"The New Zealand Y.M.C.A. men are to be found in every place in England where there are New Zealand soldiers." stated Dr. Bedford, of the triangle organisation, speaking to a Post reporter yesterday, after his return from England. Dr. Bedford said, further, that seldom were obstacles placed in the way of the Y.M.C.A., and in many instances the secretaries were asked by the officers to do work such as the organisation of religious meetings or entertainments. The men, too, appreciated the work, for they were in a position to know the full extent of what was done. One soldier, just from France, covered from head to foot with mud, and carrying his war kit, stated, on being invited to take a hot bath and occupy a real, bed after it: "Well, if this is what Christianity means, give me Christianity all my life." Such an exclamation, stated Dr. Bedford, came from the bottom of a man's heart. Both the Army Council and the Admiralty officially recognised the Y.M.C.A., and, as an instance, the latter had handed over to that body the whole matter of entertainments at Crystal Palace, now a naval training school. The Y.M.C.A. had a vast institution there, and provided stationary for 5000 letters per day. Each day at the Y.M.C.A. canteen there was one ton of cake sold in penny slices. -Evening Post, 8/3/1917.
"GRAFT" ON TROOPSHIP
EVEN WATER SOLD.
DR BEDFORD'S CHARGES.
In Dr Bedford's account of his experiences en route and at Home, on active service with the Y.M.C.A., there is one revelation of shameful import. In a word, he says that he saw systematic "graft'' on the troopship Willochra. The story had better be told as Dr Bedford related it this morning — the morning after his return: "I saw graft that must have robbed the State of at least hundreds of pounds. The stores on the ship — the property of the State — were being sold to the soldiers and the money taken by some of the employees of the ship, who had access to and the handling of the provisions. Fresh water was one of the provisions sold. You know, it is impossible to carry an abundant supply of fresh water for 1,000 men, and fresh water baths were actually sold at 4s a bath — four buckets, at 1s a bucket. Fruit, cakes, supper were told, and in one case an amount of £40 was handed over by a man representing a group of men. I have furnished a statement of this to Sir James Allen, and have a written statement, signed by 24 sergeants. This I have done in the hope that something may be done to prevent its recurrence in the future. The unfortunate thing is that not only is the State robbed, but the men are charged more than the stuff is worth, and if supper or afternoon tea were supplied through an authorised channel the men would get the provisions cheaper, and the money would go into the coffers of the State. I suggested that a trial might be made of enlarging the canteens, and selling afternoon tea, fresh cakes, and supper, and the Minister is considering the whole thing.'' -Evening Star, 9/3/1917.
WAR CONDITIONS IN ENGLAND
A GRIM REALISATION.
RIGID PRACTICE OF ECONOMY.
INTERVIEW WITH DR BEDFORD.
Dr H. D. Bedford (lecturer on political economy at the Otago University), who left New Zealand in October of last year to take part in the war activities of the Y.M.C.A. returned to Dunedin yesterday, and was interviewed by a Daily Times reporter last evening. Dr Bedford is a close observer and an acute thinker, and the impressions made upon his trained mind are, therefore, of more than ordinary interest.
WAR FULLY REALISED IN ENGLAND.
"The people of England," said Dr Bedford, "are now labouring under no delusions regarding the seriousness of the conflict in which the Empire is engaged. Anyone visiting the Old Country to-day cannot fail to be impressed by the fact that the war wears a much more serious aspect there than it does here. You feel at once that you are in the presence of the grimmest event that has ever occurred in history, and on all sides there is an earnestness of purpose showing that this fact is realised deep down in the hearts of the people. The spirits of the soldiers pouring into London every night from the front are well maintained, but their cheerfulness is not of the light, irresponsible, schoolboy kind, and their good humour is rather that of solemn, serious men who have seen deeply into life, and who have rubbed shoulders with death.
"I have seen them time after time arriving in London at 4 or 5 o'clock in the morning, just as they had come out of the trenches, their clothes covered in mud and wearing their ordinary equipment, even including their 'tin hats,' or steel helmets. These men bear all the marks of weariness, but are in perfect good spirits. They fight grimly and purposefully now, not looking for novelty or joy in it; and they are all praying pretty earnestly for it to end speedily in the only possible way it can end."
These men, Dr Bedford explained, come over to England for a few days' leave; sometimes only for a week-end or perhaps for one day. The Y.M.C.A. meets all troop trains with cars, and the soldiers, whether they are from the front or from the camps out of London, are conveyed wherever they desire to go — to their homes, to hotels in the city, to other railway stations, or to the huts of the organisation This is one of the greatest activities of the Y.M.C.A., and it is greatly appreciated by the men. No charge is made. Dr Bedford states that he was working on these cars on several occasions. Wherever one goes in London khaki meets the eye as the prevailing article of apparel, and in all the houses of entertainment soldiers form more than half of the audience. In fact, these places seemed to be kept open mainly for their benefit.
ECONOMIC CONDITIONS AT HOME.
In reply to a question, Dr Bedford supplied some exceedingly interesting information regarding the social and economic conditions at Home.
"Now that the people realise the seriousness of the situation with which they are faced," he said, "they are practising economy in every direction. In good homes and among quite well-to-do people I found a degree of economy practised, such as does not obtain even in the houses of working men in this country. There is a very strong feeling against the wasting of any kind of food, and this makes itself apparent in small ways as well as in large. For instance, it almost amounts to a crime to leave a small piece of butter on your plate. In many private houses brown sugar has taken the place of white, and although you can still get white sugar in the large hotels the lumps are broken into small pieces to prevent waste. At the residence of one medical man where I was a guest brown sugar only was used, and my host offered no apology beyond the all-sufficient explanation that 'there was a war on.'"
