The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-02-03
GERMAN SPIES.
How They Have Ransaoked America,
The Whole Military Department an
Open Book to Them.
German Officers Enlistlng in the
Army and Navy.
How the German System Of rs
pionage is Carried On.
The Mission of Lieut.. Bcknrdstein to
the Country - Advantages Bis
marck VIII Enjoy In Case
II Comes to War.

herman Government has ordered u mill
tary attache, Lieut.. Eckardstein, to report
to the German Minister in this country
and investigate, as preparatory to report
TO his War Department, everything OF in
terest concerning the American army and
navy, Notifications, equipments, etc, has
attracted no little attention among army
and navy officers. To anyone acquainted
with the workings Of the War Department
OF Germany it is needless to state that there
is not a fort or ship belonging to the
United States OF which full and accurate
description cannot be obtained from among
the thousands of pigeon holes in their in
telligent bureau. To imagine that Lieut..
Eckardstcn is the first German officer who
has been sent on this mission is simply
absurd. II was only the other day mt tho
trial OF the titteen-inch dynamite gun at
Fort Lafayette that q close observer was
noted among the spcctatoB-a sharp-eyed
little man, dressed in u long, close fitting
plaid oyercoat, who watched with the
greatest attention every working Of the
gun aud listened to every word Of
opinion let fall. That samo little man Is
directing in part the prodigious efforts now
making by German officers 10 gather addi-
tional Information concerning some of our
notifications. lie was no other than the
Baron Won Stombcrg, OF the Imperial Ger.
man Army, an officer OF high rank and
ability, and Just the one 10 be detailed for
work Of sogreat importance. lie made his
appearance very unexpectedly on tho
scene, but was recognized at once by Capt.
Ialinski aud several naval officers. OF
course ho was given all the attention which
could be accorded n foreign officer. The
policy OF the German Government tx TO
keep itself thoroughly informed in regard
to the military and naval strength OF the
United States rs well MS Of other countries
German officers Of high rank have travelled
over this country In the garb Of alaborcr,
OF q countrymUn, OF pcddlcr, or any
such mask which will serve 90 gain admis-
sion 10 places where their presence
would not be allowed wcre their objects
known. This espionage, carried on not
only by the Germans but by other
powers ia this country came 10 the knowl-
edge Of some prominent military men
about six years ago. 4 large number OF
German officers had been obtaining draw
ings and plans Of the most accurate de-
scripton OF all our system OF dcicnfcB
Secretly investigating this matter Il was
found, a. the astonishmcnt of those en-
gagged. that German officers had actually
enlisted ia the United States army ~
private soldiers, had remained Ia garrison
few weeks aud then deserted; this period
OF q few weeks being nll that was sufficient
for their gaining every nOint OF iniorma'
| lion that could IN amy possible contingency
/ be- utilized. Some ol orr army officers
will recall an order issuing from the wnr
| department about five years ago, calling
/ on commanding officers b. exercise iho
| creates, care and surveillance IN the al.
/ hitting OF only proper p'fsons 10 parts Ol
| forts and batteries whore u would not bc
! cxpciiunt ior certain workings and plans
/ tU ba known In general. At about the
,lmo time Il was learned that certain
| German sailors who had deserted
l from the navy were no other than
| German naval officers Who had managed
/ to serve ~ part oi the crews Oi some o
our best ycsscls They had been charlc
tcrizcd ~ sharp, bright sailor men, though
at the time no one aboard doubted Tor ar
instant they were other than common sea
/ men. when the Trenton hmt went {,
Europe, she shipped aboard at SOuihamp
ton, during the CruiF, some LOO men
OnicUus who Worc on board 81 her nt ih'
time will remember the occasion. II hJ
since been learned that Of that very tim,
she shipped some iuu'isn officers an,
they were among the number who mnd'
NJ the wholesale dcaIHiOns later IL va
only the other day that o manuscript WI
Soon in the hands Of o. British naval OIL
Ger pertaining ~ our ygeDls. aud contain
ing the same kind of information whlcl
the Germans have from timO to time M
cured Tho German system NJ C4piOn1g
h. the most thorough ui any existing /
any country today u is an under ~
control Of what Is known ~ 'gcncu
staff Any officer in thD Gcrma
army u liable 81 DO Fuddcnl
ordered 10 the War Department
IN Berlin, there 30 receive orlcm lrom N
head Of the general stall ,p proceed at ono
In disguise 10 some iurcim country.
, may be- China, u may ln Chill The OH
, crr nj once assumes Disguise. From ih
moment be- leaves bis regiment in obcd
cnce Ia these ORDER. hn loses biz idcniil
aud Is prohibited from making known hl
! presence 10 even n friend be- may chunC
! 10 encounter. Arriving 10 the iurrig
q country he Immediately delivers 20 h
/, counlry'a minister de-. lichcH which
I Themselves disclose h. lruuly. u hc !
subordinate Officer Doc imports 10 u
D German officer In d country who j..
. control Of tho gathering oi Information
o and from that time on hu ~ engaged
u real detective work Tiers Is nothing ]
j. must shrink from. aul whatever init AZ
= micn will best ruil hs ends That part J
j. must assunc. A. general role ollice
detailed Tor this WORK lr picked from y
best regiments in tuu army igr on u
. strength Of their p.ans and repof
OF certain WORKS HI.I.n army cor
- may be put iu motion
. result ol the C.nmlnder.in'chi
T. studying the plans b.lbr, l.m. When y
D. Franco PruSlan wlr b.O.g OF lhe Csc
y mans know Franco U...'. Illh TIE t,n.
themselves. There u1 100. creek, ~, iilll
bridge crossing. hcnncy l"n, dIwellll
or ou.houso that thg nap oi the 1riln'
TX Spy did not specify 0n i's il''' we ~.
n, not fort, not ship not gun, Wll''
60 the Gcrmans are not lcluih''len WIN
AZ every detail. There nys iAl'ioau Eu''
B IN this country which ni ''l'1 No. O'i
plclg Information llaa iha' winch ''h