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Show ! EDITORIAL j CENSORSHIP AND THE WAR I I CORRESPONDENT I ! t When tho war began, tho news l j X censor and his big bltio pencil were ' j j j' ory obvious One could lihrdly tell 1 lift whether a dispatch Mas describing j I tlio battle or Waterloo In lSli" or that I of Liege In 1911. As tho campaign l S lircceeJed, tho lid was lifted quite a H m little. Tho. world could sco and hear tj If the clash of Armageddon. Hut last !i S! week things seem to have tightened 1 ill down again. liS It is perhaps taken for granted that I Mjl war movciiieuts must bo conducted In ' ffljj nccrecy Yet 0110 can't help feeling' ' Hlf : 11 war cot respc.udent performs ii j j very Important function, and ono 'I J that nn armed forco distinctly needs.' if j It Is the business of tho'tralncd mil-jl mil-jl HH "nr' writer to lircscnt 11 vivid picture I IjB of tho wailc of tho soldiers. If tho j Ijj preparation of this 'nccount Is left 'to j jll tho press agents ot tho war olllces, jl Bj nil tho color of tho plcturo Is left ii 1 1 out. It becomes as palo and flat as H li n law brier, with little to aroii3C en- 91 9jj thuslasm or win sympathy. I WHjsj Ilut lf U'o trained war correspond- if jfflijf ent Is permitted to nccompany tho KiSlw ' troops, uid wrltu with somo freedom Jtlfflm ' ho transmits to tho world n thrilling jljjljjjj picture of tho dating and sacrifices 11 it ' "'" This communlcntca cnthus- If if if' s m to his own countrymen, relieves (3 1 it anxieties, nnd elicits hopo niul confl j ! denco. It arouses tho admiration nnd Jl if sympathy of neutral nations. When v Ij the censor cuts out tho news, ho cuts if, I the lino of communication with homo I enthusiasm. ' I' ( , It is niiturnl that military command-' Hi I rs should wish to conceal move- j J I ! ments of troops. Hut to conceal HI j these movements until long after the 1 iXJ j I enemy are aware of them is poor HrqH f policy. If n graphic story ot past ft . events Is promptly sent homo by writ. ' !j era trained to observo and toll what ' j j they bee, ti most elllcicnt means of 1 IB j ' rllcitlng homo support and winning ' BjJ favorablo scutlmont has been set to WPfi work. mm |