The Washington herald., 1909-06-13
KEEPING WAR SECRETS
Government Always on Alert to Learn Plans
Of Rival Powers
By RUDOLPH DE zAPP.

By RUDOLPH DE ZAPP.
Perhaps the most difficult secret 10 keep
= one relating 10 any new gun or any
other weapon OF war. There is practically
no such thing as secrecy in such matters.
Almost before a government has settled
upon a new weapon IT'S details are known
IN every war ONCE In Europe. People
have the haziest sort OF an idea, ap-
parentiy. OF the duties o. the officers who
serve on the military and naval board
in Washington. They do many things
besides planning strategems. invasions,
and the Ike, but one Of their main
labors IS the making OF preparations 70
thrash some country which At the same
time is making preparations 20 thrash as
Japan knows all about the American sea
board. the Philippine Islands. and all
about Samoa and Guam and Alaska ia
pan knows. with her numerous efficient
spies in this country. how many ships We
have. how many guns they carry. what
their target records are, and, IN fact, al
the other things that 4 IS 10 the adTan-
tage Of q country 20 know prior 20 enter
ing upon hostilities with another country
What is true OF Jspan's knowledge is
true OF the knowledge OF France, Italy,
England. Germany. ana the rest
Moreover. II one could get into the in
ner- chambers OF the war and navy de-
partments Of the countries mentioned and
were not denied access 10 the secret
drawers OF the steel-Ined vaults he
would find there neatly drawn plans for
offensive operations against the United
States OF America These plans would
show our weaknesses and our strengths,
with particular attention paid 10 the
weaknesses
Now the reverse OF this matter IS true
Let a japanese. or an Engllshman. or a
Frenchman or a German, or a man of
any other great power 60 his way. Il he
can, 70 the inner places in our fighting
departments. and there he VIII find the
best-laid plans OF army officers and naval
officers for the thrashing OF his country.
II IS needless 10 say that the officials OF
all the war departments o. earth plan 70
thrash the other fellow. taking no thought
OF the possibility of being thrashed them
selves That Is left for the development
of Individual battles. Whel the admiral OF
the general figures out when defeat looms
how he can best make his getaway with
least loss of ships or men
There IS one thing which has 20 be sue
cessfuIiy guarded That is the provisions
OF q secret treaty. Such a treaty IS usu-
ally IN print before the most alert re-
porter has nosed out its existence. The
4 precautions observed are mainly those OF
employing a very large number OF print
ers. who each SCI Up a few lines only.
over 30 men were employed IN printing
! England's original secret treaty with
Japan.
Undoubtedly Germany takes more pains
70 preserve her military secrets than does
any other great power, and Is more sue
/ cessful IN doing so. A number of years
ago an American manufacture Of gun
cartridges was requested 10 give an eX-
pert opinion upon a certain cartridge
making machine which the German gov
eminent thought OF purchasing Accus-
toned 10 the comparatively free and easy
methods Of British and American navy
yards and arsenals. he was much amazed
/ az being met at the gate by a strong
guard He was then blindf0lded and led
/ through various passages 20 a little room
where the machine stood. The guard
never LEFT him. and before ne went away
he vas again bundfoIded and led OFT by
the hand Such precautions are almost
unknown IN other countries
We have ali heard Of Lord DUndonsld' S
] famous secret war plan. which. at the
time OF the Crimean war. would. II was
I said. annihilate CrOnstadt and Sevast0pol
IN four hours, but which was CONDEMNED
/ BY a committee as ~inhUman, though in
/ faIlible.~ Not long ago an Australian
made a remarkabl- invention evidently
OF a similar nature 20 that OF Lord Dun
/ dOnald's, for q competent expert has said
that Il would turn the balance in a war
/ between two powers Of equal strength
Seldom. Il ever. have such precautions
| been used 70 preserve secrecy Only four
! persons-the inventor. the war Office ex-
pert. and Two Others-knOw the details Of
the appliance. and every plan OF model
was destroyed before the inventor left for
Lcndon. Before he sailed the most stria-
gent conditions were imposed upon him.
he was not 10 smoke cigars. drink alco-
/ hol. venture on deck after dark. or speak
TO a stranger. especially 8 lady.
That these precautions were not unWar-
1 ranted is proved by the fact that no fewer
than five secret service agents were
Swallowed BY the Sydney police. and that
6ecoy plans and sketches placed ga a
private safe were mysteriousIy stolen.
The Australian inventor was met AT Ply
mouth and taken straight 20 London and
Lord Roberts We may expect 70 hear
more OF his invention whenever the next
war breaks out. unless Germany has dis
covered the secret, which would neutral
! ize England's possession. and use Of the
same should she ever contemplate enter
ing upon warfare with the Kaiser's en-
pire.
The maxim which tells that silence is
golden often errs on the side Of accuracy.
Cor some secrets. the market value Of
which runs well into thousands. are
owns ~ poor men whose wages do no,
induce any little attentions on the part
/ OF the income tax collector. This is
especially the case with government sec
rets On the Thames marshes. for in
stance. there IS a small cottage which
hides the secret Russia offered e40000 for
q number OF years ago. namely. thar con-
4 cerning the situation OF the submarine
mines which guard the metropolis The
cottage is stationed among dozens OF sim
liar structures. and FIVE men. who go 60
and from their daily work Ike ordinary
beings. alone know which IL Is and how
| tne electric sWitcnboard u contains can
be so manipulated as 10 sink a powerful
( feet IN ten minutes Either OF these
trusted servants could sell his secret for
fortune without the slightest difficulty.
and yet-5s content 70 toll for a pound or
two 8 week and preserve an unbroken
I silence.
At a certain seaport on the east coast
Of England there lives a grocer who could
let his premises 70 a European power az
a rental OF thousands a year II he chose
! The raason fo- tlls Is that aaInlrlnc hls