Daily Arizona silver belt., 1907-12-14
THE GUARDING OF SECRETS
Governments Take Great Pains to Keep
 Them From Leaking Out,


 Perhaps the most difficult secret to keep is one relating to any pew gun or other weapon of war. There is prac- tically no such thing as secrecy in, such matters Almost before government nas settled upon a new weapon it's de- tails are known in every war office in Europe. Our new naval quick-frer, for instance. Spies stole the documents re- lating to it, and every particular has been for year past in the hands of our chief rival.
 When MT. Louis Brennan, of gyros- cope railway fame, first invented the torpedo which bears his name, our gov ernment paid fl20,oo0 for his inven- tion. The most extraordinary precau- tions were taken to prevent the details of the new torpedo from becoming public property. Each portion of the | machine was made in separate shop, and the workmen were searched both on entering and leaving the shop. The various parts of each torpedo were assembled by Mir. Brennan and his partner. Yet, even so, it is fairly certain that foreign powers were not very long in ignorance of the special secret of the torpedo.
 There is one thing which has to be successfully guarded. That is the pro visions of secret treaty. Such a treaty is usually in print before the most alert reporter has nosed out it's existence. The precautions observed are mainly those of employing very large number of printers, who each set up a few lines only. Over 200 men were employed in printing our original secret treaty with Japan.
 Undoubtedly Germany takes more pains to preserve her military secrets than does any other great power, and is more successful in doing so. About three years ago an American manufac- turer' of gun cartridges was requested to give an expert opinion upon certain cartridge making machine which the German government thought of purchas ing Accustomed to the comparatively free and easy methods of British and American navy yards and arsenals, he was much amazed at being met at the gate by strong guard.
 He was then blindfolded and led through various passages to little room where the machine stood. The guard never left him, and before he went away he was again blindfolded and led out by hand.
 Such precautions are almost unknown in other countries.
 We have all heard of the great Lord Dundonald's s famous "secret war mean war, would, it was said, annihilate Cronstadt and Sevastopol in four hours, but which was condemned by a com mittee as "inhuman though infallible "
 Quite recently an Australian has made a remarkable invention, evidently )f similar nature to that of Lord DundoRald 8, for competent expert aas said that it would turn the balance in a war between two powers of equal strength. Seldom, if ever, have such precautions been used to preserve sec. reey.
 Only four persons-the inventor, the war office expert, and two others lnow the details of the appliance, and every plan or model was destroyed be fore the inventor left for London. Be fore he sailed the most stringent con. ditions were imposed upon him. He was not to smoke cigars, drink alcohol, ven ture on deck after dark, or speak to stranger, especially a lady.
 That these precautions were not un- warranted is proved by the fact that no fewer than five secret agents of foreign powers were shadowed by the Sydney police, and that decoy plans and sketches placed in private safe were mysteriously stolen.
 The Australian inventor was met at Plymouth and taken straight to Lon don and Lord Roberts. We may expect to hear more of his invention whenever the next war breaks out.-Pearson s Weekly.