The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1900-11-16
FuRoRE IN FRANCE
Nationalist Press stirred Up over Al.
legcd Discoveries b. America ~
Military Secrets.

NEW YORK, Nov. ia speclai to
the Tribune from Paris says
The close Of the exposition. the re-
Assembling u parliament and The well
>ome In preparation for cN-Presiden,
Kruger cause a certain popular eTer-
vescence in Paris with the Nationalist
prcss Ernes, Judet IN the PETE Jour
nal ana Lucclan Millevoye in In Patrle
are working {, Tor all II is worth rs an
Instrument TO dlscredii the present ad-
ministra,ion.
This accounts FOR :he storm Of lndlg-
nation in the boulevard press about
tho sensational stories according 10
which the United States war DEPART
men; obtained through is az Mt In
France complete knowledge Of the &C.
cret mechanism of the 7s-mIllimetre
field gun with which the entire French
hali artillery Is equipped. Their Il a
fresh outburst u the periodical spy
mania" and the sensational accusations
against the United States war depart
ment are accepted by the boulevard pa
pers as gospel truth.
on the other hand there !s the hest
authority for stating that neither al the
ministry Of war or the ministry Of for
elgn affairs Is the slightest Importance
attached 20 the reports in question.
II Is known that during the summer
and autumn four United stat ord
nance officers. besides Lieutenant Mott.
Of the United States artillery service.
our military attache here. were at the
request Of General Horace Porter. the
United States ambassador. given every
reasonable facility by the French .nlll-
tary authorities 10 obtain professional
Information although. as may readily
he understood. several demands. such
for instance az a request TO inspec. he
French smokeIess powder factory. were
politely refused.
Six field batteries supplied with the
Eew T-milllmetre gun took part in the
marsuvers at Chartres In September
and all the foreign officers present. In
Guiding Lieutenant Mott. were allowed
TO see the guns but not 10 minutely
inspect their mechanism. OF course full
reports wera made by the foreign Of
ficers, including ours. to their respec-
tive governments It must be noted,
however. that the standing instructions
10 the UriteI States military attaches
here from the war department are 10 re-
strict the quest for information to hon
est above-board methods.
The Petit Journal alludes to the case
Of Lieutenant, Borup. United States mil
!tary attache here in 1891. who was re-
called after being accused Of combining
with the military attaches Of Germany
and Italy to unearth French military
secrets. The Petit Journal states that
no one viii be duped by explanations
offered by the United States authori-
ties.
| Ah~ ~ AiAiN HIA W. iIb 1Hllilyhl y W.
ward the United States. although
It Is ferOciously bitter against NJ
Waldeck- Rousseau. General de Galllfet
and General Andre. the present minls-
ter Of war, for destroying the efficiency
Of the secret service branches Of the
general staff. the famous second bureau
which 1t considers the best safeguard
for preventing foreign governments
from obtaining possession Of French
military secrets.
NJ. Milleyoye in La Patrle says:
"The United states government. tC
which this important secret Of the
French field gun has been revealed, viii
no doubt defend itself from charges
Of completely with the spies or secret
agents who procured the information
but the evil nevertheless Is accom-.
plisned."
lie Patrie then asks:
who Is the second Dreyfus? Where
Is he? Where does he hide? Who
knows him? Who win denounce himT
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RANNER QAIVE