finnish victory two or three times every week." This seems to imply that much of the news then coming out of Finland was " unreal "—that is, invented.
Among others who might be quoted is Mr. Walter Kerr, special correspondent of the New York Herald Tribune, who said recently: "Even if the correspondents were skilled on skis, which they are not, or spoke the Finnish language, which they cannot, the Army would not allow them to visit the front lines unless is were a relatively quiet day. No correspondent, so far as I know, has ever seen the troops in action."—Yours fiithfully, HUGH P. VOWLES. The Old Rectory, Harescombe, Glos.
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