The New York herald., 1879-02-23
SECRET INFORMATION.
THE SPY SYSTEM OF GERMANY AND HOW IT Is
MANAGED OVER THE WORLD.

THE SPY SYSTEM OF GERMANY AND HOW IT Is
MANAGED OVER THE WORLD.
berlin Letter to the London Globel
The ominous reports of alleged reasonable
communication of important military secrets to .
foreign Power have produced quite a sensation.
Strange to say. the government always ready
tradct the vaguest rumors a they cast
the least discrcdit any of its officials has hitherto
abstained from referring to the deplorable subject
The only paper which. far 1 know, has
published denial of the current statements
is the Tdgt,an. which does not however. enjoy
such authority to set Mt rest the mis-
givings generally felt. Tho person said to
have been grossly maligned Is Saxon officer. who,
hearing of the accusation laid to his charge
requested thorough investigation into his conduct
which. according to the above mentioned paper
suited in establishing his entire innocence. lie in
tends proceeding with energy against his defamers
who certainly deserve severe punishment II their
calumnics proved to be without foundation. !
am at Il loss to conceive how these disreputable
counts. openly discussed. not only among officers
but even in political circles at large. have
been propagated for such a length of timo
without immediately meeting with categorical
disavowal. The Saxon Minister of War, who lately
passed through Berlin. appears to have had an audi
of the Emperor. to whom he minutely explained
the whole matter II the Saxon major so wickcdly
sandered succeeds in bringing to justice his
cusors snail probably bc enabled state the ORR
gin of the base attacks to which he has bccn SUBJ
Jectcd AS the pretended trcachcry compared
with the criminal proceedings OF Baron Ertl, the
Austrian lieutenant who is now undergoing a long
term of imprisonment IN expiation OF his unpardon
able offence 1t Will perhaps be interesting to hear
that the German General staff has since that timo
thoroughly revised its method for the acquisition Of
secret information respecting the organization and
efficiency OF foreign armies. Previous to the im-
peachmont of Baron Ertl, who seems to have been
closely connected with, II not melted his treason
by. the then military representative of the German
government in Vienna. the military Plcnpotcnarics
accredited abroad were the chief organs 10y which the
Cabinet obtained the Information. These attac hes
having exposed themselves to reproaches detrt
mental To their honor as gentlemen. they were
forbidden to engage In any transactions which
might injure their personal reputation. As the
government Is still extremely well acquainted
with all the particulars of foreign armies.
IL Is perfectly obvious that this Intelligence is pro-
cured by OF elaborate system Of espionage.
This supposition is confirmed to me good
authority. Numerous secret agents having no OH
cial character whatever. aud with whom on detec-
ton any connection might without hesitation be
disclainlcd now actively employed in forrcttng
out the disclosure of which Ia considered
| in anyway desirable. The spies. who. | regret to
own almost exclusively natives of the countries
betray by them receive their instructions directly
| from headquarters and not known even W the
diplomatic representatives, OF tho EnAuire.