The sun. (Wilmington, Del.) 1897-19??, 1898-05-15
WAR CORRESPONDENT.
How He Obtains News on the Field
of NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. in the
Service.

Now that the dogs OF war have been
let loose and the brass-throated mes
sengers of death have begun to hurl
forth their deadly fire OF shot and shell,
the most important work of the news
paper has become the telling, from day
to day-and even from hour to hour-of
the movements OF the defenders OF the
nations honor.
That the newspapers OF the United
States have, up until the present time,
performed their functions admirably
well is fact quite evident in itself, but
the true merit Of their news. giving SER
vice to the general public can only be
realized and appreciated when compared
to that which has characterized the pub
LEGATION of news in former former war
crises Of the country.
Aside from the cable dispatches
printed as the reflex of European wars
and rumors Of wars, American readers
have not had, since the civil conflict, an
opportunity Of putting to the test the
nettle OF their newspapers.
In this system the war correspondent
is an important and indispensable factor.
The rules which govern his conduct
while i'll camp, on the field, or operating
in conjunction with the navy, a"e in
themselves interesting as outlining the
important standing with which the cor
respondent is taoltly invested by the
government.
But, while the apt correspondent will
strictly adhere to the regulations i'm
posed upon him by his governments he
4, l.
that he owes his first duty and, while
observing as a gentleman, all the require
ments Of both the military and naval adj
ministration and Withholding from gen
eral publication such news and reports
Of movements as might be calculated to
give undue advantage to the enemy, he
usually manages to get beyond the lines
such news as he thinks Will prove OF
value to his paper without jenpardizing
, any Of the interests of the country.
The correspondent, to large extent,
skates in all the dangers and privations
Of a soldiers life and, while under GER
tain conditions, he is permitted to share
the mess OF officers, it is a mark of
special consideration OF which he may,
under no circumstances, take advantage
either as a news paper writer orr gentle
man.
Once a correspondent has won the
esteem and confidence Of the commando
ing officers, he is ad littcd to their inner
circles and frequently hears the most in
tercsting matters discussed, none of
which he is at liberty to send to his
paper; but, on the other hand, he is gen
ernI)y pretty sure of being we'll informed
OF all that is going ON.
Whatever is deemed allowable of pub
LEGATION he is advised OF, and il he can
secure any information from outside
sources, he uses it as he thinks best.
For the protection of the interests of
the service, all correspondents are sub
jected to Il general order issued by the
secretary Of War and each one must have
pass issued by the Assistant Secretary
and signed by the editor of the paper
which the correspondent represents.
BY this pass, military commanders are
instructed to permit the holder to pass
freely SO far As, in their judgment, it is
proper and expedient to allow, and to
extend to him such aid and protection
as is not Incompatible with the interests
Of the service.
These passes are limited to as small a
number as possible and the holders, i'm
mediately upon their arrival upon the
field, must report at headquarters, where
the pass must be countersigned by an
officer to be designated by the general in
command.
Once within the lines OF the army, the
correspondent is subjected to all the rules
and articles of war as far as applicable,
and to such special regulations as are
prescribed by the proper authority The
general in command usually makes ar
rangements for the messing of correspon-
dents and their transportation, at their
expense.
The general in command may order
correspondents to leave the lines at
whatever time he deems their presence
injurious to the success of military opera
tions. Disobedience to orders or any
other misconduct on the part of the cor
respondent is followed by the revocation
of his pass.
While these regulations may seem
stringent enough, especially when all
matter sent out is subject to press
censor, yet they are, by no means, severe
when compared to the rules governing
the operations Of correspondents Of the