New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-06-01
.,,.y can s1sport himself st court functions

. can sisport himself ~ court functions
-. ,op0 holiday OF pleasurable social
~,..~oo,t IN n capital like London. What are
-.,,;o, are exceptional facilities for &C
- ,r,ornation respecting the new devices
- o.,aciary in naval equipment. In
'"' r,.or ser1,ces The Navy Department
'"o .. nav keen eyes watching abroad the
-. Constantly making in the weight and
.-,.,o, ., srmor. the mounting Of guns.
NV'''f ,,sr, If engines and boilers. the use
Wv .-,o., oDnliances and countless other de-
- - equipment. A naval attache IN
."'' -. has something more serious to do
H0''NN Lus away his time at a club and to
tend Vest End receptions.
-, Illustration OF the increased import
:, the work OF naval attache is one
-, has come under my frequent observation
w.. che last year. Lieutenant Commander J.
y co,ueu did more work during the war period
=, any other representative Of the United
Gates Government abroad The expenditures
.o- which he was directly or indirectly RESPONSE
Me ranged between $11OO0OOo and $1,000 600
He bought thirteen ships. including three cruis-
ers one torpedo-boat and nine golfers and re-
,rigerating vessels He purchased war material
on a large scale in England and France-torpe-
all kinds. He made contracts in London for
provisioning Admiral Dewey's fleet, and subse-
ouently the army with beef mutton and vego-
tables from refrigereting ships. He worked
early and late while the campaign was in prog
less aud especially during the critical period
preceding the outbreak OF hostilities when It
was necessary TO purchase all the surplus am
nunition and material Of war that was avail
rlfpf
ouaintance OF every English shipbuilder and
nearly every great manufacturer Of arms in
birmingham. Shef1eld Manchester and on the
Continent. Owing to the exigencies of the war
rer,od he has acquired a unique knowledge Of
the conditions Of the military and naval ser
,ices abroad which his predecessors have not
rossessei; and by virtue Of this unusual expe-
risncs he is now exceptionally well-equipped for
service here as q naval expert. in close touch
nth inventors marine engineers, shipbuilders
and krrns manufacturers. No successor coming
over for holiday jaunt or a social revel could
he AouaIlv useful 10 the United States Govern
ment
When the American Government has trained
experts in the embassies it should retain them
and get the full value of their experience. This
has been done in the past. at least in London
where the naval attaches have been retained for
PERIODS ranging from four 10 seven years; ana
as Lieutenant Commander Colwel has been here
only two years it is 10 be hoped that his ser
vices will be utilized for as long time in the
interest of good administration Of the Navy De-
partrent. especially as ne has an exceptional
equipment as an expert. Americans have I'M
rortant work to do in the East and West Indies.
Their exploits during the war with Spain nave
been a brilliant object-lesson in the efficiency
Of Sea Power. They have reputation 10 sus-
tain as a naval Power, and should be repre-
sented at their embassies abroad by experts
competent to find out what is going on in the
rapid development Of scientific methods Of war
fare The ideal military or naval attache is not
& carpet knight preoccupied with court func-
lions and social gayety but a wide awake prac-
tcal man Of business, with eyes and ears IN
constant use for the information Of his Govern
ment. l. ~ E