The significance of the spread of economy impressed itself very forcibly on the mind of Professor Bedford. An active campaign was set on foot, and the newspapers were filled with controversies about the cultivation of parks and pleasure grounds and about the necessity for making every patch of ground produce something that could be eaten. The restrictions upon the keeping of pigs and poultry had been over-ridden, and Londoners were planting cabbages and other vegetables in strips of ground no larger than an ordinary room.
THE FINANCIAL ASPECT.
"It was my privilege," said Professor Bedford, "to be present at the Guildhall when Mr Lloyd George addressed a large meeting in connection with the loan that, was recently floated. On account of these tremendous loans bank deposits are no longer allowed to lie dormant, but the people are using their purchasing power in a way that was not done previously. This is one of the causes for high prices, along with the shortage of supplies. Paper money has never been so prevalent in London, and as in the case of all great wars there has been a measure of depreciation in the currency, but fortunately it is less marked in Britain than in any of the European countries at war, and not more marked than in the United States of America. The cost of living in London is simply enormous, and a dinner that could be got in Dunedin for 1s or 1s 6d cost about 3s 6d there.
THE POSITION OF FRANCE.
"The heroic French nation," said Dr Bedford, "has been one of the greatest sufferers in the war in the matter of manpower, and has borne a greater proportion of losses than any of the other Powers. It is generally thought that they are within sight of the end of their reserves of men, and that is doubtless the reason why the British armies have of late been taking over several of their sectors."
DURATION OF THE WAR.
Dr Bedford stated that a great deal of speculation was heard in connection with the duration of the war, but it was impossible at present to fix any limits as to its continuance. While in England Professor Bedford visited all the camps in England where there were New Zealand soldiers, and also many of the English camps. He also took occasion to visit all the hospitals where New Zealand soldiers were cared for. In London he met Mr Massey and Mr Joseph Ward, who were very busy and who did not intend to return to the dominion until the Imperial Conference had concluded. -Otago Daily Times, 9/3/1917.
Dr Bedford had arrived in England at a pivotal moment in the "Great War." The muddy soldiers arriving at the railway stations came from the Battle of the Somme, called, before it stalled, the "Big Push."
It was to be the break-through, the turning-point, when the new soldiers who had crowded the recruiting depots in 1914 arrived in France; trained, equipped, confident and ready.
With German trenches wrecked by days of shelling, and their occupants dead or dazed, the men were told it would be a walk-through. Once German lines were occupied, British cavalry would pour through and the war would, in some people's minds, get "back to normal," with glorious cavalry charges by the cream of the Army.
The British Army lost 60,000 men on the first day of the "Big Push." Artillery had failed to reach the concrete bunkers that sheltered German soldiers and their machine guns. All of the glory reported in British newspapers could not counter the lists of the dead and wounded. Family after family came to realise the seriousness of war.
SALE OF STORES.
MATTER FOR INQUIRY.
(By Telegraph. — Press Association.) WELLINGTON, this day.
Concerning Dr. Bedford's allegations regarding the improper sale of goods on transports Sir James Allen to-day said Dr. Bedford had submitted to him a document signed by certain responsible officers on a transport, stating that things had been sold to soldiers. "This was a recurring trouble, and we had heard about them before," said the Minister. One case he could recollect, and he supposed there were other cases. There were dismissals from the Union Company's service. "Every time we get any intimation of such things going on," he added, "we hold an inquiry." The Minister further stated that the present allegations had been submitted for inquiry. -Auckland Star, 10/3/1917.
It will probably come as a surprise to many to know that there is a wet canteen at Sling Camp, where the New Zealand soldiers receive their final training. Dr Bedford stated to a Wellington Post reporter that he noticed the fact with extreme regret. It seemed to him a great pity that a wet canteen should be provided in England, especially as all the canteens in the dominion and on the troopships were dry. Plainly it was in conflict with New Zealand's policy, but apparently the authorities here were not able to deal with the matter. He had noticed that the wet canteen was abused by some, but was glad to report that, on the whole, the New Zealand soldiers were extremely temperate and a credit to their country. The Y.M.C.A. had a dry canteen at Sling Camp. Because of their excellent behaviour on all occasions, New Zealanders received more privileges than any others. They were more popular, too, with the society hostesses. -Otago Daily Times, 12/3/1917.
A PERILOUS VOYAGE BY NEW ZEALAND TRANSPORT.
TWICE DRIVEN OUT OF PORT.
ESCORT OF EIGHTEEN DESTROYERS.
PLYMOUTH UNDER BLOCKADE.
The Minister of Defence has been advised that the Reinforcement has reached its destination in safety.— Daily newspaper.
