The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-08-03
nY IA MAnoulsE nE rnNrrNoY

hf IL MAhQUtsE DE FOSTENOY.
~ Etf now ana again an announce
II ;Eent appears in the English and
L. american press that 1t has been
resolved TO dispense with the
services OF the silver Greyhounds."
or Kings messengers. ana the report
to that effect printed In the London
papers just, 70 hand, is on par with
otAers OF the same kind that have all
ready appeared on several occasions
{ during the reign, Of Queen Victoria
/ and on the Occasion of King Edward
TO the throne.
What is taking place is a wedding
out OF the corps. and the dismissal OF
tnose who have become superhuous
I vTf!s G sSSg became King. Edward
ms stays at Biarritz or on the Riviera
IN the spring. and at AIar!enbad in the
ttall his carly summer cruises in the
aiedieterranean. and his frequent visits
70 foreign courts. rendered q very
large Increase of the number of silver
greyhounds necessary, since the mon
arch mad. while abroad to remain IN
dairy touch with his ministers at home.
and communications were constantly
passing between himself and Downing
Street King George. however. does
mot care Cor foreign travel He has
no, been abroad slice his accession to
the throne q year and a half ago. and
does not intend TO leav1 the United
kingdom until he goes our to India In
November. Il he result is. that about
half OF the foreign service messengers
nave been eating their heads off IN
iidleness. for want Of something bet
rate of about $4,000 year ii has been
determined to get rid OF about so per
cent OF the corps. But THAT they can
be completely abolished. Is out of the
question.
that ef thor ssTeGs hSd been
rendered unnecessary by the develop
ment OF telegraphic communication
nrcr ..,,,
VIII not hold good. For there is no
cipher code used by any power OF
which the other governments do not
code has yet been invented which cam
not be deciphered by experts; by men
who devote their entire existence TO
This compels governments 20 avoid the
wires. where secrecy is matter OF
vital Importance. The mails are stu
more unreliable. the art OF opening
any trace, having been carried to al
most phenomenal perfection. From
this 1t will be seen that silver grey
hounds Will continue to remain indis-
pensable as long as there is any neces
slty for the transmission OF dispatches
OF SO confidential a character that the
disclosure of the secrets which they
contain might bring about, not merely
rupture of friendly relations, but
even war.
The silver greyhounds are so styled
because tnelr Dd0ge OF Office consists
of a. silver greyhound, surmounted by
an imperial crown pendant from n
red ribbon around their neck. The
badge they always carry with them,
goes Herewith Is usually dispensed
with. owing to the attention which 1t
attracts, and the marks which 1t makes
of the Kings messengers to designing
people. Indeed. the uniform is seldom
used, excepting In war times and then
only, within the frontiers OF one or
another Of the bell!serents
Although styled Kings messengers,
the duties of the silver greyhounds
are not by any means restricted to the
conveying Of messages 70 and from
rying dispatches of an Exceptionally
confidenti9l character between the
London foreign office and the various
British embassies and Legations
have stated above, salary of ST.
600 year. and an allowance of S.
day. In addition to expenses when
travelling: Their adventures in pro-
tecting their dispatches from theft or
destruction have furnished the theme
of n boundless number OF magazine
others not. But when IT is recalled to
mind how the, dispa tches in connection
with the Dreyfus affair, sent ny the
German embassy Mt Paris to Berlin. by
tiously opened. and their contents pho
tographed, during the trip from Paris
to the German frontier. It will be rea-
lized that the career OF a bearer of
government dispatches is not even In
these prosaic days, altogether without
an element OF excitement
Each foreign government keeps
permanent staff of men. connected
with Its Department OF Foreign Affairs
for the conveyance of dispatches which
cannot be sent over the wire or by
mail, On the continent of Europe they
are known as "Cnu,iers de Cabinet"