New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-08-15
London, July "a.

P"' ir the Franco German War. The
fuo''s nbatl,sr meant as eulogy or criticism.
p q any rate. explanatory, for We had had
Wa" lars Of civil War experience. from 1871
'0 ,oe, while the English, unless we reckon the
,Os,.r Nutiny, had TO go back TO the Crimean
80 in 1854. for presidents in war correspond
wa ,soreover. the one great triumph of Eng
49, journalism in the Crimea was not triumph
--.,bod II was a triumph due TO the genius
- courage OF one man. DR.. Russell, who ex-
'As through THE Times" the murderous mis-
80 NJ army organization and army admin
+ion and so forced the War Office and the
80 Guards 20 set their houses in order IL
Great public serVice-perhaps the greatest
49, any journalist in the field ever performed.
rr, n was not exactly journalism 1t had little
= nothing 10 do with that speed and accuracy
!. she collection and transmission of news
80 after all must be the chief business OF a
.o-resrondeut II has never been initiated. 1t
.,,er WIFI be till another Russell appears TO
-osene another British army in another Crimea.
THAT great exploit was not primarily journal
,stc but personal
do not suppose II occurred to any Of the
many able newspaper managers in London that
a. dealing with European they would
ens = rival I'm an American journal They knew
there was an Atlantic cable. but probably
,bouglt if they thought about Il al all. that the
,hle tolls would he prohibitive. for as We shall
sse in a moment. they had not yet grasped the
,ses that the telegraph is only q quicker post
prtring the question 81 cost aside. II does not
matter how piece Of news or dispatch
,.,,sr Is transmitted. whether by rail or by
st,snshiu or by wire. What matters is that Il
,ho,ld get there To-day this Is a truisn.
ror,v years ago il was paradox-in Europe il
MT IN America There had been great achieve
-nsrts in the transmission Of news long before
,hs telegraph was invented. II may be doubted
whether they were not. some OF them greater
man those due 70 the telegraph. But so far
Sc The use Of the telegraph is concerned We are
dealing with the beginnings. The year 1870 is
syear OF transition. If not OF revolution. think
ere gre entitled 70 remember with satisfaction
.hst N telegraphic news enterprise. even in
rurope Il was an --mercan journal which led
me wsy, and thar The Tribune was that journal
In forming their wsr plans. the managers
o. English journals, J was saying left Arneri-
car journals cut Of account Perhaps they
knew in din kind OF way, that The Tribune
ssd an Office in London. But the Office had
teen there for three years. and no other Arneri-
ran journal had vet followed The Tribune's
example Important dispatches had been sent
from this London Office 10 the New York Office
~ cable bur the London managers. IL aware
# the existence Of the cable and Of The Tribune
once IN London had not co-ordinated these
two pieces Of knowledge The area Of all pos
SHE competition in war news was confined in
their view - Fleet street and Printing House
Square
They sat content true Britains as they Were
n their belief in their own supremacy-a SUI
prsmzcy often challenged. never overthrow
The Times" was still The Times" The
Morning Post was still 2 threepenny paper.
The Daily Telegraph" was stiIl the organ OF
he small shopkeeper The Daily News" was
Che nouthpieoe OF Nonconformist Liberalism.
with no great pretensions 10 any other sort Of
authority. The evening journalism was not
supposed TO b. eager for news. except news Of
that peculiar description which offers its readers
sr afternoon sensation and Il unaccountably
emitted from the next mornings papers The
new journalism was Vet 70 he born. The Daily
Mail" had never been heard Of Lord North
cHre, the man who has done more than all
others OF his time toward the creation Of a
new journalism IN England. and who Is almost
more statesman than journalist, was then
.lst two years old
Moreover. tie outbreak Of war unex-
Sscted. Lord Granville then Foreign Sec
fsiary and of an mistaken optimism. lord
Hammond. Permanent Under Secretary of the
Foreign Office. had announced fortnight be-
'we that never since he had held place I'm that
once had the sky been SO free from clouds. NJ
Emile Olivier has lately retold in the Revue des
-eux Nondes' the story Of how the was
brought on. bit there is nothing in his elaborate
Special pleading 10 show that any reasonable
'ush ought 10 have expected the French En-
'sror, or even n olivier himself. To follow the
unreasonable, mad. arrogant policy they did fol-
~ Nor can Downing Street or Fleet Street or
lac for mot hafD
aware That the conduct OF affairs in France was
~ me control Of men who would play into Bis
'nsfcks hands, for, let NJ. Olivier say what he
W.T. Bismarcks opportunity would not have
.Dne mad not France, after Prussia had with
VIC Prince Leopolds candidature for the
.40he OF Spain, demanded a guarantee that IL
.Nouio never be renewed or never be supported
- PRUSSIA Never had events moved so quickly
'A'ee Leopold was first heard Of July g. 1870
- ule Eth he renowned his claim. On the 18th
eHeOeta laid before the King Of Prussia at
- t'e demand Of France for guarantees on
=, t11n Earl Granville woke from his deep
- !" peace and strove 10 bring France and
$50 70 terms. on the 18th the Emperor de-
49, war the Chamber approving by an over
'.siining majority
49, are IN journalism two WAYS OF dealing
- war crisis Of this kind one way is 10
n, I'o lhe held everybody you can lay hands
q. ser' iaut bien que NAL. as many points
,ressiDe' and 50 take your chance OF what
a.. luiA w The other is TO choose the best
49, men available and send one TO the head
s4.t u each army. / preferred the latter,
roos - because there Was difficulty In finding
L., ana there were but two from whom
priTcleo much good. These were Mr. Holt
- an Englishman. and NJ. Mejanel. a
r.enohnlsn Mr.. White was ordered TO Join the
eo,.- and NJ. Mejanei 10 accompany his own
men The same instructions were given
ov,, very simple, but believe at that time
Va novel In England. Each was TO find his
~. !" ne front. or wherever a battle was most