This customary, curt, official message, periodically dismissing in its 17 words the anxieties of hundreds, sometimes conceals, as you shall learn from Dr. Bedford's story of the troopship Willochra's passage Home, a hundred hazards run. It was not a normal troop-ship passage; indeed, Dr. Bedford states that they encountered difficulties greater than those met by any previous vessel, taking so long to complete their passage that they reached their destination only a day or two ahead of the next reinforcement. The earlier part of the voyage was uneventful, the ship's company had shaken down into their places, and the soothing routine of a deep-water vessel had established its beneficial sway, when the wireless jarred them into consciousness of something wrong. They were ordered to put into port, and into a port that had never been a port of call for troopships. In this port they found a small fleet of British war vessels — a first-class battleship, three armoured cruisers, and several armed merchant-men — and amongst these they lay for ten days, their company gradually swelling as ship after ship was driven in by the same warning of danger, which at the time was a mystery to them. It was evidently a very pressing one, for within the ten days five Australian and three African transports lay at anchor beside them. This long and anxious wait was ended by an order to put to sea on independent courses, and make for the port where the Willochra was to receive her gun — for up to this time she was unarmed. This port was made without alarum, and, her gun mounted, the transport turned her nose towards England. Three days she made without interference, and then received a hurry call to turn and proceed at all speed back to the port in which she had already been hung up for ten days. The ship received over the wireless a full description of a raider that was out, and of special submarine activity over the course the transport was to have pursued. Again this port became the rendezvous of transport after transport, hurriedly intercepted by the wireless, until at the end of this third week of hiding there were 50,000 troops in that port. The composition of the battle fleet lying there had changed. The battleship had sailed, but a fine French cruiser had replaced her, and there were more armed merchantmen. While idling here they heard of the sinking by submarine attack of several ships lying in a certain harbour, and the shelling of the town's forts. Finally the Willochra was sent out with four other transports under escort of an armed cruiser, which accompanied them the whole way. They proceeded, Dr. Bedford said, like drunken ships, making, a truly astonishing wake for the bewilderment of any lurking periscope. The first point in the deadly game with the submarine is to obscure your destination. Once he has succeeded in determining this, he sinks, makes for a spot commanding your course, and there lies in wait for his prey to pass. For several days the Willochra continued to zig-zag over the face of the waters, and then dark smudges of smoke on the horizon grew with inconceivable rapidity into the long racing forms of seven destroyers swinging down upon them at an even 45 knots. They were a British unit sent to escort the troopships, although the latter were still three days from their final port, and on the last day out 11 more destroyers appeared and formed a girdle round them, while a mine sweeper slowly searched the sea ahead of them. "We found," said the professor, "that the port of destination) had been practically blockaded by submarines for several weeks, and I think we were the first ship to break the blockade. After we got in we found that the Corinthic had been lying there three weeks, waiting to get out, with several hundreds of passengers aboard. She did not get out, I believe, until two weeks later."
Dr. Bedford spoke in terms of warmest admiration of the ship's officers. "I think," he said, "that the officers on these troopships deserve the greatest praise and gratitude. With them it is not a case of one supreme and final moment of suspense, but of weeks and days whose every hour keeps the nerves astrain. .Apart from the constant menace of the submarine, there is the anxiety of running at night, perhaps through thick weather, without a light showing, and with the foghorn silent. I noticed that towards the end every officer was haggard with the strain. We learned gradually during the long voyage that a number of submarines had escaped from the Mediterranean, and as the news was sent out ships in all directions had sought port at full speed."
ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE Y.M.C.A.
It will be remembered that Dr. Bedford obtained leave from his professorial duties to assist in the direction of Y.M.C.A. work in France and London. He never set foot in France. The protracted passage exhausted so much of his leave that he could not give the undertaking to put in a month's work there which was the necessary condition to obtaining permission to go. But he saw the work in the New Zealand camp on Salisbury Plains and in London, and, in his own words, "It is the finest social service for soldiers that has ever been done in the history of the world." In the New Zealand Y.M.C.A. "hut" in London there is bed accommodation for 400 men, and meals are provided for the soldiers - men from the camps and men on leave from the Front - at any hour of the day and night. It has never been closed for five minutes, and over 1000 served there daily. "That 'hut'' says the Professor, "has already saved the New Zealand boys thousands of pounds, and made possible a cheap week's leave for hundreds of our men who else could never have come to London, so terrific is the cost of living. A man can get there a bed with clean sheets, blankets, fumigated every day, and a breakfast of ham and eggs, or anything else he fancies, for the sum of 1/6, although at times we are paying 3d apiece for eggs. I had many meals there, and one, consisting of breast of turkey, potatoes, beans, plum pudding, bread and butter, and cheese, which I got for 10d, could not have been got for lese than 2/6 in the cheapest London restaurant. The biggest proportion of the privates and non-coms sleep and have breakfast at least in the YM.CA. hut. We have 350 waitresses there, all drawn from the leisured classes, and all doing the work free of charge. They keep it going night and day, and I have seen a titled woman scrubbing the floor. The presence of these women in their pretty uniforms is quite the most attractive feature to our soldiers. It gives the atmosphere, and atmosphere of home."
SADNESS EVERYWHERE.
"In England now," continued the doctor, "there is so much evidence of wide-spread sorrow that it is hard to be anything but gloomy. The railway stations furnish harrowing spectacles. The men coming home on leave, their trench helmets still on their heads, have been unable to disguise just how terrible the war is, and the partings a, day or two later, when the men have to go back, are terrible. I have seen welldressed, self-controlled women sobbing so that they shook from head to foot. I never spoke to a soldier who did not look forward to peace; but, also, I did not speak to one but thought peace worse than death unless first we realised the things for which we entered the war. The young men are cheerfully carrying a burden never placed before on the shoulders of the young men of any nation.
WET CANTEEN IN EXGLAND.
In conclusion. Dr. Bedford referred to a matter which has caused him some concern, and which he has referred to Sir James Allen. The camps in New Zealand have only "dry" canteens, the ships on which the men travel are "dry," and at one at least of the main ports of call the hotels were shut down while the soldiers were on shore leave; but when the men reach England they pass under the English regulations, and there is a wet canteen at Sling, the New Zealand camp on Salisbury Plains. The presence of this wet canteen, the doctor noticed, was leading young men to drink too much, and he has the hope that the New Zealand Government will be able to get it abolished in the New Zealand camp. -Auckland Star, 13/3/1917.
Summonses have been issued against Dr Bedford and the proprietors of this journal for breaches of the War Regulations — the former for communicating in an interview the movements of ships and the disposition of troops; and the newspaper for contravening the regulations in respect thereto. We believe that the military authorities are instituting similar proceedings against the 'Lyttelton Times' and the Auckland 'Star.' -Evening Star, 13/4/1917.
