ted .
gained such a knowledge of warfare as enabled him to give intelligent criticism
of the military and the political policies
represented in its conduct and this criticism seldom degenerated into petty fault-finding. He subordinated himself to the cause of the paper he represented , bore his privations lightly , became a part of the contest rather than a mere onlooker , and described what he saw in vivid and truthful pictures that rarely lapsed
into mere fine writing. During the second period, the social status of the war corre spondent changed ; he was honored and recognized as a person of importance and influence. William Howard Russell was the guest of Lincoln and he was a member of the party of the Prince
and Princess of Wales on their tour in Egypt and the Near East.
words of the war correspondent, - Russell wrote to his eldest daughter that the Queen of Greece said to him , “ Sir, I know England is governed by public opinion and that the Times makes a great deal of it. You makemuch of that public opinion for the Times, and believe me I shall ever remember you if you
ever say a good word for Greece and the King." 93 The inevitable result of this changed status of the war corre spondent was that war correspondence came to be regarded as
a stepping-stone to social preferment.' Amateurs , millionaires,
and mere sight-seers masquerading as journalists, were eager to go to the front, and , during the Boer War, the complaint was
made that a multitude of correspondents was continually under
foot wherever there was a field telegraphic wire, competing with Lord Roberts to send news home, tapping his wires , and magnify ing their own importance . While there was a cable censorship at the front, there was none at home “ and Fleet Street had a
great time." 94 Troops went to war with bands playing and flags flying, — " we told the world exactly how many men and guns
went in each ship , whence they sailed and whither they were bound. ” 95 93 J. B . Atkins, The Life of Sir William Howard Russell, II , 153.
94 W . Maxwell, “ The War Correspondent in Sunshine and Eclipse," Nineteenth Century and After, March, 1913, 73: 608 -623. 95An Editor, " A Newspaper in Time of War ," Littell's Living Age, June 5, 1915, 285: 605 -611. From The Cornhill Magazine. n . d .
