Publisher's blurb

BLUE PENCIL AMIRAL

THE AUTHOR IS the former Chief Press Censor, and Blue Pencil Admiral is his own story of the Press Censorship during the late war.
It gives a picture of order and smooth working emerging from chaos, of mistakes frankly admitted, and of triumphs. It is an authoritative and witty report on the Press and Press censorship, showing that a system largely built on trust worked with speed and efficiency.
Blue Pencil Admiral pays generous tribute to the magnificent work done by the Press in the face of enormous difficulties, dangers and temptations. That all through the war, even in the darkest days, Press censorship was kept on a voluntary basis was largely due to the support which Admiral Thomson received from the newspapers. But he was also fiercely determined that the Press should stay free, and at one vital moment when compulsion was almost decided, he staked his personal guarantee on the voluntary system—and it was continued.
When the war was over, it was generally admitted that none of the wartime Government departments had been more successful than the Press Censorship.

Contents

CHAPTER
I. ALL HANDS TO THE PUMPS
II. " ANY COMPLAINTS ? "
III. CHANGING AND CHOPPING
IV. PRIVATE-TO EDITORS AND OFFICE BOYS ONLY
V. OPINIONS DON'T COUNT
VI. NICE WEATHER, AT DOVER .
VII. THE FIRST GOOD NEWS
VIII. THE DARKEST DAYS .
IX. THE GREAT INVASION RUMOUR
X. SECRETS OF THE BLITZ
XI. KEEPING HITLER IN THE DARK
XII. THE ARRIVAL OF HESS
XIII. CENSORING MR. CHURCHILL
XIV. THE TIDE BEGINS TO TURN
XV. THE YANKS ARE COMING
XVI. " --BUT YOU MUSTN'T TELL "
XVII. KEEPING NAVAL SECRETS
XVIII. THE " DISHARMONY " CLAUSE
XIX. WHEN THE RADIO " WENT FUNNY "
XX. OVER TO THE OFFENSIVE
XXI. " D " DAY, FALSE AND TRUE
XXII. THE FLYING BOMBS
XXIII. THE LAST HURDLE