New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-02-18
SLANDERING ATTACHES.
Kaiser Shoes His Disbelief in the
Stories Imputing Espionage.

Emperor William has put a quietus upon the
persistent rumors which have been current for
some time past IN military. naval and political
circles at Berlin. well as al court ana IN soc,e
" atributing espionage 10 the military attaches o.,
russia and Great Britain and TO the naval attschA
OF France, by comforting unusually high grade
OF the Order OF the Red Eagle upon the French
naval attache. Captain Count de sugny on the 90
csson OF the latter's recall This taken In con-
function with the fact that the Russian military
.ttache Colonel Chebeko stin retains his Mace as
& member OF the Kaiser's suite-a favor which
Russa's military attaches are alone 10 enjoy at the
Court OF Berlin-end that the Emperor still treats
him with unatered graciousness should dispose
.rectually OF the stories which have been current
As FOR the English military attache Colonel Count
Glechen, the very fact of his being a second
cousin OF the Emperor. a first cousin OF the En-
press. and treated up 20 the very moment OF his
departure for the United States by the imperial
couple near and dear kinsman and a
member OF their family is in itself sufficient to
n.ve him OF all imputation connection with the
meter.
When once. however. such stories get current, no
matter how slanderous and unfounded their char
scter. they always create unpleasant impress
sion especially with thoughtless strangers. and
she position OF the victims OF the calumnies is apt
70 become rather awkward and unpleasant. no mat
ter how marked the favor OF the ruler and OF the
-.nc,psl authorities Of the country in which they
are stationed Under the circumstances, it is not
astonishing that Captain Count de Suguy should
have asked 10 be relieved Of his duties naval
sttachs OF the French Embassy at Berlin, that
Count Gleichen should have secured his transfer
10 the post 81 military sttache OF the British En-
hassv n Washington and that Colonel Chebeko
should he about 10 return 10 Russia, his place as
military attsche at Berlin and Muscovite men,
be- o. the military suite Of the Kaiser being taken
by general who has recently been designated for
the post but who has not yet taken up his duties
INV A
The position Of naval attache IS one Of the most
extreme difficulty and deIicacy. the more as the
Official in question Is at the mercy OF every SIAN
derer. The very nature OF his duties compels him
70 keep close watch OF all military and naval de-
ve0unlents on the part OF the government TO whioh
he IS accredited. II he seems TO be too inquisiive
too eager obtain knowledge that the authorities
desire 10 withhold from him and from his govern
7aent he quickly renders himself objectionable, at
srv rate 10 the naval and military departments OF
the country in which he is stationed II on the
other hand he does not procure for his government
the information which II is anxious that he should
Obtain he IS apt be recalled as inefficient and
as having failed 10 fulfil the task assigned 10 him.
n one word, his military and naval career Is more
or less ruined The insinuatiOn Of espionage is so
easily made and so difficult disprove that every
naval and military attache no matter how careful
or how great his and deliCacy, is forever ex-
posed thereto. and once he has become the objec-
OF an rusdious attack OF this kind, the origin ana
authors Of which it is always difficult 10 trace ms
usefulness IN that particular country Is a an end
Il may be remembered that some twelve years
ago the American government was forced 10 recall
Captain BorUp, OF the most honorable ana
capable officers OF It's army, under circumstances
such as these from Paris. and there is hardly an
embassy OF first class power that has not had
similar troubles IN connection with its military and
naval attaches In fact, 70 such an extent is this
the case that the question has often been mooted
as 70 the policy OF abolishing naval and military
attaches altogether. This is, however, going TOO
far. Probably the best way OF solving the difficulty
g that adopted nowadays by America, which
changes her military and naval attaches at such
short intervals that they have no time TO become
the victims Of calumny They have, indeed hardly
had time 10 settle down TO their duties before they
are gone again BIT their successors take up the
work 3ust where their predecessors have left II, and
~ THAI way there Is interruption in the con-
tlnul-y Of what Is known the service Of in
formation"