IMPROPER PUBLICATION?
‘STAR’ AND DR BEDFORD CHARGED.
INTERESTING DEFENCE.
WHY DID CENSOR PASS SAME INFORMATION?
COLONEL GIBBON TO BE HEARD.
Mr J. B. Bartholomew, S.M., sat at the Police Court this morning.
The 'Evening Star’ Company, Ltd., were charged that on the 10th March, 1917, they published in the ‘Evening Star’ newspaper certain information with respect to the movements of the naval and military forces of His Majesty, contrary to the regulations made on the 22nd February, 1915, under the War Regulations Act, 1914, and its amendments. The company were further charged that, without the written consent of a military authority, they published certain statements as to the employment of the Willochra, engaged in a voyage the course of which lies partially to the north of the Equator.
Harry Dodgson Bedford was charged with communicating the information to the Evening Star. It was mutually agreed to take all the cases together, and the defendants pleaded not guilty.
Mr W. C. MacGregor, K.C., appearing for the Crown, handed His Worship a copy of the 'Star’ of 10th March, containing the article complained of, headed ‘A Perilous Voyage,’ and then went on to show how and when the regulations relied on were made. Mr MacGregor proceeded to deal with the article itself. The first thing that struck one was the headlines ‘A Perilous Voyage' — ‘A New Zealand Transport Twice Driven to Port — Escort of 18 Destroyers — British Port Under Blockade.' These headlines were of a sensational nature. The article purported to be the report of an interview with Dr Bedford concerning a voyage of the Willochra; and he thought it was suggested that this article was a preliminary to a series that were to describe Dr Bedford’s trip. The headnote of the article ran thus: “The Minister of Defence has been advised that the Reinforcement has reached its destination m safety. That was put forward as the official way of stating the result of a voyage of a vessel carrying troops, and then Dr Bedford went on to say that this voyage of the Willochra, of which he was speaking, was not a normal troopship passage. It was clear, first, that the article was descriptive of the voyage of a troopship, and, secondly, that the description v/as of a voyage Home, which was clearly north of the Equator. In the article we were told that “the wireless jarred” and “the ship was ordered to put into port." that dealt with the movements of this particular ship, and the remarks about certain vessels lying in that port for 10 days and so on gave information as to the movements of the naval and military forces. All this was conveying interesting and valuable information as to the movements of the transport and the actual forces o\ the Crown. The article went on to tell of the Willochra going to sea, and arriving at another port, and receiving a gun, and as to there being 60,000 troops in a certain port, this conveying precise and valuable information as to the military forces. This was followed by references to naval matters — a battleship sailing and being replaced by a French cruiser, and so on —and then there came a description of the released transports proceeding “on a truly astonishing wake for the bewilderment of any lurking periscope.” Next there was something about the method of dodging submarines — interesting reading for the Germans. Then Dr Bedford told how the troopships were escorted, and he went on to tell how the port of destination had been blockaded for several weeks, and ho mentioned that the Corinthic had been lying there for three weeks. That concluded the narrative part of the article, and it proceeded to give commendation of the ship’s officers under the strain on their nerves. The article as a whole was a contrast to what Dr Bedford and the newspaper called the curt official message usual in such cases. Dr Bedford said that, as a matter of fact, he had nothing to do with the headnote or the headlines. The first paragraph of the article, referring to “the curt official message,” was not the result of what he said in the interview. The interview really started at the second paragraph, and from that on it was a paraphrase of what he said and some quotations of his actual utterances.
His Worship: You supplied the material and they did the dressing.
Dr Bedford: Yes, that is so. I did not know what was written till I saw it in the newspaper.
His Worship; I understand that Dr Bedford wishes it made clear that it was not an article contributed by him, and that he is not responsible for the headlines.
Mr MacGregor: I frankly accept his statement; but the complaint is that he communicated the information, and if he had not done so the dressing could not have been supplied — there would have been nothing to dress. Learned counsel went on to remark that it was difficult to understand how Dr Bedford could have given this precise information if he had before him the Minister's form of the official statement that such and such reinforcements had reached their destination in safety. In the article the pressman told pretty well everything that the authorities have been so anxious to keep a mystery. It was perfectly plain that both the regulations relied on had been broken. When the report of the interview appeared the military authority — Colonel Gibbon — wrote to the editor of the ‘Star’ asking to be informed why the article was printed before submitting it to him. To that the editor replied that he was not aware that matter in the shape of an interview came within the scope of the regulations. He (Mr MacGregor) could not understand that statement. The editor went on in his reply; “Though I acknowledge freely that the reference to the number of troops said to be stationed at such unnamed port was an infringement of its spirit. For that offence, if such it be, I make apology; but, however sharp one pair of eyes may be, it is sometimes impossible to detect every pitfall. . . . On reading over again our report I see that troops are specifically mentioned in strength. This should have been altered to ‘a considerable number of troops'; but in respect to the name of the Willochra appearing the sub-editor certainly counselled me, and I told him I thought it could go in, as I understood that her voyage as a transport had ended, and as her name had appeared in telegrams from Wellington." The editor then went on to state that he was submitting to Colonel Gibbon without prejudice the whole of the proofs of Dr Bedford’s series of articles. It was not suggested, Mr MacGregor proceeded to say, that the breaking of the regulations was intentional. What was suggested was that it came about through some extraordinary trip or blunder. There was no suggestion that the ‘Star’ or any other newspaper intentionally infringed the regulations, and so far as the ‘Star' was concerned they themselves said it was a case of Jupiter nodding. As to the suggestion in Mr Cohen’s letter that the voyage of the Willochra had ended, and that the censorship therefore did not apply, that was clearly erroneous. The vessel certainly had arrived in port, but she was permanently engaged as a transport, and the object of the regulation was clearly to prohibit publication of not only information which would be a source of danger to her on one particular voyage, but generally. A great part of the information in that interview would be of enormous value to the Germans — the information as to armaments, and movements, and as to the precautions taken by the Admiralty. Dr Bedford was in the troopship as representing the Y.M.C.A., and it was extraordinary that he should have disclosed what he did without at any rate inquiring whether he was infringing the censorship. He (Mr MacGregor) quite understood a newspaper, in the rush of the daily work, accepting the article, but it was difficult to understand Dr Bedford giving such information. The prosecutions up north were, so far as one could see, for technical breaches of the regulations. This was not a technical breach. He was instructed that the authorities looked upon it as a serious breach, in view of the dangers to which British ships were exposed.
