The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-09-02


but single mOuthful.
American Newspaper Eaterprise-Our Des-
patches from the Seat Of War in Europe.
The superior enterprise of American news
papers was never more signally exemplifed
than yesterday. We then published seventeen
special cable dispatches from the seat of war
in Europe, one of which gave an account of
the great battle of Wednesday and probable
defeat of Marshal MacMahon, simultaneous
With, If not in advance of, all the European
papers. 1t is singular to note that since this
war began the English and Continental jour-
nails have been beaten daily in matters of
news. 1t was the same way during the cam
paigl in Abyssinia, and it will continue to be
the same way throughout the present conflict.
American journalism has penetrated Europe,
and the result is to be seen in the fact that
the papers here publish twice as much intelli-
gence from the contending armies as all the
English journals combined The HERALD, we
need not say, will leave nothing undone to
furnish it's readers with the latest news from
Invested of all speculations, is the true aim of
American journalistic enterprise, and strict
adherence to this Idea explains the secret of
the great success which has attended us in the
collection Of news.
1t is undoubtedly the case that many diff
culties confront the correspondents In the
gathering and transmission of news. The
silly policy OF the French authorities has
made it dangerous for newspaper writer to
accompany any division of their army. This
exclusiveness does not get rid of the
mul!itudnous spies who infest every
part of the French lines, and, conse-
quently, it fails In its object. We do
not believe that the people counienaucc or ap-
prove these restraints upon journalistic enter
prise which subordinate officials have seen fit
to impose. No discreet correspondent would
publish any information likely 10 jeopardize
the French plan of campaign Certainly thus
far the Prussan movements have not been
retarded or embarrassed in the slightest degree
by the press, although the German command
ers have, since the opening of the campaign,
acted in comparatively liberal spirit towards
the newspapers. But even if every facility was
afforded correspondents by the military au-
thorities it would still be difficult to transmit
news. Hostile armies moving rapidly and
fighting continually make perfect desert Of
the country through which they move. There
would have been scarcely more trouble to for
ward intelligence from Gaul to Italy during the
| campaigns OF Julius Caesar than at the present
time. Thus the greater credit is due Ameri-
can journalistic enterprise for the rapidity with
which it obtains and transmits reliable infor-
nation of the events which are transpiring 1t
is a triumph of the nineteenth century, because
| it proves that the human skill is not subordi-
nate to the railroad and telegraph, which are
its own creations. By utilizing all the re-
sources which tend to effect the desired object
| American journalists have taught English and
other European newspapers lesson in the art
of journalism.
So far as the HERALD is specially concerned
we need only remind the reader Of our special
dispatches during the rebellion. Then we
spent halt million of dollars in the transmits
sion Of news, without counting the expense of
large corps of correspondents. If necessary
we are ready to expend sum twice as great
in procuring news from the present seat of war
in Europe. We have correspondents with
every division of both armies, and besides
have writer's stationed at every available point
on the Belgian frontier and in close proximity
to the contending armies. With this force OF
writers at our disposal we expect to furnish
the readers of the HERALD every day in the
future, as in the past, with the fullest and
latest information from the seat of war.