The evening times., 1899-10-28
TIE AMERICAN ATfACHE
Difficulties of Our Military and
Naval Agents Abroad.
Complaints of the Failure of Con-
Gress to Grant Them Additional
to Defer to the Representatives
of Less Important Countries.

Four army officers have been detailed
during the present week to observe mill
tary operations in the Transvaal war. This
is taken as evidence of the War Depart
ment's desire TO keep abreast OF all gov
ernments in military matters, both as re-
CARDS the handling of large bodies of men
and the effect and value of certain types
of small arms and ordnance. The oppor-
tunity for studying these questions will.
it is believed here. be fully afforded by the
British army authorities, who will recall
the courtesies extended to their military
attaches by this Government in the Cuban
campaign. and to the naval attaches who
served with Admiral SIMPSONS fleet.
For many years the position of the Amer
lean military and naval attache abroad has
not been such as he should have held, con-
siderng the rank of this country among
| the nations of the world. according to
prominent army officer. This has been due
10 the failure of Congress TO grant addi-
tional rank to officers detailed TO this duty,
and the inability of the department 10 as
sign officers of sufficient rank TO hold their
/ own with the representatives of the little
| South American Republics or European
powers. Attaches are regarded according
| to their rank, and as this country has sell
dom sent any abroad with higher rank
than captains, they have usually been com
! PEELED on all occasions to defer to the rep
resentatives of less important countries.
Military attaches are compelled by the
positions they hold and the necessity OF
cultivating the acquaintance OF high
officials TO live we'll and often spend
their own money. They must entertain ana
keep in with the best society. In fact,
they must live up 10 their positions accord
ing 10 European notions, and this is a most
difficult task for any man with only the
pay OF captain or lieutenant. They mus;
procure information without their govern
ments being involved. and in these days of
military and naval development the work
is far from light.
The American attache is rot merely an
officer of the army or navy, but he is a
representative of the military power of his
| Government and as such is accredited TO
the United States Embassy or Legation in
| the country where he is assigned TO duty.
His business does not differ greatly from
that of commercial agent. who must stop
at good hotels and spend money literally to
hold customers for the goods he sells. His
travelling expenses are neaVy, Tor ne is eS-
pected to witness all ship launchings and
10 observe all armor and ordnance tests
which he is allowed to see. He must visit
the shipyards to watch the construction OF
big war vessels, and attend the reviews of
European armies. The attache must pay
his own bills, for the Government does not
defray any expenses he may incur except
under orders.
At these reviews and maneuvres military
attaches representing all foreign govern
ments are guests of the sovereign and are
accorded much attention. Although it does
not allow its attaches liberal sums for pro-
curing Information and to live as becomes
their station, this Government still man
ages to get hold of valuable information.
most liberal are Germany and France.
Some people imagine that a military at
tache is expected TO resort 10 all sorts o.
devious methods to obtain information, the
only requirements being that he shall no.
be found out. This is an absolutely inCor-
rect idea. The army officer sent abroad
performs all his duties openly. and makes
no attempt to get at secrets. The fats
which he may iegitimately gather are suf-
ticiently varied and valuable.
The duties of the naval attache are SINH
lar 10 those of the military attache. but
his work is often more difficult, owing 10
the unwillingness of foreign governments
to have anything known about the designs
of their warships and the development of
their ordnance.