Dr Bedford said he proposed to make a statement concerning this matter in the course of which he would allege certain facts which, if not admitted, evidence could be given concerning them. He would say, however, at the outset that he had always desired to assist the Defence Department by observing the war regulations, and if any offence had been committed it had been committed unwittingly. As his first point he would maintain that the regulation of February, 1917, had no application at all to information given concerning a voyage that had ended. This regulation read: “No person shall, without the consent of the military authority, publish, or cause or permit to be published any statement or communication as to the movements, etc., of any ship engaged or about to be engaged in any voyage,” etc. A voyage must mean a run from one port to another, and could not be taken to continue from the time a vessel commenced transport work to the time its transport work ended. The ordinary meaning of the word must be taken. Then the word “engaged” was used, and he would point out that the ship was not engaged upon any voyage when the information was given. The voyage was ended, and the information did not concern a voyage in which the ship was engaged. If the regulation had been intended to apply to past voyages it would have read “has been engaged is engaged, or is about to be engaged." He maintained that the clear reading of the regulation was that information must not be given concerning a voyage that was proceeding, or a future voyage. It was quite evident that to give information about a voyage that was past and not give information as to a voyage to come, for troopships did not follow the same route. Their route was constantly changing. He was charged with "causing to be published,” but he submitted that he did not cause anything to be published. The interview was sought, and the information given, of which the ‘Star’ made such use as it deemed fit.
His Worship: If you did not “cause” you “permitted” it.
Dr Bedford said that might be so, but in any case the point he stressed was that the regulation did not apply to information concerning a voyage that was ended. With regard to the regulation of 1915, in which the word “communicate” was used, if this word was to be interpreted in its literal sense the regulation was violated every day by the Ministers of the Crown, by every editor, by every returned soldier, by every mother, and by everyone, in fact, who knew anything about the movements of ships. If ”communicate” was to be taken to mean the mere speaking to another of the movements of a troopship, the regulation was violated by everybody! But that could not be its meaning. In the second place, he submitted that this regulation — so far as it related to the information given by him in the interview, had been practically in abeyance until a month or two ago. The newspapers stated that more or less regularly information like that he had given (ships arriving and their destinations) had been given by Ministers to the Press, and published in the Press up to the recent outbreak of special submarine activity, when the regulation was more rigorously enforced. He had not known about this enforcement.
His Worship: Don’t you think you are rather modest? I don’t think information of this kind ever appeared in the papers before.
Dr Bedford: “It is more ample. But information of the kind has been given.” He proceeded to narrate how, going over on the troopship, they were informed that they could post letters at ports of call, and these would be sent on, after being held back for a week or two, until the ship had departed. Regularly such letters were posted, containing the name of the troopship, the names of ports, etc., and the only special point was that the letters were held until the ship had departed. This clearly gave the impression that the danger was past as soon as the ship had got right away. The furnishing of information in letters was just as dangerous as its publication in a newspaper, for letters could be intercepted, and many of them were posted without being placed in envelopes. All this clearly showed considerable laxity on the part of the authorities in enforcing this regulation. He urged the same defence as to liability under this regulation that he raised in the case of the first regulation — that the regulation referred to the movements of ships in the present, or their future movements. He raised the further point that regulation did refer to past movements of ships, it referred only to information given for publication. Mr MacGregor had said the interview was a preliminary to the publication of a series of articles. It was nothing of the kind. He had not sought the interview, and the position was that he went into the office at the request of the ‘Star,’ talked freely, gave information, and relied on the ‘Star’ to publish only what was in accordance with the War Regulations. It was argued that, being a barrister, he should have been acquainted with the regulations, but the newspapers made a special feature of getting knowledge of the regulations, were in constant touch with the department, and it was a tacit understanding that when a man granted an interview the newspaper would see that things were cut out that should not be published. He said a number of things which he did not intend to go in the paper, and it was certainly a fact that he relied on the paper to publish only such information as was warranted by the War Regulations. And as a matter of practice he was justified in such reliance. He had not communicated information for the purpose of the publication of what was contrary to the regulations. He admitted that he had not read the regulations, and had not known them. He had given a large amount of information, relying on the ‘Star’ to publish just what it was right to publish. He contended that if the regulation meant to “communicate for publication” he was not liable. Dr Bedford proceeded to read from his own articles (which followed the interview, and which were all submitted to the censor), extracts showing that in them he had given similar information to that which was the subject of the present charges. He read out bits conveying news of the number of ships in a certain port, the position of ships, the number of troops in the port at that time, the presence of cruisers, and another matter which was not in the interview, and which we do not state here, since Dr Bedford related its significance. All these articles, counsel proceeded, were forwarded to the censor; he cut out what he thought should be cut out, but left in information of the same kind as that in the interview, only more amplified and containing more detailed movements of the ships.
His Worship asked Mr MacGregor if this was admitted. If so, it put a different complexion on the case.
