The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1905-11-29
UQ|RNAII}N|NN WAR Tines
When Balls are Flying Thickest
Columns are Brightest.
A SCARCITY OF PAPER

American Civil War Especially Rich
in Journalistic Enter2rise-Dur-
inc Franco-?russan War Sesieg-
ed Towns Kept Their Presses
Merri!y Going.
Theer are few things more eloquent
OF the dauntless spirit of the Russians
OF Port Arthur than the fact that
through all the horrors and suferings
OF the siege they not only contrived to
publish their newspaper, but to make
its columns brighter than in days OF
peace.
This is IN splendid keeping with the
traditions of war and sieges; for, al
though circled by death, somehow or
other the ouoyancy and vitality Of the
press suffer no diminution. Why, even
when Lucknow, defended by q hand
ful of troops, was almost at its last
gasp and expecting all the indescrib-
able horrors of capture every hour, 1t
kept its newspaper going, although
it was no larger than sheet of note.
paper, and every line had to be writ
ten laboriously by hand, principally by
the brave wife OF p.e chaplain.
Again, when Kandahar was besieg-
ed by the fierce Afghans the garrison,
amid all its anxieties and dangers,
found time to produce a newspaper
only a small single sheet, it is true,
but we'll and brightly edited-which
die well in keeping up the spirits OF
our gallant soldiers. 1t was bsauti-
fully Autographed sheet, full OF IN
formation, from the list of services IN
camp and fort to the --latest intel
ligence" of doings in Europe.
D.ring the Franco-Prussian war
every besieged town kept its presses
merrily going, though the shells were
shrieking around the editorial Offices
and occasionally bursting uncomfort-
ably near the editorial chair.
Paris, Metz, Sedan and other be
leaguered towns had their special siege
journals, and when the supply Of pa
per ran short, paper Of all descrlp'
tions was enlisted in their service
Packing paper, paper used for wrap,
ping groceries in, wall paper-papers
of all colors and kinds were utilized
and one journal actually made its ap
pearance printed on wash leather
And while the presses of the be
sieged Parisians were thus kept busy
the Germans outside their walls were
no less enthusiastic. In the German
army were many clever young artists
who volunteered their services, with
the result that the papers were full Of
beautiful and often most diVertins
pictures.
The American Civil War was espe
cially rich in journalistic enterprise
in fact, the newspaper seems to have
fourished most where the bullets ant
cannon balls were thickest. In Amer
ica, as in France, the oldest materials
were used in producing the papers
During tne siege c: Richmond sheets
and tablecloths were cut up and fec
the printing presses; one enterprls
ing journal which appeared IN the use
full form of handkerchiefs contained
spirited address to the Women O:
the South" in which this bloodthirstI
passage occurs: IF each handkerchie!
were boundless as the globes ex
panse, it would not serve to stanct
the Federal mud-blood yet to be shed.
In fact, most of these journals Of the
American Civil War breathed a sim
liar spirit Of vindictiveness.
During the siege of Charleston the
Blockade Number of the Charleston
Caurier," which consisted Of sheets o:
canvas fastened at one corner by rec
ribbon, had On its front page the Fl
ure of sheeted skeleton holding 6
scythe and pointing with f1eshles:
hand to the words, "War to the
Death"
Happily all war journals are not o.
the grewsome, sanguinary type; II
fact, their usual tone is one Of the
cheeriest optimism and bright humor
A splendid sample of this checrfu'
kind of battlefield journal is that pub
lished by Wellington's soldiers during
the Peninsular campaign, which l.
full OF jokes and gayety, and even to
day makes more entertaining reading
than many professedly comic papers
During the worst horrors Of the
Crimea, when our men were dying b!
thousands in the trenches and so
called hospitals, and when the icy
clutch of a terrible Winter was al
every mans throat, one of the very
brightest of all these war journals
made it's appearance as regularly as
if it issued from Fleet street, Lon.
don. And an equally bright journa'
was that produced by the small aanc
of British soldiers shut in within ths
walls of Jellalabad sixty-three years
ago, one of the gayest and most pre-
quent contributors being the great
soldier who, some years later, as Sir
Henry Havelock, was destined to lose
his life in the Indian mutiny.-New
York News.
japanese War SpoiIs.