§ Mr. Dribergasked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that, on a number of recent occasions, details of the progress of operations have been simultaneously stopped by the field censorship in Belgium and released by S.H.A.E.F. in England, with the result that messages from war correspondents serving with the Second Army are often obsolete by the time they reach the newspaper offices; and if, in view of the importance of adequate eyewitness reporting of the achievements of the British Army of Liberation, he will endeavour to secure greater uniformity of practice as between the two groups of censors.
§ Sir J. GriggIn view of the speed of the advance of the British Second Army—particularly from the Seine to the Scheldt—and of the consequent strain on communications some unevenness in censorship was unavoidable. But I am sure that the Supreme Allied Commander is as anxious as anyone to reduce instances of this as far as possible.
§ Mr. Bartlettasked the Secretary of State for War how many British and American newspaper correspondents, respectively, have been granted permits by S.H.A.E.F. to visit Paris.
§ Sir J. GriggApplications to go to Paris from any of the large number of correspondents accredited to Supreme Headquarters are considered by that Headquarters. I understand that there are at present 60 Americans, 28 British764W and Dominion and 4 Allied correspondents now in Paris. Of these, about 40 are on temporary facility visits from this country. All war correspondents accredited to formations in France—whether they are British or American—are able to visit Paris if they wish to. Such visits are arranged locally and no special permits from Supreme Headquarters are necessary.
§ Mr. Dribergasked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that, owing, to repeated failures of communication and transmission, war correspondents serving with the Second Army have been unable to report adequately the present operation in Holland; and if, in view of the importance of recording as thoroughly and promptly as possible the achievements of the British Forces in the present campaign and in forthcoming operations in Germany, he will endeavour to afford fuller transmission and other facilities to the public relations service concerned.
Sir J. Gri——I am aware of the difficulties to which the hon. Member refers. As far as wireless transmission is concerned, they are due to shortage of high speed equipment and to the pressure on the limited number of radio frequencies which are available. As regards other methods of transmission, the speed of out advance and the destruction wrought by the enemy have placed a great strain on land lines and submarine cables and have delayed the establishment of teleprinter circuits. The position has improved in the last week and I very much hope that the improvement will continue. But I must make it clear that first preference in the use of existing means of communication and in the allocation of new equipment must be given to the operational traffic necessary to win the battle.