The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-07-13
ARREST OF The JAPANESE SPY
WAR DEPARTMENT Not ALARMED
on EXCITED OVER IT.

Hasn't Received Any Report ON the SubJecs
No Law Prohibiting Making NJ
sketches OF Defonces. ~ We Are Trying
TO Obtain Same Hin Of Information.
WAsHINoroN. July I2.-The Wal De-
partment refuses absolutely TO become
excited over the report from San Diego.
Cal, that a Japanese spy has been arrested
at Fort Rosecrans while In the oct Of maxi
ing sketches and taking photographs IL
the defences. No word has come TO the
Department In regard to the matter. md IL
has no information OH tho subject. II
such an arrest was made nj Fort Rosecrans,
or there was any incident Of the character
described. Major Gatohell. in command at
Fort Roseorans, would make a report Of
II to his department commander. Gen.
Funston. az San Francisco. Such "A report
would most likely under the present cir
cumstances be made by mail aud in due
course Of time. and IL would be- several
weeks before the department commander
would report it to the Wal Department
Az a matter Of fact. however. the officers
Of the War Department have been expect
ing just such a story as the one from San
Diego for several weeks. IL is "a stock
story with the Department and bobs up
now and then whenever there liz any talk
Of trouble or a foreign war 1t 10 10 familiar
to the Department that IL Ia almost re-
garded as an old friend. Not long ago
the Department heard the story that spies
had . making sketches Of the defences
of Manila. just what the defences OF
Manila are the Var Department would like
TO know.
As q matter Of fact, even II the story
OF a Japanese making sketches at Fort
Rosecrans Ia true such an act constitutes
No criminal offence. There is no law pro-
hibiting the making Of photographs Of
d~efenoes. This question has been le-
oided by the War Department. In time
OF war q commanding officer might talte
whatever action he saw 6t with q person
caught making sketches or Photographic
Of Notifications. and do 80 as u necessity
OF war. In time Of peace. however. the
most that could DO done would be to order
the offender OF q reservation for trespass
and contisoate his papers.
During the Spanish war a question aroec
in San Francisco over the fact that a citizen
upon his W ground took photographs Of
the Golde Gate defence, but IL was held
that nothing could be done in that matter.
even in time Of war, although the recon-
msndation was made that the photograph
ing Of defences should be made a statutory
offence. No action, however, Was ever
taken by Congress. An order exists ia the
Department f~orbidding the making OF
sketches or the taking OF cameras into
Notifications. but there Is no law prohibiting
either.
Army and navy officers say no surprise
would be accustomed il il were learned that
the Japanese have In their possession "A
detailed knowledge Of the in
terror of ohr Notifications. Ii Is an open
secret that our OWL military and naval
attaches throughout the world are seeking
similar 70 that which the jap !
anese try TO get in this country concerning
our defences.
IN opinion was expressed to-day by a
prominent naval officer thai our good
friend England doubtless has about as
thorough an understanding Of our coast
defences. their location. equipment and
capacity, as we have ourselves. Ii is a part
OF the duty OF military and naval attaches
TO get all the information obtainable re-
gsrding the warlike preparation Of other
nations. even though we are at peace with
all the world.
One OF the reasons why we have no law
prohibiting the sketching and photograph
ing OF Notifications may be the fact that we
are e~ndeavoring TO obtain the same kind Of
information that the Japanese are believed
to be seeking in this country.
Late this afternoon MIR. Miyaoka, counsel
lor of the Japanese Embassy. called on
Acting Secretary OF State Adee TO ascertain
IL the department had learned anything re-
garding the alleged capture of a Japanese
spy at Fort Rosecrans. Mr.. Adee directed
inquiry to the War Department concern
ing the matter and was Informed that the
Wal Department had received no report Of
the alleged capture and had no knowledge
OF the matter. MIR. Miyaoka was 30 in
formed.