The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-03-01
WAR NEWS COVERED BY
ASSOCIATED PRESS STAFF
Difficulties Surmounted and Cen
sorship Removed Through Ell
forts OF Big News Agency.
EXPERT MEN IN EAST

The magnificent service which the Asso-
cited Press has been giving it's newspapers
since the beginning of the Russian-Japanese
war has called attention to the personnel
of the force which is handling this great
news event. From the moment that diplo-
matte relations were severed the Associated
Press has led all it's competitors in the speed
and the reliability of it's news service. On
several occasions, notably the reported
capitulation of Port Arthur a fortnight ago.
it appeared-that the Associated Press had at
last been beaten. but the developments
have invariably shown that the association
has had the news of all actual happenings
and had it ahead of everybody else.
The method of handling an event of this
magnitude is a most interesting one. When
war seemed inevitable Mr.. Melville E. Stone,
general manager of the Associated Press,
sailed for Europe and Immediately began
a campaign to secure better cable and news
facilities, particularly out of Russia. His
effort has resulted in one of the most no.
table events of modern times-the lifting of
the Russian censorship of press kilograms.
Mr.. Stone accomplished this through a
personal interview with the Car, and the
effect of this imperial action was immedi-
ately noticeable in the volume and RELIABLE
ty of news that came from st. Petersburg
and through Russian centers. During Mr..
Stones absence in Europe the Associated
Press management devolved upon Colonel
Charles S. Diehl, the assistant general man
ager, who, from the New York office, has
arranged the details of the war campaign.
The staff of correspondents in the East
is one of the strongest. if not the strongest
ever put together in such an emergency.
In direct charge Of the work in the East is
Mr.. Paul Cowles, superintendent of the
western division, who will spend the great
part OF his time at Nagasaki, from there
various posts in the East. G. ID. Hagerty,
OF the Chicago office, who served as a war
correspondent in Cuba, is stationed at
New-Chwang. Martin j. Eagan. who served
In China during the Boxer campaign and
in Manila during the Filipino uprising. is
at Toxic George Denny, who has done
splendid service in the philippines. is at
Che-Foo. III. j. Middleton, of the London
office, who made an international record
trial. covers the district about Shanghai,
and Robert NJ. Collins, who is one of the
m mos famous OF the younger generation OF
anese eXpeditiOnary column.
In addition TO several other men with row.
ing commissions, the Associated Press has
Yokohama, Tien-Tsin, Yinkow. Picking and
| NeW-Chwang
| On the Russian side of the unpleasantness
the association is equally well represented.
At the head of the organization from the
Russian side is Howard NJ. Thompson, for
merly of the Washington office, who is sta
toned at St Petersburg. Mr.. Thompson is
veteran of the Santiago and Porto Rican
campaigns and is one of the most brilliant
writer's in the Associated Press service. In
covering Russia in Europe he has as his
assistants d. h. MACEDONIAN OF the London
office and the regular Moscow correspond
ent. Staff men are also stationed at Port
Arthur, Mukden. Hardin and Vladivostok
Telegraph facilities in the Orient are
meager at best. and as the cables from
| Korea and Japan are completely under the
/ control of the Japanese government i'm
| portant news is sometimes delayed
! and dispatches frequently badly
/ hammered to pieces by the censors
| In an effort TO prevent anything
| like a disclosure OF the military plans
4 of the MikadO. There are few servicea bic
| land lines and the cables are never in first
| class working order The news from the
seat of war is all collected into Hong-Kone
and from there ii is but a flash of lightning
/ over the new Pacific cable to San Francisco
/ and New York. The cable has made
| San Francisco the news-clea ring house OF
the world in place of London, which has
/ for years held that distinction. and the To-
cation of indianapolis gives ii every ad-
vantage in the matter of time.