Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1907-03-16

y
three short steps to the inner sanctum
Of the White House. Col Cheney"
said the calm brown-eyed, smooth
faced man advancing with outstretch-
ed hand. "Mr. President" replied
Cheney, taking the preferred hand.
"Sit down, colonel" said the presi-
dent. A cigar was lighted and the at
mosphere soon lacked restraint.
They talked for nearly two hours.
The president unfolded all his plans
and ideas. Information was wanted.
Information of governmental the
nayy-of the army-Of everything of
interest other nations were doing.
Particularly, Col Cheney" said the
president in closing, Edo | want infor-
nation OF Russia. That's a big coun-
try and there is a great feeling of
unrest there. 1t is rumOred the army
is disloyal, the navy ready to rebel
and the peasantry ready to rise in
their wrath. And I fancy you will
have the greatest difficulty in obtain
ing this information in Russia, be-
cause they are so strict with foreign
ers, especially Americans. But
think you can do it."
''Mr. President" said Cheney quiet
ly but earnestly, I'll find out what
you want or die trying" and he meant
every word of it.
Look out for their Third section
I've heard it's pretty alert, colonel"
"All right, sir, I'll keep my eyes and
ears OPEN"
A short time later Col Cheney
again stood in the presence of the au-
gust secretary of state. The secre-
taries of war and navy were also there
by appointment. 1t was after dark,
and the clerks had left the old build
ing when the conference broke up.
Cheney had all his passports, financial
papers and instructions. The instruc
tons were verbal; his passport was
made out in the name of James E.
Bradley, journalist. At certain places
in Europe and Asia, United States am
bassadors and consuls would have
funds for him. He was TO spare neither
time nor expense-the government
wanted information-espe from
Russia. Cheney had week in which
to settle his affairs in this country. A
day later he was in Chicago and con-
fided only to Guthrie and Lonergan,
where he was going.
A swift steamer sailing from New
York carried Cheney on his first trip
abroad. Duty and pleasure were to be
h11f drt
Six days later he landed in South
ampton and was soon in London.
At this time the relations between
England and the United States were
very cordial and there was no need
of concealment or disguise, and
Cheney's seven days in the English
metropolis were very pleasant He
was entertained at the st. Georges
and Service clubs, and made thor
oughly at home in Scotland Yard.
His fame as detective had preceded
him, and Mackenzie and others made
his stay enjoyable. But when Cheney
sailed from Dover to Calais his name
became Bradley" and until he again
set foot in the United States he re-
tanned that nomme de guerre-becauSe
it was war. France held not much
startling military information; ST.
Cyr, the French military academy,
was behind West Point. Germany
was full of advanced military ideas,
and very carefully did Cheney inspect
the German machine. He saw a re-
view of 10000 troops, and the kaiser
was present. Cheney's report from
Germany was full of meat. He stood
on top of the Mont. ST. Jean on the
field of Waterloo, and gaZed down over
the plain to point where the en-
peror and Ney had a consultation on
the afternoon OF the memorable June
day when the shake of peasants
head caused the downfall of the en-
pire. To the left he saw the road over
which came Butcher. The sunken
road of chain was outlined; HOugo-
mort and Nivelles were there, too,
and Waterloo, the greatest field in
history! Cheney was much impressed
here and also at Brussels. where he
walked through the hall In which
there was a sound of revelry by
night"
Spain was visited, and Cheney
noted the entire lack of military prep
aratiOn. He went aboard war
ships with impunity. The Almi-
rante Oquendo, the Cristobol Colon,
and Maria Theresa were visited and
inspected. Later these ships were re-
duced to scrap iron by SIMPSONS feet
at Santiago. Portugal was suffering
from military dry rot. Italy was full
of activity from end to end. The
ever-present controversy between the
Vatican and state was apparently toI
gotten. Military verywhere-and for
what? The answer is still wanting
though the activity continues.
Austria offered a fair field for in
vestigation. The Austrian army was
great on show and parade, but as
practical military machine it wasn't
much. The navy Of Austria was nil,
although Cheney was much impressed
with the gondola fleet on the Grand