New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-03-14

sorship II the service be resumed and there is
TO Official interference with IT, the resources Of
war correspondents VIII be greatly increased.
II If hardly credible. however. that steam
launches fitted with apparatus Of this kind viii
be permitted 10 enter harbors where CORE
spondents can supply operators with messages
for secret transmission TO a cable Office on neu-
trail ground. This would involve evasion Of the
censorship. and arm correspondents and news
agents with irresponsible power Of reporting
| abroad what is going on at the seat of war, and
especially the concentrations OF force which are
made at various points. There is a current
theory in Fleet Street that before another war
comes on the facilities for wireless communica-
ton viii be improved 10 such an extent that
| correspondent viii be enabled 10 send messages
70 an assistant at a remote base whenever he
| likes and wherever he may he. License 20 act
without reference 10 military officials or censors
would speedily bring the business Of the war
correspondent 10 an end. He would be more
dangerous than spy or a traitor in camp, and
he would be drummed out Of the country and
HIS commission cancelled. Inventive science
may prove too effective. and wars may he fought
without artists in camp to picture the scenes.
or correspondents 20 supply local color ad-
jectives and impressionism for vivid descrip-
tons, or methodical writer's to 1ot down notes
for future historians Of the campaigns
GOOD generals. while disposed to condemn
| correspondents as mischievous narplots. co not
hesitate 10 make use Of them when 81 is con-
venient and polite to do so. Lord Roberts-or
possibly It was his chief OF staff. Lord Kitchener
did this az a critical stage Of the Boer war
II was when SIR Redvers Butler had failed in
HIS second attempt 10 relieve Ladysmfth and
il was OF paramount Importance for Lord Rob
erts 10 conceal his destination and point OF at
tack. BY clever manipulation Of the forces
south Of the Orange River. and by the ready
transmission Of press dispatches containing in
correct cues. the impression was created that
Lord Roberts was planning n march through
Coesberg and the Orange Free state 70 Bloem-
fonteir A considerable portion Of the Boer
| force investing Kimberley was detached ana
sent 10 CaeshcrE TO reinforce the garrison there
and an details Of the concentration Of British
/ forces along the line toward Narersfontein We're
4 vigorously censored; and as finishing touch
the Importance Of the third attempt OF the army
/ OF Natal 70 reach Ladysrlith was exaggerated
| The war correspondents were most useful in
/ creating these false Impressions although they
| were not aware Of their service At the time
! a good general does not hesitate 70 describe
| war correspondents as pawus IN the intricate
! game Of war. Apparently the willy Russian and
| the initiative little Jap" have similar ideas
! respecting the veterans II the British press
! BY mears Of the censorship they regulate the
/ communications with the world. and can insti-
! gate DISPATCHES and suppress the truth in ac-
! cordanCe with their secret purposes J. y. +.