CORRESPONDENCE.
"Dear Sir,
"On the advice of Brigadier-General Legge I beg to request permission to visit Anzac.
"I am proceeding from Melbourne to London to take up the position of managing editor of the Australian news cable service in connection with the London Times and at the Commonwealth Government's request am enquiring into mail arrangements, dispositions of wounded, and various matters in Egypt in connection with our Australian Forces. I find it impossible to make a complete report upon changes that have been suggested here until I have a better knowledge of the system pursued at base Y, and on the Mainland, and I beg of you, therefore, to permit me to visit these places.
"I should like to go across in only a semi-official capacity, so that I might record censored impressions in the London and Australian newspapers I represent, but any conditions you impose I should, of course, faithfully observe.
"I beg to enclose (a) copy of general letter from the Prime Minister and (b) copy of my instructions from the Government. I have a personal letter of introduction to you from Senator Pearce, Minister of Defence.
"May I add that I had the honour of meeting you at the Melbourne Town Hall, and wrote fully of your visit in the Sydney Sun and Melbourne Punch; also may I say that my anxiety as an Australian to visit the sacred shores of Gallipoli while our army is there is intense.
"Senator Millen asked me to convey his most kindly remembrances to you if I had the luck to see you and in case I have not I take this opportunity of doing so.
"As I have only four weeks in which to complete my work here and get to London a 'collect reply by cable to C/o Colonel Sellheim, Australian Intermediate Base, Cairo, would greatly oblige.
"I have the honour to be,
"Sir,
"Your obediently,
(Sd.) "Keith A. Murdoch."C/o Colonel Sellheim, C.B.,
"A.I.F. Intermediate Base,
"Cairo.
"August 17, 1915."
"Commonwealth of Australia,
"Prime Minister's Department,
"Melbourne.
"July 14th, 1915."This letter will serve to introduce Mr. Keith Arthur Murdoch, a well known journalist, of Melbourne, who is proceeding to Europe to undertake important duties in connection with his profession.
"Mr. Murdoch is also undertaking certain inquiries for the Government of the Commonwealth in the Mediterranean Theatre of War. And for any facilities which may be rendered him to enable him the better to carry out these duties I shall be personally obliged.
(Sd.) "Andrew Fisher,
"Prime Minister.""Department of Defence,
"Melbourne,
"July 2nd, 1915."Mr. Keith A. Murdoch,
"Alfred Place, Melbourne."The Minister desires that you furnish a report upon the following matters together with any suggestions for improvements.
"1. Arrangements for the receipt and delivery of letters, papers and parcels to and from members of the Australian Imperial Force.
"2. Arrangements for the receipt and delivery of cablegrams to and from members of the Australian Imperial Force.
"3. Arrangements for notifications to the Department in Australia of the disposition of Australian Wounded in Hospitals.
"4. Suggested despatch of special expert corps to Hospitals.
"5. Frauds by impersonation at cable offices.
When I got this, I hesitated. Evidently the writer was not accredited as a war correspondent and his remark about having written me up in the Sun and in Punch did not count for much. But I was anxious then, as ever, that as many journalists as possible should be put into a position for seeing the fine things the troops had done and were doing; I noted the emphasis laid by the writer upon his acceptance of the censorship, and so I took upon myself to exceed my powers and asked Braithwaite to cable to Mr. Murdoch:—
"This cable is your authority to come to G.H.Q. at once whence you will be sent to Anzac.
C.G.S., Medforce."
Mr. Murdoch landed on the 2nd instant and on that date signed the following declaration:—