From ‘Government by Newspaper’, The Spectator, 29 May 1915:
WE went to press last week too early to comment upon the outrageous attack made by the Daily Mail upon Lord Kitchener. In condemning Lord Northcliffe for his action in this matter we find it difficult to show that restraint and moderation of language which the gravity of the situation demands. Though, in our opinion, the importance of the whole incident and the power of Lord Northcliffe to injure the Secretary for War or anybody else have been very much exaggerated, the attack deserves, and must receive, the severest reprobation. But while the Daily Mail thoroughly deserves all that has been said about its leading articles, there is real danger lest the national energy and national concentration required to array the nation for war and make good our shortage of ammunition should be wasted in the punishment of a peccant newspaper. The need of the hour is shells, not scapegoats.
If the country is wise it will make the chief lesson of the past week a determination not to be governed by newspapers.
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