Mr MacGregor said he could not admit it; but even if it were a fact that similar information was passed, he supposed the position was that once the information had been disclosed in the interview the mischief was done.
Dr Bedford said that was an impossible argument. One thing in his articles was more than anything that appeared in the interview, but it was passed. If it was wrong to publish the information in the interview, then the more it was published the more likely did it become that the enemy would get hold of it. He maintained that every point in the interview enumerated by Mr MacGregor as being improper had been made by similar statements, in the subsequent articles, which articles had been passed by the Chief Censor. He maintained that the points he had made were valid and sufficient to acquit him. In any case, the breach was purely technical. To show this he narrated how, immediately on arrival, he had been everywhere approached for interviews, and had everywhere, justifiably, he thought, left the responsibility on the Press with respect to the War Regulations. His articles were deliberate but the interviews were statements made in answer to questions, and he had not seen the “proof ” of any single interview.
Dr Bedford called and examined two witnesses.
Mark Cohen, editor of the ‘Star,’ said that he remembered Dr Bedford submitting to him certain articles with reference to the 18th Reinforcements. He followed the course he invariably adopted with such articles: he sent clean proofs to Colonel Gibbon and asked for an early reply. Not getting a reply in time, the first of those articles was held over. The articles as they appeared were passed by Colonel Gibbon. He had no reason to believe that the censorship of those articles was perfunctory. When an interview was given it was the rule to send a proof to the author, but in this case there was no time. As the sub-editor consulted him as to publishing the steamer’s name, he accepted responsibility for the publishing of the interview. He took it that the two steamers named had terminated their voyages and were no longer transports, and therefore the regulations did not cover them. Besides the name of the Willochra had been sent from Wellington. The Defence Department did not give interpretations of the regulations; it told the papers peremptorily what they must not do, not what they may do. As to the headlines of this interview, the Censor had previously passed one which he (the witness) would not have passed. If he got back a proof from Colonel Gibbon and saw something in it that was obviously improper he would cut it out. As a fact he had done so. The Censor's objections were never questioned. He did not send up a proof of the interview because he understood that the information was from a civilian, and as such was not prohibited.
Mr MacGregor: Would you treat any information that way?
Witness: We use our common sense, Mr MacGregor.
Continuing, Mr Cohen said that four papers published both the interview and the articles, so there were four editors who accepted the interview as all right. The other papers did not publish the interview on the same evening.
To Dr Bedford: The interview did not appear in the ‘Star’ on the day of the interview, but on the following day.
Mr MacGregor: Then the suggestion of hurry goes by the board.
Witness added that the interview was not syndicated in the sense that the articles were, as to time.
F. S. Goyen, reporter, examined by Dr Bedford, said that he took the interview on the 9th of March, and it was published on the 10th. He was referring to the principal part of the interview. A smaller part of the interview was published on the Friday — the day that he saw Dr Bedford. The headlines and the text on the top of the article were witness’s own, and he wrote the first paragraph as an introduction.
To Mr MacGregor: The facts stated were as given, though not exactly in Dr Bedford’s own words in every case. Other facts were given, too — things that were not published. For instance, Dr Bedford mentioned to him names of places and other particulars, which, of course, could not be published. Witness did not suggest that Dr Bedford should see a proof. If, in looking through an interview, he saw anything that he thought the author’s attention should have been drawn to, he would send a proof; but, as a matter of fact, he did not see this one till after 2 o’clock in the afternoon, and he did not red anything in it. Much stronger stuff had been given lots of times. The interview was a little different from an ordinary interview, in that Dr Bedford was to publish a series of articles, and naturally would be keeping something back. Ordinarily, when a man was being interviewed, he let out everything that was in his mind.
Dr Bedford said he was willing to submit to examination in the box, if there was anything further to come out.
Mr MacGregor replied that he willingly accepted Dr Bedford’s statements as they were.
His Worship said that so much had been said about the censorship of Colonel Gibbon that the Court should have his version of the matter in regard to the passing of certain articles. It was, of course, for the Court to give a decisive opinion, but it would be interesting to know the view the authorities took in such a matter. He proposed to adjourn the case for a week in order to produce a statement from Colonel Gibbon.
Mr MacGregor asked if the Court would like to hear him on the point as to the regulation of the 5th February, 1917, and as to the defence of the voyage having been terminated.
His Worship intimated that he would like to hear Mr MacGregor.
Learned counsel thereupon submitted that the meaning of the Regulation was clear. It was not merely in reference to the danger of the ship whilst she was on a particular voyage, but as to the ship generally. Dr Bedford seemed to think that the Regulation was exhausted when the ship was safe back in harbor, but that was not so. So long as information concerning her might be a source of danger to her at any time on any future voyage it was necessary to observe the prohibition. On that point the Willochra was permanently employed as a transport, and this publication clearly gave not only her movements, but also the measures she took to escape danger. He referred the court to two English decisions on the point. Mr MacGregor added that he was instructed that the authorities considered it a serious case, and that he should ask for a substantial penalty. The matter was then adjourned for a week. -Evening Star, 27/4/1917.
Dr Bedford and the Evening Star were fined five pounds each on each charge. It was recognised that they had broken the letter of the regulations but without malicious intent.
We understand that Dr Bedford's recent lecture at Milton has occasioned very acrid criticism from certain quarters, being directed against those responsible for the innovation of Sunday lectures in Milton, on the grounds of its creating a precedent dangerous to public morals. -Bruce Herald, 26/4/1917.
