The Washington herald., 1907-07-13
SEEKS NEWS OF"SPY"
Japanese Embassy Makes In
quiry at State Department.
NO REPORT RECEIVED HERE
War Department Notifies Secretary
Adee that Nothing Official Has
Been Heard Regarding Alleged
Capture-COunseIOr MiyaOka Is SO
Informed-RumOr Discounted.

Tsunejlro Ahyaoka. counselor Of the
japanese Embassy. yesterday called
upon Acting Secretary Of State Adee to
ascertain if the department had learned
anything regarding the alleged capture
Of a japanese spy at Fort Rosecrans.
Mr.. Adee directed an inquiry TO the War
Department concerning the matter, and
was informed that the War Department
had received no report of the alleged
capture, and had no knowledge OF the
matter. Mr. Miyaoka was SO informed
The War Department positively re-
fuses 70 become excited over the report.
II such an arrest was made at Fort
.Rosecrans. or there was any incident OF
the character described. Mai. GetChen,
in command at Fort Rosecrans. would
make a report Of it TO his department
commander, Gen Funston. at san Fran
cisco. Such a report would most likely
under the present circumstances, be made
by mail and in due course Of time. which
might be several weeks, the department
commander would report it to the War
Department.
As a matter Of fact. however, the
officials Of the War Department have been
expecting just such story as the one
from san Diego for several weeks. 1t Is
stock story with the department, and boos
up now and then, whenever there IS any
talk of trouble or a foreign war.
Regarded as old Friend.
II Is so familiar 10 the department that
it is almost regarded as an old friend.
Not long ago the department heard the
story that spies had been making sketches
Of the defenses of Manila. Just what the
defcnses of Manila are the War Depart
ment would like 10 know.
AS a matter Of fact, even if the story
OF Jap making sketches Of Fort Rose
Grams is true. such an act constitutes no
criminal offense. There Is no law pro-
hibiting the making of photographs Of
defenses. This question has been decided
by the War Department. In time OF
war a commanding officer might take
whatever action he saw fit with a person
caught making sketches or photographs
of Notifications. and do so as necessity
of war. In time Of peace, however, the
most that could be done would be 10 order
the offender off the reservation for tres
pass. and confscate his papers.
During the Spanish-American war a
question arose in san Francisco over the
fact that a citizen on his own ground
took photographs of the Golden Gate de-
feases. but il was held that nothing
could be done IN that matter even in
time OF war although the recommenda-
ton was made that the photographing OF
defenses should be made a statutory Of
tense. No action. however, was ever
taken by Congress in the matter.
so law Regulating Matter.
An order exists in the department for
bidding the making Of sketches or the
taking of cameras into fortifcations, but
there is no law prohibiting either.
Army and navy officers say no surprise
would be. occasioned if it were learned
that the japanese have in their possession
a somewhat detailed knowledge Of the
interior of our Notifications. 1t is an
open secret that our own military and
naval attaches throughout the world are
seeking information similar to that
which the Japanese endeavor 90 set IN this
country concerning our defenses. The
opinion was expressed yesterday by a
prominent naval officer that our good
friend England doubtless has about as
thorough an understanding Of our coast
defenses. their location, equipment, and
capacity, as we have ourselves. 1t is a
part Of the duty of military and naval
attaches 10 get all the information OBJ
tainable regarding the warlike prepara-
tons Of other ions, even though we are
at peace with all the world.
One of the reasons Why we have no law
prohibiting the sketching and photo
graphing Of Notifications may be the fact
that we are endeavOring TO obtain the
same kind of information that the Jap
anese are believed to be seeking in this
country.