New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-02-28

At no other time do the columns OF the daily
press contain many contradictory statements
concerning the true state Of affairs they do In
times Of war. and the news submitted 20 the read
ing public to-day giving detailed accounts OF a
victorious battle may tomorrow turn out to be
a false rumor or even most disastrous defeat for
those who but yesterday claimed to be the victOrs
This state of uncertainty and Enthusiastically infor
nation is often due to measures taken by the
military commanders who sometimes regard false
reports as strategems OF war. To Catherine OF
Medici has been ascribed the maxim a false re-
port. II believed during three days. may be OF
great service 10 a government" and l. DisraelL
in speaking Of false political reports" says that
between solid lying and disguised truth there IS
difference known to writers skilled in "the art OF
governing mankind by deceiving them History
shows the temporary and sometimes lasting ad-
vantages Of spreading rumOrs designed to dis
guise. to counterfeit the real state OF things
such reports. set agoing." says Disraeu. serve
20 break down the sharp and fatal point OF panic
which might instantly occur; in this way the
public Is saved from the horrors OF CONSERVATION
and the stupefactton OF despair. These rumOrs
give a breathing time to prepare for the disaster.
which Is doed out cautiously: and. might be
shown. IN some cases these first reports have left
an event In ambiguous a state that a doubt may
still arise whether these reports were really so
destitute OF truth! Such printed enter
into history and sadly perDlex the honest his
torian. OF battle fought in a remote situation.
the victory after the event. and the pen may
prolong what the sword had long decided.
skirmish has been often raised into arranged
battle and defeat concealed in an account OF the
killed and wounded. while victory has been claimed
by both parties"
History shows that vfTerol. IN all his encounters
with MARLBOROUGH. always sent home dispatches
by which no one could suspect that he was dis
comfted. Pompey. after his fatal battle with
Caesar sent letters all the provinces and cities
OF Romans describing greater cOura ge
than he had fought. so that report generally
prevailed that Cesar had the battle Plutarch
informs that three hundred writer's had de-
scribed the battle OF Marathon In looking over
q collection Of letters Of the times Of James one
IS struck by the contradictory reports OF the result
OF the battle OF Lutzen. glorious and so fatal
to Cfustavus AdOlphus The victory sometimes
reported to have been obtained by the swedes. but
a general uncertainty sort OF mystery. agitated
the majority OF the nation. This state Of anxious
suspense lasted considerable time The fatal
truth gradually came out IN reports changing IN
their progress The historian Of Gustavus AdODhus
observes this occasion that few couriers were
better received than those who conveyed the &C
counts OF the Kings death to declared enemies or
concealed III wishers; nor did the report greatly
d,spleass the court Of Whitehall. whsre the min
istry-as it usually happens in cases Of timidity
had it's degree OF approximations for fear the event
should not be true: and. I have learned from
good authority imposed silence the news writers
and intimated the same to the pulpit IN case
any funeral encomlum might proceed from that
quarter"
Tho same circumstance occurred on another TN