The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1914-05-12
PRESS ROOM IN WAR AND NAVY
BUILDING A CLEARING HOUSE
Through 1t First News From Front Is Broadly Dissent
mated To The Public-Sleepless Vigilance In Covering
Movements of United States Forces
(By Ralph A. Collins, in Washington
TimeS).

late edition, did you ever pause to
consider or to wonder how this news
was flashed before your eyes? To
many newspapers eader it is a
hocus pocus, or some form OF leger-
demain. They wonder whence ii
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
exh~ilarating occupation, Or perhaps
pastirne. 1t is. But the days of the
war correspondent who rode bravely
forth with the field army to glory
and prestige, perhaps, are waning.
in their stead is rising system. A
system supported by every modern
appliance for the transmission of in
~telligence, and worked out to a n
detail by well ordered cooperation
between the government for the peo-
pie and the peoples forum.
Many persons wondered when an
editor, J~osephus Daniels, was made
Secretary of the Navy. He has vim
Dictated the selection both as a man
who had the navy prepared, ana as
an editor, for in the crisis at Vera
Cruz, and the days Immediately pre-
editor for the government and for
the people. He was the center n
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
u part in giving it to an nxiousl
waiting. patriotic public.
Admiral Turns Reporter.
Then, too, aside from developing
Josephus Daniels. editor Of the Ad-
m~inistraion, the Mexican crisis
brought out the greatest reporter in
the military service Of Uncle Sam in
Rear Admiral Frank F. Fletcher. the
aaN r,ha MT only roOL NoNo (Sr1tz
but who displayed a keen nose for
news in keeping the Government and
this people informed of everything OF
interest. But this is a little 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 momentous interest. heavy
with the portent Of war. were start
ed over pulsing wires through this
narrow channel. that spread fanwise
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
n of conflict, has come from q
corps of reporters 5000 miles away
This little press room is the scene
OF much of their activity.
When rders were given the At.
lantic fleet to proceed southwark
there gathered in the State, War ant
Navy building fifty or mere eagel
and alert men. each instructed tt
keep a finger upon the pulse of &C
tvitles. Every newspaper in tn,
United States and many in foreign
CHmpS are rpnrpSpNto6 either direct
ly or through the press association
by these men. From hat day the
have been engaged in the keenes
competition. where fractions of
minute were of the highest impoI
lance in obtaining and sending GU
the news. They are charged wit
learning all that the army and nav
are doing and reporting it quickl
n accurately. They are charge
with following the diplomatic rela
tons Of the nation. as affected b
the situation, and with following tn
mediation proceedings.
Through them, every American d
plomat, every American consul, al
every commanding officer in tt
army and navy. the men, of all me-
in the most intimate touch with TT
situation, becomes a reporter for tt
paper, or papers they represent. col
sequently. for the American people.
Press Room il Beehive.
These men must see, talk wit
and keep in close touch with thr,
Cabinet members-two of them co
Quoting the military operations. a,
the third the peace movement. Tn
must keep in touch with the assis
ants and aides of the Cabinet Of
GERS. and they must obtain the IL
patches coming to the Governme
authorities. from the diplomats. /
consuls, the military and the nav
leaders in the field.
n navy press room is the cent
of their activity, and the cleari
house for war news. Twenty-fo
hours a day, the reporters are
guard. each anxious to beat the OF
er fellow in getting the news, ev
if it is but by seconds. Each par
demands the first news of every he
pening. Consequently the press roo
is a humming beehive or telephC
bells and clicking telegraph instl
ments. n hustle, except in the q
moments of lull when relaxation
sOroht in fellowship poSSin -