New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-09-13


goes. true theory of the right rcla-
TORS between the War Correspondent
anC the War Commander. There are
others.
Lord CSrdwell and Colonel HoLicr.
| was told yesterday by War on
clal that passes had been refused to
all the American correspondents arriv-
ing from America for the front. Of
course. They had refused the English
access to the English lines in France
They had just cleaned out, or asked
Belgium TO clean out. all their own
men who had at first been allowed to
join the Belgian forces I remembered
what Lord Cardwell, IN 1870. then Min
lister of War. had said to me when
went to him with a pressing letter
from Mr.. Motley. | asked him TO al
low Colonel HoZier to go TO the field
for The Tribune:
"But ] have refused him permission
TO so for The Times"
Il know that. But ! suggest 20 you
that the reasons which might seem TO
you decisive against his serving an
English journal would not apply TO an
American journal"
The Minister'S face turned the color
of a British uniformthere vas no
khaki in those days. but scarlet--and
his eyes grew hot, and his voice was
thick with passion as he cried out:
do you think | would suffer pne of
my officers to serve an American paper
when ! have denied him to The Times
itself?"
tried TO press my own point of view.
which | thought then, and think still,
perfectly reasonable. But the angry
Minister would have none of II.
IL have listened to you because you
came to me from Mr.. Motley. For him
and for your country l have every re-
spect and good will, but you are asking
me to put your country above my own.
cannot do it,"
American Journalists.
SO that interview, which had been
stormy all through, came to an end. But
what has happened in the case Of the
American journalists now barred out
from the lines of the Allies? / am told
they have gone to the German head
quarters. They are not likely to be
warmly welcomed there, but suppose
by any chance they were? What would
be the effect on American opinion?
What will he the effect on the journal
ISIS LnNIU SELVES 1 ain NbAN ShNe
in any case see with their own eyes, but
they would see from a German stand
point and not from an English or
French. Would that help the Allied
cause? But how can you expect author
tiles who show themselves careless OF
English opinion to be sedulouS in cuitl-
waiting American?
A Civil War Precedent.
Our generals in the Civil War had
device for dealing with this Press ques-
ton which, | suppose, would seem mere
lunacy to the martinets of the War
Office in Whitehall. They used TO turn
Us out as correspondents and IN the
same breath take us on as aldes-de-
camp. We were known as volunteer
aides. We did not care what they
called US. We wanted to get to the
front and stay there. There was no
position which gave correspondent
such advantages and facilities as that
on the staff-whether nominally or not
mattered nothing--of General com
manding a force in the fighting line,
l served in that way first on the
staff OF General Sedgwick and then OF
General Hooker. From General Sedg-
wick ! had an appointment before the
army set QUIZ from NtneIdl ilOOhCA
had no appointment at all. ] was near
him at the front at moment when he
Rad sent off all his aides to other parts
Of the fela. He asked me who | was
/ was in civilian dress and then
whether I would take an order for him
70 Division on the lett. When | had
taken it and reported to him, he sent
me off again, and SO on till he was
Wounded ] don't think any great pub
lie or military interest was endan-
gered. The battle overhaul over, as
was McClellan's way--I rode that nigh;
TO Frederick, the nearest telegraph sta
ton, and early in the morning tele-
praphed dispatch of a column or two
TO The Tribune. Invent, quite rightly,
straight 70 the War Office in Washing
ton. and vas, believe, the first ac-
count of the battle they had. They
kept il during that day, and then hand
somcly telegraphed it on 70 you. And
again ! will say | don't think my pres
ence as a correspondent wrought any
harm 70 the cause We all-CorTespond-
ents as much as soldiers-had at
heart. G. W. S.