New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-07-08
INFORMATION ABOUT CANADA WANTED

HOW THE EFFORTS OF THE WAR DEPARTMENT.
HAVE BEEN FRUSTRATED
Washington. July (SpeciaD-Gossip heaiu ~
military circles Is 10 the eject that on TWO 80
occasions the War Department has maze eiios'S ="
obtain military information relating 10 the lama
dian border but that official plans have been rus
trated owing to the appearance In service paper
OF brief personal items saying that Two oNlce's VI
the Army had gone 10 that country On ou's =.
appears that the War Department mas no oe,a'''a
intelligence concerning Canada which wouia De W
Importance TO the Army in case OF war Win
Great Britain Not even modern maps showing
the topography OF the Canadian line and interior
are on file In the Department Information on
this and many other military questions "oud oe
valuable for obvious reasons. and the authorizes
are anxious TO possess IT,
A short time ago officer OF the Army. VINO
had made a reputation for special energy and
ability In his profession was detailed TO proceed
Canada a secret mission. with ihs'rSe"o,s
TO make such surveys and observations as w., ~
be valuable the Army in case OF war .pon .i,v
cev.nS his orders. the officer promptly gu, ausSs
LETT the country to execute this dehe9te Wy vas
treated with much secrecy as II II were o. me
nature OF an imporsant diHioSmaT for The
purposes Of the military authorizes ne ne ,bc
necessity OF treating his sons departure FOR Canada
as confidential The father. dstngusheh hS Sect
that his Army boy had been selected for such an
important misson. and he lost Lite Hms 70 nf n
a
ter to the eject tina, the lieutenant was in Canada
official duty The paper con,ainins the item VS. w.
seen by the authorities shorty AFTER a. III ~
Saturday. Before 10 a. OF the same day zee
was ynS oyer w ss wfss The
message reached the officer few days aLrt nc
arrived in Canada. II Is needless 10 say tnat ne
promptly obeyed hts orders 10 return nome 1n'
reported his presence to his anxious ansiy 81.
periors. What transplred upon his arrival al tne
War Department is not known. but In view o. tre
fact that II had become public that an officer OF tne
Army had boon sent 10 Inspect ana report uio"
the military conditions OF a country Win whIcn
tho United states hal friendly relations. but al
stormy scene probably ensued shortly aNerNsrd
the War Department decided 10 send another ON
Ger on the same secret mission. The second eS
perencc was as unsatisfactory as the nrst ana no
thor.tes TO obtain the important information they
seek. la the second instance specially dsctSet
officer was chosen. With appropriate Instructions
he left Washington one day for Canada lie hsa
been away from Washington about fortrish
when a friend. thinking his comrades would %
glad TO learn OF the absent officers whereabouts
had inserted In the same service paper personal
saying that Lieutenant had been sent 70
Canada an imnortan, mission by the secretary
OF War Again there VAS anger at the war re- s.
Army was inecanads, getting Information 10 ~
used by tho United States In Its next war WITH
Great Britain had leaked out and the omcer en-
gagged the duty liable 10 arrest and I'M.
country threatened with vigorous protest rom
London. Teegraphic directions Mere hastily WIZ.
ten and forwarded to the Lieutenant TO return 70
Washington without delay Thus ended the AZ,
tempt Of tho War Department TO learn all sp ous
the border OF nerhbor.ns country through ing
medium OF an officer OF tho Army. II Is S.d q
the Department that owing 10 the experience nae
no further efforts Of the kind Will be made