New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-04-24
WAR CORRESPONDENTS.
NOTES ON THE CHANGES IN THEIR FOSI-
TlON-IN THE CRIMEA-TIIE BRIT
ISL REGULATIONS ANEC-
DOTES OF BRAVE
JOURNALISTS
JOURNALISTS.
'Donagh in The FortnIghtly.


Michael MacDonagh in The Fortnighuy.
The custom OF newspapers having representa-
tivcs with armies in the field dates only from the
Crimcan War. In the early hftics. Before that
period the public gained its information Of the
progress and varying fortunes Of a campaign
from bclatcd official dispatches. supplemented
occasionally by extracts from private letters
from officers engaged in the war. which were
sent to the newspapers. The first war correspond
ent was Mr.. (now SIR Henry Howard Russell
who represented The Times in the Crimea. His
position with the troops was unrecognizcd by
the military authorities. 1t was consequently
attended 10y many discomforts and inconven-
fences. His movements were not in the slightest
degree restricted, he had perfect freedom OF
action; he could go where he pleased and what
he wrote was subject to no censorship: but he
was unable 10 procure rations for himself or
forage for his horse from the provisioning de-
par,mcnt of the army ON informing the au-
thoritics Of The Times Office of his unpicas-
ant position. he received Il letter to the effect
that the Government had ordered that facilities
should he afforded him In the Held. lie I'm
mcdiatcly proceeded to interview Lord Raglan
the commander of the army. Il sent in my
card" he writes. Lord Raglan was very much
engaged: but was received by Colonel steele
who listened to my request for transport and
ratiCnS with an expression on his face hair oil
anroy ance half of amusement. and In the end
Informed me most courtcously that there was
not the smallest chance Of my obtaining what
] desired" Throughout the campaign, there
fore Sir Howard Russell had to victual and
clothc himself and forage his horse az best 10
could from other sources \ ham cost him IL. "A
turkey the same figure Il little pot of marmaladc
rs. a pair OF boots fG but the difficulty with
him not the high prices 81 provisions and
clothing. but their m"agrc and Uncertain Supply
and, he tells US himself. hr presented u
STRANGE and rather ludicrous figure. mounted on
q nddie headed cwc-n"ckcd horse. dressed III All
sorts VI odds ana ends including "A coinnlls
sariat officers cap with broad gold band. a
riiicinan's patrol Jacket and brccChcs. and
Butcher boots with huge brass spurs as he rod,
here and there as he pleased. over the fields OF
THE british REGULATIONS.
But the position OF war correspondent has
since been entirely changed. lie is now recog-
nizcd by the War Once. thanks to the pressure
OF public opinion. as an essential accoinpahi-
inent to an army In the field lie Is resuiary
attached TO the army with which lac IL acting
ne takes rank as an officer for the purpose al
drawing food for himself and "A servant. and
forage FOR one horse from the cpininissariat DE-
partncnt: he Is bound To- obey the orders OF su
pcripr officers he Is under military law and
finally everything ne writes FOR his newspaper
Is controlled rs a vigorous military censorship
The change Is perhaps FOR the better. SO i'r az
the personal comfort u the war CORE spnnd"n'
is concerned though he always supplies hi'
provisions AID his transport from his own re-
sources and. when he Is compelled by cirouin'
stances to fall back ~ the army c"Inmt' SaGia
derartmont pays .or what he receives but II
undoubtedly has alsO Immensely restricted III
freedom 81 action IN the n'ld. his z'hl. ch'IES
ard enterprise in the Interests ~ his n""Hp'po
and his indcperd, noe In describing the scene
and incidents which come under his NOTICE II
tho Progress Of the campaign.
Here IL "A copy Il tn" English rules f'r news
paper correspondents at the scat ~ Mar
FIRST -Ail newspaper CORES ioudrntf accom-
pautIng the army iu H., nr!l must D." FURNISHED
with q license granted under thc authority 81
the Comnander-in-Chicf at hone. In this IL
c.u.o the paper or papers f"r which the CORE
spoI lent Is agent VIII bc stated
second \ Correspondent may not writ" fo
papers other than those mentioned In hiS h'"n9''
II hc desires to DO 50 be must get hAN', hho
the permission must be duly registered on h''
license.
Third Licenses viii not be granted 70 tho''
whom II IS considered undesirable 10 have a.
corr pondents in the field ,
"Fourth-All correspondents IN IN" ilcid W..
h. under the Mu,iny act during their stay win
Fifth Correspondents will not be allowed e
70 10 the outpOsis without special I"rnissl"n l,
be granted in wiring cAch UNI Il 'viI''i '""'''
may wish 10 visit them.
"Slxth-Th. use Of any cipher IL forbidden u
core ponicnts. French and German are uh'
oul. foreign language permitted.
"S.ycuth-A staff officer VIII he named 10 ac
as press censor He will register licenses grantee
uuter III. authority Of the Commandments chici
AT home and VIII grant licenses To iocal corr
spond,nts not accompanying IN" army III 'H'
ncd Those licenses VIII b" issued uhn'r SUM-
lar conditions 10 thos" granted t. correspondents
,cro,uuauv.ng the army. lie VIII ais" gran
passcs when necessary. to all correspondents !"
ihe seat Of war lie VIII be the chanilcI ol com
uuuiciiion between the general officer com
uandlne in the field and the correspondents
Each newspaper having correspondent IN th'
field or at the seat OF war viii s"nd MN copy
OF every issue OF the paper so mat ne may
by examining their contents, be assutcu 'h"
the urcus rules In the field are strictly adhered
to. -, $1,000. 49, .o,,,.
"Eighth-This press censor viii have the p"wc'
OF Insisting that all communications rom cor.