The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-11-15
SPY MANIA.
It Has a Fresh Outburst in French
Political Circles.


New York, Nov. ia special to the
Tribune from Paris says:
The close of the exposition. the re-
assembling of parliament and the vel
come in preparation for ex-President
Kruger cause a certain popular effer-
vescence in Paris with the Nationalist
press, and notably Ernest Judet' in the
Petit Journal, and Lucien Millevoye, in
Ia Patrie. are working it for all it is
worth as an instrument to d1ScredlC the
present administration This accounts
for the storm of indignation in the
Boulevard press about the sensational
stories according to which the United
States war department obtained through
it's agent in France complete knoWledge
of the secret mechanism or the do-hliH-
metre field gun with which the entlre
French field artillery is equipped Ihere
is a fresh outburst of the periodical
Spy mania and the sensational accusa-
lions against the United States war de-
partment are accepted by the poule-
ward papers as gospel truth.
On the other hand, there is the best
authority for stating that neither at
the ministry of war or the ministry OF
foreign affairs is the slightest import
ance attached to the reports in question:
It is known that during the summer and
autumn four United States ordnance
officers besides Lieutenant Mott, OF the
United States artillery service, our mil
itary artache here, were, at the requeSt
Of General Horace Porter, the United
States ambassador, given every reason
able facility by the French military au-
thOrities to obtain professional 1nforna-
ton although, as may readily be IN
derstood, several demands, such, Tor IN
stance, as a request to inspect the
French smOkeless powder factory, were
polite1- refused.
Six field batteries supplied with the
new 75-milimetre gun took part IN the
naneuvers at Charities in September
and all the foreign officers present, IN
Guiding Lieut.. Mott, were allowed to see
the guns, but not to minutely inspect
their mechanism OF course, full reports
were made by the foreign ofncerS, IN
Guiding ours. to their respective govern
ments. 1t must be noted, however, that
the standing instructions to the United
States military attaches here from the
war department are to restrict the quest
for information to honest, above board
methods
The Petit Journal alludes to the case
of Lieut.. Borup, United States military
attache here in 1891, who was recalled
after being accused Of combining with
the military attaches of Germany and
Italy to secure French military secrets
The Petit Journal states that no one
will be duped by explanations offered by
the United States authorities. The ar
ticle shows no animOsity toward the
United States, although 1t is ferociously
bitter against NJ. Waldeck- Rousseau.
Gen. De Gallifet and Gen. Andre, the
present minister Of war, for destroying
the efficiency of the secret service
branch of the general staff the famous
second bureau, which it considers the
best safeguard for preventing foreign
governments from obtaining informa--
ton of French military secrets.
NJ. Millevoye, in La Patrie, says:
The United States government, to
which this important secret of the
French field gun has been revealed, will.
no doubt, defend itself from charges of
completely with the spies or secret
agents who secured the informal ton, but
the evil, nevertheless, is accomplished !"
La Patrie then asks:
who is the second Dreyfus? Where
is hep Where does he hide2 Who knows
him? Who will denounce him?"