The Lafayette advertiser. [volume] (Vermilionville [i.e. Lafayette], La.) 1865-19??, 1908-02-07
DIFFICULT TO KEEP
GREAT PAINS TAKEN TO GUARD
WAR SECRETS.
o. All the Great Powers, Germany 10
SAId to Have the FeWest Mill.
tary Leakases-Spies
Always at Work.

Always at WORK.
Perhaps the most difficult secret to
keep is one relating to any new gun
or other weapon OF war, says Pear
sons Weekly. There is practically
no such thing as secrecy in such mat
tiers. Almost before a government has
settled upon a new weapon its details
are known in every war Office in Eu-
rope. Our new naval quick-firer, for
instance. Spies stole the documents
relating to 1t and every particular has
been for a year past in the hands OF
our chief rival.
When Louis Brennan of gyroscope-
railway fame first invented the tor
pedo which bears his name our gov
eminent paid e12O,00O for his inven-
ton. The most extraordinary precau-
tons were taken to prevent the de-
tails of the new torpedo from becom-
ing public property. Each portion of
the machine was made in a separate
shop and the workmen were searched
both on entering and leaving.
The various parts of each torpedo
were assembled by Mr.. 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 n thing which has to be
successfully guarded. That is the pro-
visions of a secret treaty. Such a
treaty is usually in print before the
most alert reporter has nosed out its
existence. The precautions observed
are mainly those Of employing a very
large number of printers, who each
set up a few lines only. Aver 200
men were employed i'm printing our
original secret treaty with Japan.
Undoubtedly Germany takes mor
pains to preserve her military secrets
than does any other great power and
Is more successful in doing SO. About
three years ago In American manu-
hcturer of gun cartridges was re-
quested to give an expert opinion
upon a certain cartridge-making ma
chine which the German government
thought of purchasing. 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 a
strong guard.
He was then blindfolded and led
through various passages to a little
room where the machine stood. The
guard never left him. and before he
went away he was again blindfolded
and let out by hand.
Such precautions are almost I'M
known in other countries.
We have all heard of the great Lord
Dundonald's famous secret war plan,
which, at the time of the Crimean
war, would, it was said, annihilate
Kronstadt and Sevastopol in four
hours, but which was condemned by
Z committee as 'inhuman though in
fallible."
Quite recently an Australian has
made a remarkable invention, evidel.-
~ Of q similar nature to that of Lord
Dundonald's, for a competent expert
has said that 1t would turn the balance
In = war between two powers of equal
strength. Seldom, il ever, have such
precautions been used to preserve Sc
crecy.
Only four persons-the inventor, the
war ONCE expert, and two others
know 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 alco-
hol, venture on deck after dark, or
speak to q 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 we're Swallowed by the
Sydney police, and that decoy plans
and sketches placed in a private safe
were mysteriously stolen.
The Australian inventor was met at
Plymouth and taken straight to Lon
don and Lord Roberts. We expect to
hear mor Of his invention whenever
the next war breaks out.