A Board consisting of Colonel Strong, Lieutenant-Colonel Frederic, and Major F. Shand, opened a military enquiry at Port Chalmers into the allegations made recently by Dr. Bedford in respect to the sales of stores by members of the crew of a certain transport. It is understood (says the Otago Daily Times) that Dr. Bedford was at the enquiry, but from what can be gathered the Board had great difficulty in eliciting any information from the witnesses called. -Hawera and Normanby Star, 11/5/1917.
WANTED — Every man interested in the better development of the human race should not fail to hear Dr. Bedford's lecture on Sunday afternoon next at the Y.M.C.A.
WANTED The man, the woman, the child, and the State, are the subject of Dr. Bedford's lectures at the Y.M.C.A. next week on "Race Building."
WANTED — A few facts concerning social disease — facts all men must know. Attend Dr. Bedford's lecture to men only next Sunday afternoon at the Y.M.C.A.,- Willis-street.
WANTED — Dr. Bedford's lecture on the sacredness of family life is of the highest value to all men and women. Watch newspapers for full particulars lecture course. -Evening Post, 11/12/1917.
EUGENICS
DR. BEDFORD'S LECTURES.
About 200 men assembled in the V.M.C.A. Hall yesterday afternoon to hear the first of Dr. Bedford's lectures on race-building. The speaker, who was introduced by Mr. C. M. Luke, referred to the prominence given by the present war to the prevalence and peril of social diseases. In London alone it was estimated that the victims numbered 450,000. Ten per cent. of the men of Europe were alleged to have contracted the transmissible form of what, from its results, may be held the most deadly of all scourges afflicting human nature to-day. In Australia a doctor gave evidence before a Royal Commission that he had in six months examined two thousand men who proved physically unfit, because of sexual troubles. Statistics published in New Zealand showed for the first half of 1916 no less than 300 cases contracted by soldiers in Trentham and Featherston between entering camp and leaving New Zealand. There was no reason to suppose that the proportion of cases was any less in non-soldiers.
The subject, said Dr. Bedford, had its moral aspect as well as the repulsive material phase. The real basis of health for body and soul alike was sacrifice, which both spiritual law and scientific law proclaimed. A man's place in the scale of life was determined by his own choice; he could, if he would, descend the scale to the level of the vegetable that remains narrow, rooted, full of stopped senses, exercising but one faculty — the power to absorb. Or he might rise in the scale by letting his life be a constant conquest of death. This could only be done by sacrificing the lower to the higher, choosing the spiritual at the cost of putting due restraints on the body. Let a man cast off restrictions and he ran all to body till the body itself ran to weakness, the sum total of vitality at his disposal being limited. Even in a tree the branches must be lopped to drive back the energy into more profitable channels. For man, however, the last word was not repression, but consecration.
After analysing in some detail Tennyson's treatment of the subject in his "Vision of Sin," where the victim is first of all presented passive, then actively driving himself on, only to become in the end a sated voluptuary quickened by the worms into a lower life, the lecturer concluded with an appeal for high ideals of purity on all grounds.
The series of lectures will be continued this evening, when Dr. Bedford will speak on "The Woman." His subject for to-morrow is "The Child," and on Wednesday "The State." The lectures are open to both men and women. -Evening Post, 17/12/1917.
DR BEDFORD'S SERIES OF RACE LECTURES
"THE WOMAN."
Yesterday evening, in the Y.M.C.A Buildings, Dr. Bedford, of Otago University, gave the second lecture of the series which he is giving upon matters affecting the welfare of the race. On this occasion, his lecture was upon the subject of "The Woman." Miss McLean presided and associated with her upon the platform were Mrs. Pearson, president of the Y.W.C.A., and Mr. Horsley, president of the Y.M.C.A.
In his opening remarks Dr. Bedford stated that he was not a medical doctor and consequently he had based some of his statements upon facts presented by those who were. Women, he considered, had a right to that protection which the men of the community could give them. One of the outstanding facts about social purity was to be found in the statement that no man could live to himself alone. In spite of himself his influence permeated those about him, and so if a man or woman was suffering from disease it affected others in some form or another.
The diseases that afflicted men through impurity of life were almost always communicated to women. Home life, family life, should be sacred, and he could not conceive greater happiness coming to a man than that brought him by a happy home life, in which there were little children around him: A sacred family life was the foundation of a nation's greatness. Not infrequently the altar to which a young girl was brought on her wedding day turned out to be nothing but an altar of sacrifice. In far too many cases the door of matrimony was the door to debility, to diseases of a terrible nature. They were inevitable; these diseases were in the home, it was our duty to look at these facts squarely, ascertain their nature and their effects and set ourselves to remove them. It had been said that 50 per cent. of childlessness in married life was due to the effects of these diseases. Sterility destroyed nations, destroyed happy homes, and ruined the health of innumerable women through no fault of their own. The conscience of the community needed to be aroused and a healthy sentiment created so that the evils could be grappled with and overcome.
With so many men daily being killed and maimed in this war, it was more than ever necessary that our man-power and woman-power should be conserved. Power of mind, body, and spirit were the greatest things that anyone could possess, and it was our duty to keep the body and the mind, the vehicles of the soul, as strong and vigorous as possible. The power of alcohol, to lessen the resistance of the body to these disease germs was emphasised by the speaker. Alcohol and social diseases were very closely connected, and the former had the power of quickening germs that had. long been dormant in the body.
The close connection between mind and body was touched upon by Dr. Bedford, who said that as a rule the body could not be brought to ruin without bringing in the mind too. Mind, body, and spirit were not separate, and what affected one impinged upon the others. There could be no greater tragedy than the mind reduced to impotence. Social diseases were great factors that made for insanity, and our mental hospitals were largely filled with men and women brought to mental incapacity through their own sins or the sins of others. The diseases of the body affected the moral powers to the extent that they had an impaired instrument through which they had to express themselves.
