Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1910-12-20

at all times to seize upon and enlarge
any incident that seems to have even
a remote bearing on the relations be-
tween the Mikado's empire and the
United States, Is probably the easiest
to detect and Illustrate Of all the In
ternational secret agents at work In
this country and it's possessions. so
at least say the experts who have given
their time and labor to devisinG
schemes for outwitting these CRAFTY
gentry There is no country In the
world that has not a well organized
system Of gathering military informa-
ton, of discovering and recording
those secrets of state deemed vital 10
the interests of all countries. Whiie
an ardent frankness regarding the
strength. the armament and effec-
tiveness of all armies and navies seem
to exist among the family OF nations
II Is nevertheless true that each little
kingdom or republic has and carefuliy
e,,ards secrets as to resources, spe-
cial appliances, etc, which only De-
come public property through the
work of men employed to ferret out
lust such matters. The development
of the art of photography and its gen.
eral adoption as a pastime by peoples
of all climes and countries. has MADE
il increasingly difficult to protect these
military secrets. But the fact re-
mains. there are secrets. and they are
given every protection possible by the
nations that own them.
In only one country in the world Is
there no law against the publication
and sale Of all information relating TO
military and naval matters-the Unit
ed States. The other great powers
make the punishment of spies as
drastic as possible. The Dreyfus case
in France gives an excellent idea OF
the manner in which supposed secret
agent Is treated. Only recently ma
val spy was captured in Franco
man believed to have secured secret
naval plans. His punishment was as
quick, as sure and as severe as tnat
administered Captain Dreyfus. Ere
ouent sights in port towns Of Europe
are signs in several languages warn
ing tourists that no photographs may
be taken within certain limits. the
metes and bounds being carefully
stated. At Gibraltar. the English gov
ernment will not permit tourists to
land with cameras. Neither Will the
Japanese at Nagasaki. In fortified
towns. visitors are permitted only IN
certain specified districts. Beyond that
heavy armed guards bar progress.
Contrary to the general belief, the
military and naval attaches OF the
diplomatic corps are not in any sense
spies Of their governments. They are
assigned to duty for the purpose or
gathering in all the information re-
garding their professions that can be
obtained in a legitimate manner. The
slightest indication OF undue activity
on the part Of such officers will not
only secure their recall but make nee
essary most abject apologies on the
mart of the government to which they
claim allegiance The United States
government was called upon to severe
ly reprimand and recall one or lts
most brilliant officers a few years ago
because of his Jealous work in Eu-
rope while a military attache. He
came into possession Of some mfor-
nation of a valuable character which
he sent to Washington. The govern
ment to which he was attached heard
OF II and demanded his recall and an
apology, both Of which were promptly
forthcoming Because the prosecu-
tions of arrested spies in Europe and
the Orient are carried on in such
quiet manner, the public seldom hears
of them. But there are such prosecu-
tions and, as stated, the punishments
given are most severe. Every spy
knows this. but Is willing to take all
the risks as the pay he receives Is
usually great.
The first step after the arrest OF
spy is made is to present the tacts
to the government for whom ne Is
supposed to be working. That govern
ment with great promptness invariably
disclaims all responsibility for its al
legged agents work and usually repu-
dates him as a citizen. This permits
the offended country to do with the
prisoner as 1t will. 1t usually wills
to put him at hard labor in some re-
mote prison or prison colony. In ia
nan. the convicted spy is set to work
on the public roads heavily chained
to prevent all possible escape. The
usual sentence is fifteen years.
How different is the situation in the
United States, Any tourist can secure
practically all the information ne
wants about the armament and equip
ment OF the army and navy. The
newspapers, the government bureaus.
the magazines and public libraries are
at the disposal of the visitor. Military
attaches Of foreign embassies are well
come guests on board battleShlps.
American sailors and soldiers, espe-
cially militiamen, take pride in eX-
hibiting the latest and newest de-
vices. Application at the war depart
ment will produce maps, books, charts
tables and elaborately written eXpla-
nations of almost every piece OF equip
ment used in the two war branches Oh
=. the public service. The department
of agriculture. through its road bu-
reau. has a mass of statistics relative
to the roads and bridges in this coun-
try which are at the disposal of any
one who takes the trouble to address
the proper official. And when spy
is caught at his work in this country
not only can nothing be done with
him, but should he be subjected to the
slightest inconvenience through the
action of the authorities, he has the
right to enter suit and recover dam
ages. Officers of the government In
the Philippines have adopted the
scheme of quietly deporting people