correspondence than on the assembling of his material equip ment.105 War itself is changing, histories of war are changing, and the war correspondent is changing with them . But until
warfare ceases to be, it seems probable that the war correspon dent will not pass.106
But it does not follow that all questions concerning his work or his qualifications for it will cease to be discussed . To some
of these questions it seems, indeed , impossible to give a satis factory answer. “ Secrecy is of the essence of successful warfare. Publicity is of the essence of successful journalism . How is a
common ground to be found or manufactured between these abrupt opposites? ” — But again , until warfare itself ceases to be,
common ground there is none.
And the ideal war correspondent? His picture has been drawn by one of the greatest of them all. “ In my day dreams," says Archibald Forbes, " indulged in mostly when smarting under the consciousness of my own deficiencies , I have tried to think
out the attributes that ought to be concentrated in the ideal war correspondent. He ought to possess the gift of tongues
to be conversant with all European languages, a neat assort ment of the Asiatic languages, and a few of the African tongues , such as Abyssinian, Ashantee , Zulu , and Soudanese. He should have the sweet , angelic temper of a woman , and be as affable as if he were a politician canvassing for a vote ; yet, at the same time, be big and ugly enough to impress the conviction that it
would be highly unwise to take any liberties with him . The paragon war correspondent should be able to ride anything that chance may offer, from a giraffe to a rat; be able to ride a hundred miles at a stretch , to go without food for a week if needful, and without sleep for as long ; never to get tired - never to feel the
sensation of a slight sinking, you know ; and be able at the end 105 “ Although the national judgment is much influenced by the reports of the press representatives from the seat of war, the need of systematically
training such guides to public opinion in the performance oftheir responsible duties has not yet been accepted in democratic communities .” - A British Officer , “ The Literature of the South African War," American Historical Review , January , 1907, XII, 302 – 321. 106 The best discussion of the work and the future of war correspondents
that has been noted is that of J. B . Atkins, Life of Russell, II, chap .
