The Washington times., 1914-05-03
No Mystery, Only a Vast Ma
chine and SIeepIess Wgi-
lance in Covering" Move
mentS of u. S. Forces.
By RALPH A. COLLINS.


consider or to wonder how this news
was flashed before your eyes? To
many newspapers readers it is
hocus lpcus. or some form of leger-
demain. They wonder whence it
comes and by what channels it is
carried to them. You, gentle reader.
think, perhaps, that the gathering of
war news must be an exciting and
eXhilarating occupation, or perhaps
pastime. 1t is. But the days OF the
war correspondent who rode bravelN
forth with the field army TO glory
and prestige. perhaps. are waning.
In their stead is rising system. \
system supported by every modern
appliance for the transmission OF in
telligence, and worked out 10 a fine
detail by well ordered cooperation
between the Government for the
people and the peoples forum.
MANY persons wondered when an
editor, Josephus Daniels, was made
Secretary of the Navy. He has vim
dicated the selection both rs a man
who had the navy prepared, and as
an editor, for in the crisis at Vera
Cruz. and the days Immediately pre-
ceding and following, he was an
editor for the Government and for
the people. He was the center and
disseminating point of the war news,
and having been once an editor in
fact. his keen appreciation of news
gave him joy in taking so important
a part in giving it TO an anX!ously
waiting. patriotic public.
Admiral Turns Reporter.
Then, too. aside from developing
Josephus Daniels. editor of the Ad-
ministraticn, the Mexican crisis
brought out the greatest reporter
in the military service Of Uncle Sam
in Rear Admiral Frank f. Fletcher,
the man who not only took Vera
Cruz, but who displayed n keen nose
for news in keeping the Government
and his people informed OF every
thing of interest. But this is 4 lit
tie beside the story.
1t was from a little press room in
the State, War, and Navy building
that the first news of the engage
ment and the shedding of American
blood at Vera Cruz was flashed to
the public. That news and other
stories OF Iuomentous interest, heavy
with the portent of war, were start
ed over pulsing wires through this
harrow channel, that spread ;anwise
to the universe.
Though there are hundreds Of cor
respondents throughout Mexico. rep
resenting the big dailies and the
press associations, the bulk of the
war news the news of operations
and Of conflict has come from 4
corps of reporters 5000 miles away,
This little press room is the scene
Of much of their activity.
When orders were given the At
laEtic feet 10 proceed southwark,
there gathered in the State, War ard
Navy building fifty or more eager
and alert men, each instructed to
keep finger upon the pulse Of &C
ttVities. Every newspaper in the
unitei States and many in foreign
Climes are represented either direct
ly or through the press association
by these men. From that day they
have been engaged in the keenest
competition, where fractions of a
minute were of the highest impor-
tance in obtaining and sending ou:
tho news. They are charged with
learning all that the army AMI navy
are doing und reporting it quickly
and accurately. They are charged
with following the diplomatic reIa-
tons or the nation. as affected by
the situation, and with following the
mediation proceedings
Through them. every American di-
plomat, every American consul, and
every commanding officer in the
army and navy. the men. of all men,
in the most intimate touch with the
situation. becomes a reporter for the
paper. or papers they represent. con-
sequently, for the American people
Press Room a Beehive.
These men must see. talk with,
and keep in close touch with three
Cabinet members-two Of them con-
Quoting the military operations, ard
the third the peace movement. Tney
must keep in touch with the assist
ants and aides of the Cabinet ON
GERS, and they must obtain the dis
patches coming 10 the Government
authorities, from the diplomats, the
consuls. the military and the naval
leaders in the field.
The nay press room Is the center
of their activity, and the clearing
house for war news. Twrnty-fuur
hours a Gay, the reporters are on
guard, each anxious 20 beat the 9TH
er fellow in getting the news, even
If Il Is but by seconds Each Ia Der
demands the first news OF every hap
peninG. Consequently the press room
is a humming beehive Of telephone
bells and clicking telegraph instru-
moments Of lull when relaxation is
sought in fellowship. gossip. or a
hurriel hand at cards
When the war crisis came, tie
Navy Department, the first in action.
was ready for the emergency. The
press room was moved from a small
room. opposite the Se-retarv's Of
flee. TO a larger one down the hall
In half day ten private telephone
lines connecting with the nawsDaper
and press association offices were
installed. and sDecial telegraph lines
were run to tables paced iuSt ont
side the door. and there vas an in
fuN of special correspondents to
handle the war news and Of mes
Se1geT boys and DD"TatOrS
Previous to this time tive news cr
the three big departments had been
gathered largely through interview.
with the three Secrets ries or nv
"hand-Outs'' "a newspaper term for
issued statcmentsb. Each Of the
Cabinet officers still observes the
prearranged interview times. twice
daily. TO meet the newspaDerr-en
and submit to questioning. but there
are many imprnmptu interviews
thrown in. now. The Cabinet mem
bers are waylaid going into and out
Of their offices. to Cabinet meetings.
to luncheon. or tor some Other .pur-
pose. when they have Visitors
who might bear news-as for In
stance. the foreign diDlomats-these
visitors are Questioned. many times
with indifferent success.
Bulletin System Arranged.
when the war crisis came. Louis
McH Hove. private secretary 10
Assistant Secretary Franklin Il.