The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-04-01

I'm A difficulties, expense
S-Z<SS<@ss@SlfCSl and actual danger en-
SZSz& ~ countered in gather
ing the news or the labor required in
placing it before the public. What with
the censorship in Japan and in Russia,
the absence of telegraph facilities, the
high cable rates-ranging all the way
from 40 cents to over q dollar per word
the difference of language, the lack Of
knowledge and appreciation among orl-
entails of the character and require
ments of western newspapers and the
immense war area to be covered, the
obstacles to be overcome are well nigh
insurmOuntable. The popular idea of
the war correspondent is that his duty
consists in watching battles from some
safe retreat, interviewing generals and
racing with other news gatherers to the
nearest telegraph office. When it is re-
allied that he must be not only a train
ed newspaper man, but master of mil
itary tactics, that he must undergo even
more dangers than the soldiers on the
firing line and that he must exercise
the utmost ingenuity in getting his mes
sages transmitted the difficulties of his
position present themselves in a new
light.
Foremost among the news gathering
agencies which are reporting the war
Associated Press. AS an illustration of
the elaborate preparations necessary to
cover q struggle of this magnitude the
story of the campaign inaugurated by
the men at the head of this organiza-
tfon is of intense interest. In its way it
is almost as noteworthy an undertake
ing as the planning of a campaign by
the general of an army. Satisfied long
before the outbreak of actual HOSTILE
I1t 5taI1 TGJxv 10
E. Stone, general manager of the Asso-
ciated Press, began the work of organ
ization- For that purpose he went to
Russia and was received in personal
audience by the car. He gave assur-
ance that the Associated Press would
be perfectly unbiased in its reports and,
further, that it would give out no adj
vance plans of campaign on either side
that would be of advantage to the enc
my In return the car abolished the
censorship on dispatches going abroad
and ordered dispatches to the Russian
government reporting the. progress of
the war turned over to the Associated
Press. In addition, Mr.. Stone secured
the promise that the Associated Press
dispatches would take precedence over
all other messages except official com
munications. Having gained these con
cessions, he then set to work to per-
feet arrangements for covering the war
from the Russian end, with the result
that no service was ever more COM
pletely organized, in spite of the very
great obstacles to be overcome. AL
this occurred. before the outbreak OF
hostilities. On his return from St. Pc
tersburg Mr.. Stone visited Paris to still
further complete the service and went
to London on the same mission. In
the meantime war was declared. While
in London ne was successful in an I'M
dertakfng that win prove a materia-
help not only to the Associated Press
but to all agencies gathering news il
the far east. This was nothing less
than arranging for the sending of dis
patches from Chinese and japanese ca
bic stations by way of San Francisco
instead of by the roundabout Londor
circuit, as was formerly done. BY the
London route there are at least TWEEN
ty-five relay stations. BY the Pacific
cable three fourths of these are cui