Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1889-01-10
LEARNING AMERICAN SECRETS.
Story Told by Naval Oficer-A Shrew,l
German "AIechanico

Story Told by Naval Oficer-A shrewd
German Mechanic"
A naval officer today, in speaking about
the presence of foreigners in the navy.
told the following story: II was sent tc
Europe not long ago on an important en-
rand, and it became my duty to form the
acquaintance of foreign naval officers. in
order to accomplish certain ends / had in
view. met many of them at dinners,
receptions and entertainments, and was
surprised to find out how well they were
informed ON American naval affairs
had occasion to go to Kiel, Germany, for
the purpose of visiting the dockyartls
there. | felt sure that my credentials
would admit me to inspect the place, but
they did not. I tried little game of
getting the desired pass, by reaching the
officials through the use of wines and
tine dinners. One day a fine looking
German officer met me as | was coming
out of my hotel. Hello said he, slapping
me on the shoulder, have you got III
yet? He spoke such pure English that
for moment or so was nonplused
No. | replied. will you get me IN:
4 can't; and thereupon he remarked
it is easier to get into your yards than
ours
Il looked at the officer intently and
found by his uniform that he was the chief
naval constructor, and the man of all
1nen In the German navy that | wanted
TO meet. VIII you take Il glass of wine
with me? | asked. lie consented, and
We returned to the hotel.
after Il few minutes conversation we
became quite friendly, and | was sur
prised at the insight he had of our naval
officers. He astonished me by inquiring
about certain officers who were at the
New York navy yard during the late
wiir. L could not restrain my curiosity,
and / asked him: How did YOU become
acquainted with the ofiicerS: The story
is a short one he replied. when the
war broke out in 1861 | was in the Ger
man navy, and | got orders to go to
America. and study your methods of
building ships and getting gums ready
for use. When l got to New York my
dress was that OF q plain German me-
cE2nic. | got work as a carpenter and
ship joiner under q fictitious name, and
in = short time | got used to the nick
name ''Dutchy." Nobody knew me, and
my curious questions were never sl,s-
pectoi. and the v:orlZmen readily and in
Il good humorcd way answered them
helped to build and repair ships, and in
time got hold of much Information. |
made plans of the vessel, machinery,
guns, rigging, and, in feet. got on to
every tliElS. NSEAcu iit>IH Ut ni9Ilt III
NJ TC0m. and kept my government as
well posted as | could. The more Eng
ti5li / learned the better | understood
thing, that the workmen said il my
hearing. / worked On the big ship Dun
dcrherg: also On the Ncrrinac, at Nor
folk, and on some of the monitors. ]
sent much valuable Information home.
Now you see the reason why you can't
get into our yard
THE narrative was straight forward,
and was so full of facts concerning men
and affairs that | readily saw how the
German naval constructor got on to my
visit, and, although | tried to convince
him to the contrary, he was not to be
hoodwinked. | know where Kiel is, and
that it has dock yard, but I'll have to
go to Eiel as a German mechanic before
/ can get inside OF that place. This shows
how necessary it is to keep an eye on
foreigners in our navy yards if we want
to keep our secrets. w ashington Chat
IN Baltimore American.