During its investigation of British newspapers five years ago, the Royal Commission on Press Freedom pointedly asked Tory Press Lord Beaverbrook whether anyone in Britain could start a newspaper that would compete with him. "There is a young fellow called William J. Brittain," replied Beaverbrook, "who is showing great promise."
Brittain had shown the promise right in Beaverbrook's own backyard. At 25, after making a name as a reporter and editor, he became assistant editor of Beaver-brook's Sunday Express, three years later was named editor of Lord Rothermere's Sunday Dispatch. In 1934 Brittain started out on his own. borrowed $1,600 to buy...
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