Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1904-07-21

WHEN WAR REPORTERS ARE
WANTED

WANTED.
Judging from the manner in which tho
japanese are inviting newspaper CORES
pondcnts to witness the fan OF Fort Ar
thur in a few days the Mikado is entirely
willing that tho pencil pushcrs should be
lin at the Winning" What tho Japaues"
object to ordinarily is tho pres Of
newspaper correspondents when import
ant strategic moves are being considered
or carried out. and when publicity would
serve as warning to the enemy.
In this respect the struggle between
Russia and Japan Is revelation Of a
new order Of things. Time Was when it
was deemed impnssible To conduct a we'll
rceulatcd war without the assistance of
the versatile and omr- present war re-
porter. No further back than the time
If the war between Spain ana the United
states publicity was regarded to all APP
poaranc"s as one of the prime ntccssi-
ties of important military movements.
1t will be recalled that comment was
elected at ;hat time by the mariner in
which information was given to the rep
rosontatiN"s Of the press in relation to
even the most important strategic steps.
If any of I'nclc Sam : su1.adrons VIZ, to
start for any scene of hcs,ilitios or to
cover some important point the fact
was faithfully chronicled in all the news
payers in the land and as faithfully cablod
it could be made Of service 10 the Span
lSh government. If a land force WAS to
lie despatched TO Cuba. word vas Dro,npt-
ly given out to that effect together with
all necessary information such as the
numbcc Of r'cr and the strength Of bat
tcrics the time of starring and the prob
ahl" date of arrival and the plan of opera
tons.
There were times in our Civil War whel'
it was necessary for the Union
To orploy the services of scouts
to secure information Of this important
nature, and the Confodoratcs found them
solves confronted by the Same necessity.
In the spanish American war however
all This WAS changed. The department of
publicity maintained 10y the Joint efforts
of cur government and the willing news
papers rendered scout service superfiuous
on the part of Spaniardg. except in case
OF sudden movements in close quarters
the American press.
After the administration at washington
became aroused to the nature OF the scrv-
zee which the department Of publicity
was performing for the enemy. more care
was exercised; but it will be remembered
that for a considerable period aftervar1
a representative of tho Spanish govern
no difficulty in securing all desiKed infor-
nation frOm this side of the national
boundary and in forwarding the same by
cable to his government
The significance of all this was appar-
entity not lost upon either the Russians
or the Japanese; for at the beginning of
the present war in the Far East severe
restrictions were placed upon the war
AS tho conflict progressed
and important expeditions were under
taken on either side. these restrictions were
increased until at last not a single CORES
pendent was allowed near the front In
deed the japanese have kept tho war cor
respondents that sought to operate with
them coored up in TOXIC and the first
sier of relief is afforded by tho invitation
given them to be present at the fall of
Fort Arthur. Tho newspaper corrosrun-
dents who sought 10 affiliate with the
Russian forces on the other hand, have
IT,,
have been obliged to depend upon such
news rs was allow cd to rcrcolnto through
the lines from the front. Occasionally
have been able to approach
near the scene Of real hostilrics from the
side line In China but they have found
themselves mysteriously hampcrcd in
sending then reports by wire. while Rus
STAG remarkable threat has made the use |
Of the wireless system one of the dang
crous occupations"
When one stops to consider the import |
ant part which surprises have played in |
the Russo Japanese war from the time |
nj the unexpected onslaught OF the japan |
cse torpedo craft on the Russian fleet
lying in the waters of Pert Ar |
sity OF avoiding publicity became evident |
In the light % these circumstances it |
would seem safo to predict that in all |
future conflicts war correspondents will |
be likely to find themselves largely shorn |
Df the liberty and privileges they formerly |
enjoyed; and it is not improbable that in |
the not distant future the press viii de-
pcri solely upon agencies organized by |
the belligerents themselves for the dissem- |
nation through trusted correspondents |
Of such information as the censors deem |
safe for purposes OF publicity.
AT ST. LOUIS, LOUIS
The heights by rich men reached and |
kept
Were not attained by sudden flight.
They owned the houses where folks SLEPT
And charged them seven plunks Ier
night.-Washingt Star.