The Washington herald., 1907-11-04


members, Col Raspopoff. Of Russia, and
Capt. Ryan. OF England, left Washing
ton about a month ago. Their transfer
seemed ordinary diplomatic transfers, just
as Mai Koerner's does.
Yet there is a good story behind this
movement Of foreign naval and military
attaches. In fact. it means that repre-
sentatives from three great powers were
recalled and suitably Promoted-two mill
tary changes and one naval
The general stan Of the German army,
to which Mai. Koerner has been destined.
is an almost autocratic body. in that It
IS responsible only to the Emperor, and
the latters policy has been 10 select for
membership in il German officers who
may have had actual experience in for
eign army circles and have studied their
weaknesses as well as good points
The recall Of the other two attaches
was rather sudden. Capt. f. r. c. Ryan
was promoted 10 a vice admiralship In
the British navy. and Col Raspopon Is.
by this time. in charge OF one OF the
crack Russian regiments, presumably one
Of the Cars bOdyguard.
Col RaspopOff had been in this city in
his official capacity for four years. and
in that time he went away on leave Of
absence each year. taking with him and
leaving at St Petersburg a mass Of high
ly interesting information which brought
him, in exchange. this pointed promotion
pointed, according 10 general rumOr. be-
cause il is so different from the policy
Of the American government or this
point.
Scientific Diplomacy.
This foreign status OF scientific dipIo-
macy contrasts with the American
method. American naval and military
attaches sent abroad seldom receive es-
peciaI recognition after their recall. At
taches from this country who served
abroad in the last ten years have been
returned TO their former regiments. with
out appreciation Of their increased knowl-
edge Of militarism. notwithstanding this
knowledge is invaluable IN case Of war
fare, because II, makes practical the
known weaknesses Of the enemy
Beginning in 1857. some months before
the war against Spain was declared. at
which time the United States did not
pretend 10 maintain complete embassies
abroad, until after the war and up 10
the present day. there nave been count
less changes among the naval and mill
taTy personnels, and II promotion for
services rendered is a criterion. il would
seem at first hand that the foreign coun-
tries know more about American army
and navy matters than We do OF the
foreign.
Russia. Spain France. Germany. and
Japan We're represented here by attaches
in 1897. England. italy. and Austria were
without representatives. Spain had both
a military and naval attache. Russia had
Cen. Mertwago, who acted as military
and naval agent" a name that implies
many things. There We're six attaches at
Washington. compared with the following
Americans broad:
IirLt J. L. Chamberlain, army, Aus
trie-Hungary; Lieut.. G. T. LanghOrne.
army, Belgium; Maj. Sanford c. kellogg.
army. and Lieut.. W. :. Sims, navy.
France; Lieut.. A. ?. Niblack navy, and
Lieut.. Henry T. Allen, army, Germany:
Lieut.. John c. ColwelI. navy. and Capt
o. ~. Carter, army, England; Capt. Geo.
F. Scriven. army and Lieut.. Nibiack
Paris, Italy; Capt. Edmund Rice, army.
Japan; Maj. James II. Wheelan. army
Netherlands: Lieut. Sims Paris and Geo
l. Anderson, army, Russia: Capt. T. H
Bliss, army. and Lieut.. George /. Dyer
navy. Spain, making sixteen Offices in
fourteen representatives. OF the foregoing
list the only ones who achieved especial
fame or nOtoriety are Lieut. Sims. now
commander and general inspector Of guns
and target practice in the navy. and Capt
Carter, for misappropriauon Of funds at
Savannah.
The present German Ambassador, Baron
Won Sternburg, then counselor and plain
freiherr. was here. Undoubtedly the lat
ter achieved his rapid promotion by the
same method, and his value 10 his gov
ernment az present is ascribed to his pre-
vious knowledge Of America.
Changes in Personnel.
These additions were promptly met by
the United States. although its officers
were needed then at home. Changes in
the personnel We're many, and later
few notable additions were made. At
taches were sent to Austria. Brazil.
China, Peru. Portugal. and Russia. Why
attaches were maintained at such out
Of-the-way places, and none were sent
to Italy, Austria, or even little Belgium,
where a King reigns, is another mystery
Three years after Theodore Roosevelt
became President Of the United States
there seemed to be a change felt abroad
it was met with pointed re-
serve. Were the attaches appointed for
service. or Just TO give them a COM
Portable berth and positon-in short,
was it a social remuneration for friend
ship politically? The powers wanted TO
know.
Austria had no attaches, Argentine had
a naval man. France promoted to a ma
jorship Capt p. Vignal and continued
NJ. de FaramOnd de LafayjOIe as naval
attache. and now both these men are back
in France. the one with a high Office and
the other with a command. Germany had
two men, England no military aJtache,
Italy none, Japan had Col. Watanable,
army, and Lieut.. Commander Isam Ia
keshita, navy, both since withdrawn and
promoted. Lieut. Col. RaspopOff was sent
here that year and kept until a month
ago.
The Americans abroad were Lieut.. Com
mander Templin NJ Potts. navy. and
Capt Floyd W. Harris. army. Austria
Hungary. with the former attached to
Germany; Lieut.. Col c. c. March (Japan).
navy, and Capt. Andre w. Brewster,
army. China; Lieut.. Matthew E. Hanna.
army, Cuba; Commander Giles B. Harber, /
navy. and Capt T. Bentley Mott, army. /
France; Lieut.. Potts and Capt William
5. Biddle, army, Germany; Capt. Rich
ardson Clover. navy. and Capt. Edward
3. Cassatt, army. England; Lieut. Potts |
three embasSies), Italy: Lieut. Marsh, |
navy, and Maj. Oliver +. Wood, army, |
Japani Capt Brewster (China). Korea; |
Commander Harber (Franee), Russia, and !