The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-11-13

Supposed Traitor Has Disclosed In
formation About "a New Gun.

WASHINGTON, Nov. I2-The French
ambassador has, thus far, given no Official
recognition to the publication that an
agent of the War Department has placed
at the disposal of the board of f0rtiflca-
lions the secrets of the new French field
gun. 1t can be stated positively that the
French charge d'affaires, M. Thiebauf,
will take no initiative in the matter. The
publication has come TO his attention un-
officially, but 1t is not usual TO take cog
nizance OF such publications, beyond for
warding them as a matter OF Information
to the proper authorities. Naturally, how
ever. this particular publication has
aroused great interest, and not little
surprise, although the French officials are
careful to refrain from the slightest ex-
preston of their personal views on the
subject.
The washington correspondent OF the
Chicago Record says: HAS the French
republic another Dreyfus case? This Is
the question which is being asked in WASH
ington as a result of the publication OF
information that an agent OF the United
States War Department has secured such
exact and detailed knowledge Of the con-
struction Of the new French field gun az
production OF that gun COR the govern
ment OF the United States. French fell
artillery is admittedly ahead of that ~
any other government I'm the world. For
several years there have been important
features about the French field guns and
their carriages which have been succeCs-
fully kept from the other powers. Ii was
on charge of having revealed TO Germany
OF this gun that Captain Dreyfus was
found guilty and sentenced to imprison-
ment on Devils island.
cit was with genuine surprise that the
representatives of foreign governments
and the Washington public generally
learned this morning that the board OF
ordnance and fortifcations I'm the War
Department believed that they had secured
enough information TO enable them To
tuild practically the same gun as that
used by the French field artillery. IL was
equally surprising that the War Depart
ment had allowed this Information TO be-
come public. but no one was moro sur
prised at the publication than were the
high officials OF the department.
What course the French government
will adopt in the matter no one here
knows. No fault can be found with the
government OF the United States for ac-
cepting the information that has been
offered The several civilized governments
maintain military and naval attaches "a
the capitals Of other powers for the ex-
press purpose Of learning all that is pos
sible about the ornaments OF the coua-
tries 10 which they are accredited. The
French government learns I'm this way all
that is made public i'm the War and Navy
departments In Washington, and IL is quite
probable that the French attaches have
from time. 10 time learned details that the
authorities of this country have wished TO
keep secret.
IF the secret of the French field gun has
actually been revealed to the United States
il is quite certain that the French gov
eminent will endeavor TO find out the leak
in their own country. just the War De-
partment may endeavor 10 find out how
the story OF Saturdays action OF the board
OF ordnance and fortihcations became
public here. but it is possible that France
will never make any Inquiries OF this gov
eminent in the matter. The French gun
is of the same caliber as the American
weapon. a good point with the ordnance
experts. who must consider the question OF
ammunition. but its velocity Is higher and
its rate OF fire is considerably greater"