The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-10-15
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
N4INTEN.tNCE or THE MONROE
DOCTRINE THE OBJECT.
General stan OF the Army to Send Onicers
TO south America TO Study Military
Conditions There ~ q Preparation
for War Involving the United states.

to South America 10 study Military
Conditions There ~ q Preparation
for War Involving the United states.
WASHINGTON, Oct 1.-THE General STAFF
Of the army has decided to send agents
into South America to study military con-
ditions there as a preparation for war in
yoving the United States which might be
fought in that part OF the world.
This policy is based on the conclusion that
the next conflict of the American Govern
ment will be for the maintenance of the
Monroe Doctrine. and it is in line with the
action OF the War Department before the
General STAFF was organized. The important
mission to Venezuela and to the Isthmus Of
Panama from which Capt. c. B. Humphrey
and Lieut. f. " ID. Murphy returned to
Washington yesterday, was undertaken at
the instance Of the War Department in
June. two months before the General Staff
law went into effect.
In following out the Department ex-
ample, the General Staff will conduct its
business of collecting data on much more
extensive scale, and to that end several
army officers now under instruction in the
Division of Military Information will start
for South American capitals before the
end OF the month. They will be accredited
as military attaches to the United States
legations in these capitals. The officers
who are to go have been selected from
among the younger men OF the General
Staff, whose membership comprises the
pick Of the army. All were chosen for Cen
eral STAFF duty on the basis of their efficiency
records alone. Not one OF them, it is said J.,
owed his preference to any political or
social consideration.
Behind the activity of the General STAFF
In studying military matters in South
America is understood TO be reason
more immediate than the mere opinion
that the maint enance Of the Monroe Doc
trine will be settled by force of arms in
that continent. 1t has cone to the knowl-
edge Of the authorities here that military
agents of European countries are Lusily
engaged in collecting information as to
the character of the roads, the country
generally. the food supply and other things
which it is important for a military COM
mander to Know in regard to his prospective
field Of hostile operations.
While the we'll established army stan
organizations OF Europe have been collecting
data OF this nature for many years in the
territory OF other great nations, they have
not heretofore devoted themselves to
Latin America. The awakening of their
interest in this matter is naturally regarded
adopts policies only after mature con-
sideraton and upon proper information.
II Is apparent that it must have more init
mate advices as to the purpose OF European
Powers in collecting South American mill
tary intelligence than the mere statement
that the work is being done.
OF course it would be absurd to suppose
that the General staff has jumped to the
conclusion that there Is danger Of trouble
in South America, in which European ma
tons will take part, for the sole reason that
military agents of these nations are oper-
atine in that country. Part OF the Gen
eral STATS multitudinous duties Is to study
political conditions abroad which affect
the United States.
It knows, as the Government generally
knows, that the trouble between Vene-
zuela and her European creditors has not
been fully disposed Of. and in the renewal
of complications through the failure OF
Venezuela, for example, to pay the OBJ
legations which she has pledged herself
to pay lies a danger which the men in
authority here have not lost sight OF.
Nor is this danger applicable only
10 Venezuela. The constant friction be-
tween other Latin-American countries and
the Governments Of Europe over debts
and Ill treatment Of foreigners and their
interests contains the elements Of clash
which might cause the landing Of Euro
pean army on South American. Central
American or West Indian soil.
1t would be unfair to say on the basis OF
the limited amount OF knowledge that has
gotten beyond the inner military circle that
a certain European nation has been par
ticularly active in obtaining information
about South America. But it is fact that
the suspicion existing here is centred or
that nation and there is reason to believe
that the plans which are being made fol-
future contingencies are directed mainly
toward it,
TWAS minated to-day that Capt .Humph-
rey and Lieut.. Murphy had brough,
from South America piece of important
news in addition to great quantity OF
purely military data. What this news was
could not be learned, And it never will
be known said one officer.