Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-04-03
NAVAL CORRESPONDENTS,
Gossip Over the Rule Prohibiting Oneers
Prom Doing Newspaper Work.

Gossip Over the Rule Prohibiting Onieers
Prom Doing Newspaper Work.
Naval officers are having considerable gossip
over the new rule by which they are prohibited
from corresponding with newspapers. It's en-
forcement will greatly reduce the revenues OF
many Of the younger officers who have fire.
qusutiy added to their limited income by news
paper WORK.
Some years ago one New York paper had .
correspondent. Gin the person OF an officer or
seaman) with each squadron in the navy, and
special arrangements for telegraphic news were
made whenever vessel went to a distant port
on . special mission. This was always the case
where vessels we're sent to countries to enforce
demand for reparation for a proved offense
against the national honor. and also when YES
sels were sent to protect American interests in
countries where revolutions we're imminent or
in progress.
DCRrNG THE CHILE DIFFICULTY.
Most Of the press dispatches concerning the
troubles in VALPARAISO and Santiago were fur
nished by an officer attached to one Of the war
ships then in Chilean waters He proved an
able correspondent, and enabled the paper he
represented TO scoop" all its contemporaries
on several events OF great national Importance
When his corrranding o6cer learned what was
going on he was very much incensed. He re-
gsrded II a highly improper that an officer Of
the United states should be engaged in such
work, especially al u TINS when the relations
between the United States and Chile we're
strained almost 70 point of open rupture.
As a measure Of discipline the offending
officer was summarily detached from duty with
the teet and sent home in disgrace. The news
paper thus lost the services of an exceliept
correspondent ION the spot and was compelled
to make other arrangements. Ii il understood
that the naval journalist was literally comper-
stated by the paper as a balm to his wounded
spirit.
1t is understood that this incident was the
main cause of the new TsS1tatIOn enioining
officers against correscondir.; 9Th newspapers
on "ofhcil matters. As construed by some
the new rale applies ONLY eur relations with
other countries and strict official duties, and IS
not intended to circumscribo the privilege of
writing articles for the press about the navy in
general. and tales OF travel containing no COM
promising comments.
As an example of the value some officers put
on their services as correspondent. good story
Is told OF an ceseer attached TO Admiral Cher
ardi flagship Philadelphia II happened last
fall while the vessel was at New York preparing
to go to Port ROYAL, s. c., with the naval board
appointed 20 witness the test of the dynamite
guns of the yesuvius. Considerable interest
was attached to the trial and all the leading
papers arranged to have full reports Of each
days proceedings. The proprietor OF one of
the papers thought it wou'i be a good plan to
get a report from a naval expert. He heard
that an officer on the Philadelphia would under
take the job, so he went to see him.
HIS PRICE WAS TOO HIGH.
The news man said he would like to have
about a thousand words day as the trial pro-
gressed, and the lieutenant" offered to furnish
ii, remarking incidentally that he would expect
$3.50 dsy for his work. Wouldn't he do il for
less than that? No, he wouldn't think of taking
less. 1t is almCJs needless to say he was not
engaged. He was q fancy arts. and came a
little too high