The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-04-27
IO WATCH The WAR
Newspaper Correspondents
Will Have a Hard Time.
NOT ALLOWED ON BOARD
There Are Drawbacks About
Dispatch Boats


regard to the plans under way for report
ing the scenes and events of the conflict.
Few questions have required greater con-
sideration on the part Of the army and
navy authorities in Washington than what
to do with the requests of the war cor
respondents for grand stand seats from
which to view the hostile movements.
It is safe TO say that the Sagasta min
isury has not been disturbed much by mat
ters of this kind, and probably regards the
auartering of war correspondents as
among the very least of its troubles.
Fewer newspapers are published in Spain
than in the state of Illinois alone. Only
about one-third of the adult population
Of the kingdom can read, and even these
people haveuot acquired the newspaper
habit. AS a result the daily press of that
country is En a tremendously backward
condition, and is not likely to burn much
money in long cable dispatches and spe-
ciaI correspondents from the field of bat
tie The press agencies of Europe will
doubtless give the papers of Madrid and
Barcelona all the news they care to re-
ceive. The Spanish people moreover, must
look upon This war as case of lingering
disease with certain death in sight; their
Intelligent leaders must recognize that 1t
is only question of time before they will
have 10 give in, and consequently they
would not be expected to take the interest
in the details Of battles, sieges and for
tunes that the American people do.
On this side Of the water. the circus as
pect of the affair is unfortunately too
much in evidence. The yellow journals
are bound to treat the horrible realities
of war much as they would Carson City
prize fight or football game at Hamp-
den park. Themore conservative public
will be just as eager as the yellow journal
readers to hear the news, and to know
every detail OF the course of hostilities.
On all sides, therefore, there is demand
here for very full and complete report
ing of the war with Spain, and news from
that quarter is likely TO dislodge almost
everything else from public attention. For
some weeks this city has been a distrib-
utnig point for the war correspondents.
Every man who starts out for the field,
whether as an artist, poet, a philosopher
ora mere news gatherer, comes TO Wash
ington to survey the ground. get his ere
dentials. and learn, If possible. how and
where the war is to be conducted, and
what would be the best watch tower for
him to secure.
Some of the problems of the war cor
respondent at this stage of the game fur
nish an interesting side light as to Ameri-
can expectations concerning the conflict.
"Where shall I go?" the correspondent
asks, and the replies are as various as the
opinions concerning the strategic plan Of
he campaign and he nature of the hosti-
Ities. One man says: "Go to Kingston.
Jamaisa, where you can have an open
cable, and get the news from the ships Of
all kinds which find their way to that neu-
trail point" Others say ST. Michaels is
the best seat on the grand stand. Tampa,
Key West, Matanzas, Havana, Mobile
and Atlanta are alsi candidates for that
honor, and the army of correspondents
are generally betaking themselves to these
points. with the exception that no one
can longer get to Cuba without great risk
of personal safety.
II this IS to be a naval war, as most
people believe, the best place to see it
would obviously be from position high
in the mainmast Of the heaviest battle
ship Of the squadron. The top masts are
the places personally selected by most of
the arriving correspondents. The trouble
is the secretary OF the navy has decided
that he has other uses for such command
ing sites. and. in fact, cannot take press
gallery on any Of the war ships. After
weeks Of discussion the most that has been
conceded IL that one representative OF
each OF the three press associations may
accompany Schley's squadran- This means
that the 500 social correspondents must
seek quarters outside. A tug or a yacht,
which will follow me feet and 50 watch
its movements. IS obviously the next best
thing. and a number OF these will circle
about the fighting war ships. But this
method OF witnessing the performance is
not withou. its ser!uos objections. OF
course, so long as the observation rug
keeps out Of range OF the guns. It IS reas-
sonably safe. for whatever may be the
usages il regard 20 such non
combatant attendants OF a battle-and
they Will probably fv a neutral flag@t
is not likely that the enemy would waste
its ammunition on mosquitoes when fght-
ing a bear But IN case % sudden
change Of position on tlle part Of any OF
the war ships. so as o bring the tug into
range. its helplessneSs would be most de-
plorab,e. Without ar1lo-. ore 5000 ShCt
would be likely to send The tug - TIE boz
tom OF the sea
Il is entirely possible thai The relation o:
newspaper correspondents 20 naval war
fare may giverise g serious co-uplIca-
tons in the pending conflict. For, unlike
hospital provisions in which both SIDES
vii, have ar equal interest. the CORES
pondets VIII substantially all belong 70 one
side. II what class o ron-conlbataats are
they 20 De REGARDED? I; = entirely pos
s.Sle that Spanish Commando would
strain point Of International usage trst
a o,I TO pu; 4 $40. j.1o an observation
Yacht that he might learn belonged 70 a
New York yellow Journal. To- Instance
The relation Of newspaper men % army
and oTgan3z>zcio1s Is well set
tied. But their place n naval warfare
may BE- one Of the Interesting cues..ocs
which this war VIII celp % settle.
I; WILL obviously &c much easier % tol-
low the army movements. and t5s pub
lie Will doubtless receive promp: 5ctorra-
ton Of whatever goes on n that line n
Cuba \ line 81 boats between the Island
and Key Vest or soma other Florida point
is very likely 70 beat The sable. and ire
telegraph companies are new ooacenI-at-
ing their forces az these Florida points.
and preparing % handle vas- amount
o. copy. After ch.S war s over there
would be no trouble OF account OF the
wires, n holding q 2a1iona. convention
8. Tam a. nh ~ I-e.- II -.