The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-09-03
WAR REPORTING INCIDENTS
LIoHrRB PHASES OF AN EIICTING
OCCUPATION,

OF LApa0e from tho Heroic, HOne Itta
of Lovity and Few Observations.
In one OF several articles from the same pen
which have been printed in magazines to de-
scribe various phases Of the recent Spanish
war, the author. q newspaper correspondent
dwells upon tho great heroism displayed by
the correspon dentR. who, he says, ran the con-
slant risk OF being captured end shot as spies.
II the people OF tho country are not now fully
aware OF the intrepidity ~ the men who fur
nished them with news OF tho battles and OF
tho skirmishes and OF tho preparations for
battles in the war; It has not been the fault OF
certain valiant writers among those brave
ones who havesmulated the Grand Monarch
OF the French anu taken the public into their
confidence. even to the point OF bewailing the
failure OF their tomato diet. Altogether.
though the greater number OF the reporters
who saw most OF tho important actions have
retrained from thrustlng their personalities
ahead OF their correspondence. 1t is probable
that the public knows all that 1t cares to know
e.such peril as they encountered in the pur-
suit OF their duties.
There Is another side OF war correspondence
which tho brave psnmen have avoided exploit
ing. For instance. the author before referred
70. who in summer magazine story has Just
permitted his own likeness to appear as . pic
ture Of the hero Of his talo. found another side
than the perilous one to the work the moment
ne learned tnat Jne pOs3lDllltleslOr BelI-eXplOt
had come to an end. He promptly turned to q
new opportunity. that OF receiving the adula-
ton which sympathetic people delight to
give returning heroes. The rcdeeming feature
OF this move was the frankness with which he
declared his motive. 1t occurred in Porto Rico.
The news Of the signing OF the peace protocol
had pr-t enme to correspondents OF THE Sun
there. then it went to Gen. Miles at his head
quarters. and finally reached Ger. Wilson at
IL ,bx. TO- h.. ln,t
referred TO and tother correspondents were
campaigning. In the twintling OF an eye It
changed the man from the daring warrior-spy
to the confident hero victorious.
81 shall go home at once" said he.
The other reporters expressed mild surprise.
reminding him that there must inevitably be
further work ahead.
"Ol but" said he. Its the middle OF August,
and II one goes home now he can visit the sea-
shore and go among the girls rs a hero II he
waits here a week the season will be over by
the time he gets home. everybody else will be
there too and fellow will simply be an old
story"
He set out at once from Coamo for Ponce
where he sought Gen. Miles. his good friend.
and secured the commanding generals inter-
position to obtain homeward passage on the
hospital ship Relief then having three hum
dred typhoid fever patients aboard. and just
sailing for the United States. 1t was Sunday.
The news OF the protocol had reached Gen.
Miles officially on Saturday. although 1t had
como to those OF The SUNS men who we're in
reach OF the cable office on Friday night. and
II had not reached Coamo until late on Satur-
day. The Relief had sailed from Ponce on
Sunday morning short time before the flying
correspondent reached the city but she was to
stop at Mayaguez. there to pick up some moro
sIck soldiers in numbers to tax her capacity.
Nevertheless with the permit of the command
ing general In his portfolio the correspondent
started overland to catch tho hospital ship at
the western port OF tho island. He succeeded
in doing so and no doubt reached the seashore
at home here in time to produce the desired
impression in a shirt waist colony.
There was something OF joke on this same
''unshot spy" among the American soldiers.
He let large mbers OF them know that It
gave him great pain to see enlisted men in the
American troops allow an officer to pass them
anywhere without salutinG. 1T would never
be permitted in European armies. you know"
As matter OF fact while sauting not the
invariabls practice Of the citizen soldiers when
they happened to officer in the highroad.
most Of the newspaper correspondents dr.
plored the readiness OF the brave, tired men to
salute or present arms at sight OF those who
looked like officers. BY reason OF their dress.
partly. the correspondents were very often
mistaken by the troops for officers and
ceived salutes from one end OF the road or lines
TO the other. The joke on tho journalistic
stickler for formalities was the discovery by
the men that he wore his revolver on his left
hip. where it's big holster was ever cons picuous.
There were men who said that II he would only
stop carrying the gun he need not worry over
tho chance OF being taken as spy when the
Sraniards routed our boys. as under the rules
Of war he would then be regarded as a nom
eombatant. being newspaper reporter in pur-
suit OF his business as a chronicler OF events.
During the battle OF Coamo. Just before the
receipt Of news OF the protocol. Capt. Paget.
naval attache of the British legation at Wash
ington. a correspondent and member OF Gen.
Wilson's staff. were on their way to a vantage
point to witness an artillery and infantry en-
gagement that was going on. when wild shell
OF the Spaniards exploded In front OF them 1t
broke between them and a sentry who had Just
come to salute at the approach OF the officers.
The reporter. conceiving that the prime rea-
son OF his mission there was to report alive for
his paper. not to be reported dead neediessly.
wheeled his horse and under spur went rapidly
to the rear, to the amusement OF the American
officer. who was his friend When the smoke
and dust cleared away there stood the sentry
still at present" facing Capt. Paget. who re-
marked. without show OF perturbation and In
his well-known manner OF speech: HIM ha!
A shell-h'm-did that same thing-hal-to me
HIN hal"
Between the surrender OF Santiago and the
agreement on the protocol whom Porto Rico
was the centre Of activities. the nearest neutral
port to which Americans. both correspondents
and naval men. found 1t convenient to go. was
St. Thomas. There some men were fortunate
enough to find entertainment. welcome relief
from the eIiRencies OF duty about the halls and
terraces OF Bluebeard's Castle. where dark
daughters OF Italy as hospltable hostesses be-
guiled the time while the ships were conllng.
Freedom OF movement Is somewhat circum-
scribed at such a port as Charlotte Amelie.
St. Thomas. but anyone thinking that life must
essentially be monotonous there. should be
favored with a glimpse OF trophy room In
Bluebeard's Castle where the walls are all but
hidden behind files and rows OF miniature
pennants. hat bands insignia. entertain
ment programmes and mementoes OF every
varied sort from warshlps OF all tho
anbf ~