Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1900-02-07

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Clarence Addington was disconsOlate
almost 20 degree Of desperation IN
very truth he believed bis mental per
turbation 70 be entirely without prece-
dence. Moreover, the fact that his u
companions. who. together with him
self. constituted the correspondents
mess. were 70 q man IN q similar frame
OF mind tended 20 vindicate rather
than temper his dejectedness- Until
yesterday a full month had elapsed
since his arrival in the Philippines
month OF hustling and scurryiDg from
one outpost to another on the firing
line In the interest OF his paper-with-
out developing n single item OF genuine
interest But yesterday a battle had
been fought, a battle embracing all
the elements OF a splendid story. Ten
hours OF steady fighting. wherein ev-
cry foot OF ground. lost or gained. had
been stubbornly contested for by both
sides: then the final indomitable
charge by the American forces and the
utter rout OF the enemy.
All. but IL had been magnificent,
And the opportunity had promised 70
amply compensate for the tedious.
wearisome ordeal that had preceded Il.
Far into the ensuing night the enter
prislng scribes had toiled- Keeling OF
their copy by the light OF pickering.
close screened candles In anticipation
Of being allowed the privilege OF hur-
rying the same 10 Manila for transmits
sion by cable 20 their various papers.
But such expectations had early been
thwarted. the general in command hav-
Ing issued an order prohibiting all per
sons In the American camp from pass
Ing the lines that night SO the eager
correspondents had curbed their I'm
patience as best they could and sleep
iessly bided the morrow. But morn
ing had only brought additional dis
appointment for reports had been re-
ceived at headquarters setting forth
the intelligence that portion OF the
enemy's forces had made q detour dur
ing the night. overrunning the jungle
n the rear OF the American army. Not
withstandlng this somewhat awkward
circumstance. not one Of the 10 cor
respondents had hesitated IN his de-
termination 10 get his story through
20 Manila, even though forced 10 car
~ IL on foot. The commanding off,
Ger. however. had entertained views OF
his own on this subject, with the re-
suit that q second order had been an
nounced forbidding any attempt to con
vey news matter TO the rear until a
safe avenue had been developed for the
purpose.
Small wonder, then. the chatting, fret
ting and Tuning that agitated the press
contingent OF that particular outpost.
The supreme eminence Of ali that's
tronicalf' soliloQuized Addington as he
stood ruefully surveying the quire and
q half or close written copy he had
prepared the evening before. Here's
an account that would go a way to-
ward 1ustifying a journalistic exist
ence anywhere but in these Ubiquitous
regions. What's the sense IN tngging
an army half way round the earth to
see q fight you can't report? Better
have staid at home and looked for an
assignment on a cooking main. Be
sides. there's the chief can hear
him rhapsodize when this repore comes
ambling along a week after the asso-
ciated dispatches"
Here Addington paused, while the
mental picture Of bis wrathful superior
assumed it's utmost proportions. In
cidentally he allowed his gaze to pen
citrate beyond the immediate latitude
occupied by his moody associates. How
different the rest OF the camp appear
ed. Look where he would, all was en-
thusiasm and expectancy as the SOL
2iers busted themselves preparing for
the days work, whatever IL might be.
Here was a battalion OF infantry as
sembled In light marching order i'm
patiently awaiting the command TO
move forward to again dispute the
question OF supremacy with the foe.
Close at hand a battery Of field artil-
tery was taking up a position prepar-
atory to Smelling a distant point, where
q portion of the enemy's forces were
reported to have congregated. \ halt
cynical smile fitted over AddiDgton's
features as he watched these prepara
lions. How often since his arrival al
the front had he allowed himself TO be
carried away, deluded by precisely
such tactics. II was all right enough
Cor the soldier, this perpetual tension
and waiting during the long intervals
between battles, for when & fight did
come of his martial aspirations were
sn q measure appeased. But how diff
ferent with the field Journalist, who al
q noncombatant could not fight and al
a correspondent was forbidden to cor
Fespondl The thought CALLED him. Ii
the latter case he was clearly handi
capped. But he was thorough Amer
kan And as such was he necessaril,
o poncombafaDtf