The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-10-19

II &
 i6;s,, man and magazine writer, seems |6&esSf5 destined to be the most fortu-
 nate American of his calling, the world over.
 Largely due to his own standing and long experience as d war correspondent. but also because of Lord Kitchener's all most complete embargo on newspaper men in the war area, Palmer Is to be the only American war correspondent who will have any chance of seeing the actual fighting of the greatest war the world has ever seen or probably ever will see. His unique opportunity came about in the following manner.
 In accordance with the strict censorship upon news of all kinds established by the British military authorities Lord Kitchener. who Is In realty more power- full in England today than is the Czar in Russia, absolutely forbade newspaper correspondents to accompany the British cxpeditonary army to France. Indeed. he even extended his censorship to the news columns of the English press and threatened to close immediately the cf- fees of certain papers that showed an inclination to take his instructions lightly.
 Against these proceedings. however, there was an inevitable reaction. Almost and many of the big provincial papers became restless and practically demanded the right to send war correspondents to the front so as to provide their readers with something more than the few lines of the daily official bulletins. 1t soon became evident that even the strongest war secretary cannot carry on success full war for very long without the assist ance and the good will of united press
 Tn this connection story showing Lord Kitchener's dislike of war cor respondents can be told. During his Egyptian campaign the late Bennett Burleigh represtented the London Daily Telegraph with the British forces. Ben nett Burleigh was even then one of the leading English war correspondents and his name was a household one throughout the British empire. Tn brisk engage ment Burleigh, in his eagerness to see things with his own eyes, got too near the enemy and was in imminent danger of being killed. Tn these cif eujnstances an English Tommy came to his assistance and brought him back to the lines. On the following day kitchener mentioned the Tommy in his dispatch, recommend ing him for promotion and Q medal for conspicuous bravery in saving the life of camp follower
 Concerned about the attitude of the Eng. fish press. Kitchener gave way on the matter of war correspondents. But he decided to allow just as few of the pests at the front as possible. It was finally agreed that about 10 English cor respondents should be allowed at the ffont with the English force, one French, one Russian. one Belgian and one neutral. namely American.
 When the news that only one American correspondent was to be allowed to &C., company the English army was broken to the representatives of the big Ameri- can newspapers and news agencies in London there was almost a panic. Every newspaper representative determined to be the one to go. Finally. there was a meeting of the corps and 1t was decided to choose one man who would send his dispatches to the four big telegraph news agencies fin New York to be distributed by them to practically all the newspapers Of importance in the whole of the United States. Ultimately this unique honor fell Europe solely as the representative of E,erybody's Magazlne, and, therefore. was not partial to any one news gather ing concern
 Palmer. with possibly a single excep- tion, is the best known of the American nwspaper men who make the reporting of war a profession. He was born some 42 or more years ago in the little town of Pleasantville. Pa. He worked on tho Sunday edition of. the New York Press and was by that paper sent to London as it's representative. The story of how this came about shows on what little incidents mems lives sometimes turn
 Palmer and the then Sunday editor of the Press one day crossed to Staten Island by the ferry and sat on the shore watching the big transatlantic liners making their way through the Narrows on their way to Europe. Palmer and the editor fell to talking of London and the future war correspondent said idly: 'T wish I could go there"
 Just one day later the then managing editor of the Press told the Sunday editor that he was sending man to London as special correspondent Re- mcmbering his conversation with Pal mer the Sunday editor pressed hts claims in preference to those of the man whom his chief had picked and finally carried the day.
 Can Palmer start on Saturday," asked the managing editor.
 "I am, sure he can" answered the Sunday editor.
 "Teii him to go ahsad, then"
 When the first war between Turkey and Greece broke out Palmer went to the front and had his baptism of fire Campaigns with the American troops ip inc Philippines. with the allied forces in the march to Pekins. with the Russo -Japanese war: in the Bal kans and in Mexico followed in quick succession.
 The writer has just had talk with Palmer who is now here waiting im- patiently for Earl Kitchener's permits sion to get on to the front. which ts expected this week. It was evident by T'ulmer's conversation that he realized fully his unique opportunity and was anxious to be up and doing.
 Tt is plain" he said. "that the busi- ness of the war correspondent has un- dergone an entire change in the last few years. We hear lot from the old time English editors about the work of men like Archibald Forbes. There are many men just as good as Archibald Forces alive today Those mon. how : ever. lack tho opportunities that brought Forbes to the notice of tho public.
 This change is due largely to ths improvements In the methods of com niunicQtion. The news that the old