The Washington times., 1914-05-03
Little Press Room in the War and Navy.
Building Is Real Clearing House Whence|
Public Gets First NewS From the Front
Bulletin Service Arranged by
Government to Facilitate
Work-Secretaries Quizzed
at Interviews.

Daniels are regular family
gathering. He talks freely to the men
and will answer all questions, IN so
far as he can. rarely putting down
the proviso that il must not be
',u,blished. He gives all possible in
formation. an!, will get it from his
aides. II he can not supply it off
hand
Daniels Feels Like Editor.
Sensing the purport of questions,
he will answer in The fullest de-
tail possible. He says tnat some
times he feels himself the managing
editor and takes JOY in the position.
He has given much thought to the
:, curing of the news that he knew
I,ouIa pe OF interest, and it was
he that said that Admiral Fletcher,
me man who captured and then ad-
u.inistered affairs in Vera Cruz, was
the hest reporter in tine navy.
The admiral is possessed OF the
news instinct and reported every
haupening of news value, and proved
tnat he was good repoSer IN
promptly sending in the names OF
killed and wounded. secretary
Daniels said facetiously one morn
ing that he was thinking of promot-
ing Admiral Fletcher TO the news
paper business.
Eetveen visits 20 the Secretaries
and the gathering in of other de-
tail the mvn after the war news
spend much of ,heir time running
down rumOrs and reports and quer-
les from their papers. With war
conditions existing at Vera CRUZ
II
every quarter of the globe to Nash-
ington to b. verified or denied.
For three days rumors were re-
ceiyed twice a day by one press as
sociation of the blowing up of an
American battleship, and each oil
them had to be run to earth. When
the aero squad went to Vera cruz
wild rumors started tina: shells or
torpedoes had been dropped on first
one yessel and then another. Final
ly, when a rumor came in that tor
pedo had been dropped down a bat
ueship funnel. Private Secretary
Howe. the benefictor of the news
paper men. cried in despair, For
heaven sake boys, hold up. You
Cruz harbor today. and therein De
nothing to go up tonight"
Every possible convenience Las
been placed At the disposal of the
reporters in the navy pressroom. A
war map with miniature ships Is
hung upon the wall. This map
shows the position of every ship in
Othe- maps and charts OF both
Mexican coasts have been provided.
The Nay Department bu letln
service worked so successfully that,
at the request OF the newspapernen,
Secretary Bryan incorporated the
reports from consuls and other an
nouncements In It
When the army started for Vera
Cruz the War Department was
without a prcssroom. Last week,
however. the corridor lobby Of the
Secretary's office was partitioned of
for the newspapermen.
On the night OF April %. whd D.
ditional troops were ordered tdthe
border. two score newspaperfhen.
knowing what was coming from tips
they had received. were gathered ct
Secretary GarrisoE's Office await
ing an announcement.
formal announ cement Of the or
ders was prepared. and the newspa-
per men were called in. Carbon
copies had been made on the type
writer These were held by Assist
ant Secretary Breckinridge At
word from the Secretary, Mr.. Breck-
inridgc began handing them cut
one by one Immediately the news
paper men crowded down upon him
and reached out. grabbing for the
announcements in their cagerness.
once they had them. they raced for
telephones. 1t was shortly after this
that tho War Department Installed
tho mime graph bulletin system.
Now all such announcements are rut
up in the new War Department press
room. where telephones and taolcs
have been placed for the convenience