The age-herald., 1898-08-20
CORRESPONDENTS
 IN THE WAR

E. B. HOOK In the AuSuSIa CnfoHlcie.
 Along with the returning soldiers from the front are the war correspondents who encountered with them the trials of trans- port ships; the dangers of landing on the shores of a hostile country; the privations of camp; the vicissitudes of battle and the terrors of fever. Not only did they share every danger and hardship of the troops, but they did it without possibility of achiev- ing military glory for themselves, and with the constant effort to chronicle every hap pening that could add to the glory of the
 men in uniform.
 Not only were they on the line of bat tie, ever alert in the midst of danger, eager ly watching every sortie and noting every gallant repulse of the enemy but after the
 tired men in the trenches lay down on their
 arms for well earned sleep and rest, the correspondent had to work on. He had been
 up all day, too. The strain had been
 tense upon his nerves as upon those of the
 men with the guns-doubtless it was more severe. After while the excitement of
 battle destroys the nervousness with which
 the fighting begins, and a soldier bangs away almost mechanically. paying little
 attention to the things around him. Not so with the correspondent. He must see and note carefully what is trans
 pirlng on every side His duty is to tell the
 world what happens, and when the fighting is over he must write out his story and
 get 1t to the wire. It matters not that he is tired and hungry and sleepy. His duty is before him. The orld awaits impatiently the news that he must furnish. Bravely,
 unselfshly he tolls, while all around are sleeping the men whom he will make he- roes.
 Generously he praises the gallantry of this company, the courage of this captain the heroism of this regiment, and the patriotic service of all, caring nothing for himself, if he can only furnish to his own paper the
 best story, and get it the news soon, or, if possible, ahead of competitors.
 To the faithful war correspondents the
 world is indebted for it's complete knowl- edge of every incident of the war. It has been impossible for political favoriteism to
 be manifested without exposure at the hands of these courageous servants of the public In spite of the embarrassment of their position, they have not hesitated to chronicle the truth about the mismanage- ment of affairs and the lack of proper pro- vision for the comfort and maintenance of the men, To the courage and fidelity or these correspondents in exposing the short- comings of officials, the men in the camps and trenches are due for the amehorauon of their condition. The newspaper men at the front have borne a brave and responsl- .ble part in the war and borne it fearlessly yrl 1,ll fc ;,,6a foI tn And yet in spite of all this honorable record there has been more of bitter cen- sure in the newspapers and from the public against one hopeless correspondent who lost his head and was guilty of reckless and thoughtless display of temper, than there has been of praise for the ninety-and- nine who well have borne their part. After all, it is evidence of the high standard and strict accoun liability of our newspaper cor tYrespondents that we accept the splendid performance of duty of ninety-and-nine as matter of course, and the unaccountable break of one as a nine days winder. Without any demonstrations in their honor these brave newspaper correspond ents are returning to their accustomed places and falling into the routine of their accustomed duties, but none the less they are entitled to our praise and the Weli done, good and faithful servants from all mankind