The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-10-12
WAR CORRESPONDENTS.
or Hui Run Russell and
Bcnnett RurIcigh.

To THE EDITOR OF THE SuN--Sir. A
letter In THE SUN from Joseph wildly
OF Cincinnati contains citation from a
letter dated at Sebastopol. January 4,
1865. In which Lord Raglan referred to the
danger to the British army In the Crlmea
through the enemy acquiring important
information OF "the number condition and
equipment" Of the British troops from tho
letters sent by correspondents to the Lon
don papers.
This may give interest to this fact: The
one great correspondent OF the Crlmean
war was Sir William Howard Russell
His letters made an era In the history Of
journalism. His exposure OF the awful
situation In the Crimea brought down
the Aberdeen Ministry and brought
Florence Nightingale to Scutari. For
years after the war there was debate as
to whether his letters gave any aid 10
the enemy. Finally Russell wrote
Gortchakoff himself He received a full
reply. to the effect that copies OF the
Times containing the letters were mailed
at once to Warsaw from London and
that thence cousin sent them on to the
Russian commander But Gortchakoff
said frankly that he was bound to con-
Tess that he never got from them any
information OF value that was new that
he was in possession OF the facts narrated
before the papers arrived from London.
Lord Raglan referred also to the tele-
graph, but the wire was little used in
those days and the only despatch sent by
Russell was II brief message stating that
Sebastopol had fallen at last.
In an article In THE Sun some OF tho
exploits of Bennett Burleigh were mar
rated The story of the end OF Mahdism
at Dmdurman II told and how Buregh's
despatch was received by his paper. the
Daily Telegraph, on Saturday afternoon.
but as none OF the London papers pub
lished a Sunday edition. in spite OF the
anxiety of the public for the news. what
was great "scoop"-only the bare fact
being posted by tho Government--was
held until Monday morning. THE Sun
writer says: The Telegraph had up to
that time never printed "A Sunday edition"
Their" IL one very interesting exception
10 that statement. Omdurman fell In
1895. Thirteen years before the Teie-
graph did issue a Sunday extra under
these circumstances Desperate efforts for
the rescue OF Gordon from Khartum
were being made. The British soldiers
In the desert were taxing the most haZ-
ardous chances Early in February. 1855.
London knew that khartum had fallen
and that Gordon had been slain on
Saturday. February 81. the Telegraph pub
lished statement that tho desert
column which as "A forlorn hope had
undertaken to fight through to Khsrtum
WAS In precarious situation. The whole
English world was waiting with appre-
hension 70 learn the fate OF that column.
ON sunday morning, February 20. tele-
gram from Burlelgh reached the Offices
of his paper tellirty Of the successful ex-
tricntion Of the column. Under the eX-
Ceptional circumstances the paper ut out
Sunday extra, and at . o'clock that
morning persons coming to service al ST
Paul's found Il awaiting them The news
preceded the official despatch to the Soc
rotary OF state by thirty-six hours
F LAURsToN BUILARp.
BosTOS, October 10