The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-08-24
THE WAR CORRESPONDENT
Some of the Difficulties He Had to
Encounter During the Santiago
Campaign

Campaign
Kennett +. Harris in Chicago Record.
1t would be of great convenience to
newspaper correspondents, and con-
sequently of immense benefit to the
public at large, If generals conducting
compaigns would adopt a few simple
devices l have in mind, by means of
which the movements of the troops
couid be more easily followed. AS 1t
is, the lack of system is painful and
occasional inaccuracies in the descrip-
tion Of engagements result. Regiments
are confounded one with another, the
best part of a division is sometimes to-
tally ignored, batteries are planted
where their commanders would never
have thought of looking for them, to-
Biography is mixed up, and 1t is not
seldom that the whole intent plan and
purr' Sc of a me- vcment is cutie mis-
understood.
1t would simplify matters greatly IL
in the first place the commanders
would call the newspaper men into
their councils. They would in this way
have the benefit of some valuable ad-
vice If they chose to ask for It.; in any
case they would be paving the way for
reports of a battle that would agree to
some extent The plan of action hav-
ing been decided upon, blue prints
showing the exact position of every
regiment and indicating by flights Of
broad arrows the course intended it
should take, noting the hour of advance
and tho strategic points in view, spelled
unifor1 ~ and correctly. could be fur
nished to each representative Of the
press, together with a paper of parti-
colorcd pins. If previously the troops
were al:red in distinctive uniforms
there would be nothing lacking. The
correspondent could go to the top of
some mountain peak with his field-glas-
scs, blue print and notebook and COM
fortably and intelligently observe the
whu,c thing.
When he saw body of men with
green blouses and purple trousers
charging up hill he would know be-
yond the peradventure of doubt that
men they were, and he would know
what regiment was hurrying to re-en-
force them If it's members were clothed
in canary-colored overalls and pink
shirts. The advantages of some such a
plan as this are apparent. Owing to
the failure Of the authorities to adopt
1t the life of the correspondent during
the Cuban campaign was not one of
fowery ease. He was obliged to get
close up to whatever has been going on,
and sometimes he all unwittingly
stumbled into the thickest of the fight
without the melancholy satisfaction of
being able to fight back. He has been
Obliged to traverse lonely trails sup
posed to be beset by hands of blood
thirsty guerrillas. to pass through
groves where keen-eyed Spanish sharp
shooters We're, according to report,
nesting up among the cocoanuts, and
to sleep and eat as he could.
GETTING READY.
His troubles began at Tampa with
the selection of his outfit. There was
no one to provide him with a uniform
and equipment and to relieve him of
the embarrassment of choices, but
there We're innumerable experts on out
fit willing and anxious to help him.
When he arrived with his new pass
from the secretary of war cracking
in his breast pocket he was usually at
tired in some weird costume that he
had supposed to be the correct thing.
Then the veterans Of two weeks who
had preceded him would gather about
him and give him hints.
That lined coat will be of no earthly
use to YOU" one would tell him. "The
Cuban jungle would tear il into rib
bons in no time. What you want is a
Khaki jacket like mine: cool, you see,
and plenty of pockets in it. And you
want to give those corduroy breeches
to Il bell-boy and get a pair or two of
plain canvas oVeralls. Corduroyy
would kill you in a tropical climate. 7
notice you are wearing leggings; of
course there's nothing in the penal
code to prevent you wearing them ex-
cept constructively. It's suicide, that's
all. Did you ever see a picture of Co
meg In leggings? OF course you have
mt. Boots, by all means. That pith
helmet will SIMPLY make you a shining
and an easy mark for every Spanish
sharpshooter. A plain army hat with
puggaree is the sensible thing"
Then they would take him down into
the untidy town and make hin, buy a
| thousand or two absolute necessities"
of which / remembered only a few, to
wit: One large clasp knife for cutting
kindling WOOD and general purposes: a
hunting knife in a sheath: portable
| medicine chest, with strap to hang to
person; pocket spirit stove; another
knife, having corkscrew. gimlet and
saw attachments; canteen, with strap:
fieldslasses, with strap: writing case.
with strap; combination knife, fork
and spoon; pocket flask haVersack;
cartridge belt; another belt with snaps
| on it-handy to hang things on-and a
few things to hang on II; pocket com
pass; revolver; flint and steel with
| finder box: cholera tablets, not con-
tained in medicine chest; bouillon cap
| sules and abdominal bandages. Then
they would take their victim, load him
down with his 'portables' and photo
graph him.
HORSES SCARCE.
OF course everybody brought tents,
camp chairs, cot and cooking utensils,
but they never found their way to the
NaAv