The sun. (Wilmington, Del.) 1897-19??, 1898-05-15

subjected W dil soits VI cllnluHs anu IT,
visions. Up to the present stage of the
Spanish war there has not been much
opportunity for the war correspondent to
exercise his ingenuity on land, but the
numerous newspaper boats which have
accompanied Captain SIMPSONS fleet to
Cuban waters have been vieing with one
another in daring exploits and Jealous
news gathering.
To certain extent, the naval CORE
spondents are subjected to the same regu-
lations as are those on land, for.the first
consideration OF the astute commander
is to prevent the publication OF anything
which might afford the slightest chance
OF conveying information to undesirable
quarters.
One of the greatest war correspondents
of the times has been Archibald Forbes,
who is reckoned, both in this country
and in Europe, master of the art. He,
himself, considers war correspondence a
fine art; although only little more than
five years ago he wrote that the condi-
tions OF special correspondence were be-
ing go altered that it had practically
ceased to be the fine art to which much
zeal, energy and continuance had, for a
brief time, elevated it.
Mr.. Forbes thought at that time that
war correspondence was simply voca-
ton controlled by precise and restraining
limitations and that in all future Euro
pean wars at least, by an international
arrangement, "the hand OF the censor
would lay heavy on the war correspon-
dent"
Mr.. Forbes has had most interesting
and varied career and, in certain sense
of the word, taking William Howard
Russell as lis pattern, he became one OF
the most remarkable war writers OF the
age. Russell was practically the first
war correspondent of note, beginning his
career at the outset OF the Crimean war
in 1854, as correspondent of the London
Times. From that time on until the
close Of his career, Russell represented
the Times in some of the greatest wars
of Europe.
George A. Henty, who has written
books innumerable, was another war
correspondent, as was Henry M. Stanley,
who has since furnished history and
literature with much of its latter day
material.
One OF the earliest American papers to
recognize the value of the war correspon-
dent was the New York Tribune, who
sent one of its staff, named Hands, across
the sea to supply it with news of the war
of 1870, and who sent to that paper a
magnificent account of the battle Of
Gravelotte. Moncure d. Conway and
Murat Halstead were other Americans
who won their spurs as war correspond
Gnts.
The first important work done by Ar
chibald Forbes as correspondent was at
the siege OF Metz. He was present at
the combats that preceded Bazaine's sur
render, and at the capitulaton OF Metz.
Even then, according to his own story,
when he had abundant information
which would make history, instead OF
hurrying by rail to the nearest telegraph
station and sending his matter sheet by
sheet, he took his time about it and
wrote his ''copy' on the scene, taking
chances of its delivery to his newspaper
office.
The correspondent Of the present day
would by no means be content with
merely beng ON the scene and getting
points Tor ms story. lie Wodld charter
d train, write his description of the bat
tie Ell route, and have 1t sent to his paper
by telegraph or special cable, no matter
what the expense. Should the oppor-
tunities offer themselves. American
newspaper readers will be able to see the
visible evidence Of tins latter-day news
paper progress within a short time.
The American war correspondent must
needs be man OF some literary ability:
he should be able to describe in glowing
terms the triumphs of a victory or the
horrors Of a defeat, and to picture with
the faithfulness almost of a camera the
scenes of the battle and their general
effect on both his own army and the
enemv's.
But it is not enough to be merely
capable wlter-the American war cor
respondent must be a man of action.
Thoroughly entcrplisiug and alert f.
ever, oppurtunjtv. BEING furnished az
il were. with the ''sinews Of war" bv his
paper he must spare no cxpenye to oct
his matter first under way. So if is Not
alone in the writing. but in the eyn. dit
ing Of the war news that l., should rxrnl
Mr. FORBES relates Of his S career are " sew