Dr. Bedford was convinced that chivalry was not dead, indeed, the war had shown that it was not, and he was sure that if an appeal were made to the spirit of chivalry to exercise those restraints that would ensure the health of the community that appeal would be answered. It was the duty of men to realise their responsibilities and see that they did nothing that would impair the health, the capacity, the strength, the happiness, and the bloom of life of the women they loved. The speaker was of the opinion that here was far too much indulgence to sickness. Half our sickness was due to our own fault, and instead of pity the lash of castration should he dealt out. Preventable sickness was the greatest sin that man could commit against God and against himself. A hearty vote of thanks to the lecturer was given at the close of the address. -Dominion, 18/12/1917.
When Dr. Bedford was half-way through his lecture at the Choral Hall last night, the proceedings were interrupted by the arrival of a burly individual who strode noisily in and seated himself a few rows from the back of the hall. From time to time ho interjected until reminded by Mr Holland, who presided at the lecture, that unless he ceased talking he would be put out. "I want to ask a few questions," vociforated the burly one in response to the efforts of several Y.M.C.A. officials to quieten him. His mutterings did not, however, cease, and presently a large square bottle of something apparently much stronger than lemonade slipped out of his pocket and fell with a bang on to the floor. He was promptly ejected, and peace was again restored. -Press, 11/1/1918.
DR BEDFORD'S DEATH
DROWNED IN THE MAIR POOL.
ATTEMPT AT RESCUE UNAVAILING.
(Per United Press Association.) AUCKLAND, February 18.
News was received last evening of the death by drowning at Whangarei early yesterday morning of Dr Bedford, Professor of Economics and History at Otago University. Dr Bedford arrived in Auckland about January 23 on a lecturing tour in the interests of temperance. He had spoken at several centres, and he was to have addressed a public meeting in the Auckland Town Hall on Wednesday evening. He reached Whangarei on Saturday evening in company with the Rev. John Dawson, secretary of the New Zealand Alliance. He was the guest of the Rev. E. Clark, Methodist minister. He left the house early yesterday morning with the intention of bathing in the Mair Pool (still water in the Hatea River), which is a favourite resort of swimmers. He met Mr H. Cooper, a local resident, coming away from the pool. Mr Cooper pointed out to him the dangerous spots and currents.
Mr Cooper had not proceeded far when he heard cries for help. Hurrying back, he reached the Mair Pool just as Professor Bedford was sinking. Although only an indifferent swimmer, Mr Cooper attempted to rescue the drowning man. His efforts, however, were unavailing, and he ran for help, returning with several swimmers, who attempted to recover the body by diving. After several futile attempts the police were sent for, and the body was recovered two hours later by dragging the pool with nets.
THE INQUEST.
(Per United Pisess Association.) WHANGAREI, February 18.
The coroner's verdict was that death was due to drowning. The evidence failed to disclose ill-health or any external injury. The coroner added that the swimming place appeared to be treacherous, and the authorities should take note thereof.
ST. KILDA COUNCIL'S TRIBUTE.
Before the ordinary of the St Kilda Council was proceeded with last evening, the Mayor (Mr Scurr) referred in feeling terms to the death of Dr Bedford. He said that every member of the council must have been greatly grieved at this great loss to the dominion. He was one of the brightest and most distinguished citizens in Dunedin. He was a product of the great secular system of education, which had made New Zealand what it was. Although, not born in Mew Zealand, Dr Bedford rose slowly by his own energy, grit, and genius to one of the highest scholastic positions in the dominion. They all grieved when they heard of his tragic end. During the time they had known him they had learned to admire him. They might not have agreed with him politically, and they might have differed from him on some of the great social questions upon which he frequently discoursed to the public; but he was an honest and an honourable man and one to whom everyone could look for an example. Every man and woman in the dominion had lost a friend who had the interest of the country at heart. By his early death we had sustained the loss of a national asset and received a tragic blow. It was meet that the council should express its sympathy with Mrs Bedford and her little children in their great and irreparable loss. He moved: — "That this council extends to the relatives of the late Dr Bedford their sympathy in the loss they and the dominion had suffered by his early death, and that a copy be forwarded to his widow."
The motion was earned by a silent vote, councillors standing with bowed heads.
A Wanganui Press Association message states that there was a very large audience in the Opera House last night on the occasion of the lecture by Professor Trueblood. The meeting passed a vote expressing regret at Dr Bedford's death and conveying condolence to his widow.
The late Dr Bedford will be much missed in Mosgiel and East Taieri. He resided in the latter district on the outskirts of the town, alongside the manse. By untiring labours in his spare time he had made a beautiful home there. He will be much missed in the neighbourhood, over which quite a gloom has been cast. At various intervals during past years he had preached in the Baptist Church and also in the East Taieri and Mosgiel Presbyterian Churches during times of vacancies.
At East Taieri Church the usual evening service was abandoned, and a devotional service was held, at which special prayers were offered for the bereaved. The Rev. A. W. Kinmont made reference to the late professor's life and work.
In the Mosgiel Churches feeling reference was made to the occurrence, and words of sympathy were extended to the bereaved relatives.
At the conclusion of Sunday evening's service at the Mosgiel Methodist Church, of which Dr Bedford was an official and one of the trustees, news was received of his death. Dr Pinfold said the news was a terrible shock — so much so that it was hard to believe it was true. Their deepest sympathy went out to the widow and family and relatives. Dr Pinfold announced that on the following Sunday a memorial service would be held. The late Dr Bedford had boon elected to represent the Mosgiel church at the conference to be held in Dunedin next week. -Otago Daily Times, 19/2/1918.
Northern Cemetery, Dunedin.
No comments:
Post a Comment