The Fargo forum and daily republican., 1913-08-09
THE "SPY JOKE.

While the "scotching' is good let's
nail another of those common mis-
takes, says The Minneapolis News and
then continues:
This time it's the "spy" story, Jap
and German spies seeking out our
treasured national secrets.
A 2-cent stamp on a letter addressed
to the war department, the navy de-
partment, the department of agricul-
ure or the department Of commerce.
will bring any foreign Spy" more in
formation regarding this country than
he could gather by his own efforts in
the course of five or ten years.
The foreign government officer who
takes the trouble to make maps of, or
seek information about, this country Is
nothing less than a plain fool.
The facts that military command
er wants to know regarding country
he is about to invade are the best plac-
es to land on the shores of that coun-
try, the best roads to take to reach the
points he wishes to capture, the stu
alton regarding supplies for men and
animals. the strength of the military
forces opposing him, ETC.. etc.
Now how would an enemy of the
United States go about gettino the
most accurate information along these
lines?
From the geological survey he could
obtain complete detailed maps of every
section of the United States contain
ing every single object on the land
sCape.
From the coast and geodetic survey
he could secure information as to the
depth of water and harbor facilities
along every inch of the coasts.
The department of agriculture and
the Automobile Club of America would
furnish him with the most exact in
formation as to the character, general
condition and length of every mile Of
roadway on the American continent.
The bureau of manufacturers would
gladly give him every speck of inform
alton in its enormous files regarding
the manufacturers of food and supplies
anywhere on the continent.
The department OF agriculture and
the bureau of statistics of the depart
ment of commerce would inform him
as to the resources of any section of
the country or all of them.
The monthly army register would
give him accurate data as to the size
of the garrisons of every military post,
and a letter addressed to the militia
division of the war department would
bring absolute information as to the
strength of the militia of the various
states and the character of the train
ing they have received.
In order that none Of these data
might be out of date, all Of the depart
ments concerned are busily engaged in
revising their publications from week
to week or month to month to keep I'D
with the changes. And anybody who
wants the data can have them without
question.
The matter of getting information as
| to the arms, ammunition, equipment of
the army and navy would give equally
as small amount Of trouble. There is
a handbook published by the govern
ment for every single piece of artillery
or small arms used by it. These books
are gotten out in such quantities that
| 1t would be practically impossible to
prevent their falling into the hands of
| unauthorized persons.
An accurate description of every
warship as to its armament and arnor
! is published when the vessels are
launched. A semblance Of secrecy is
preserved regarding the plans for the
vessels while they are building, but
there is practically no way that those
plans can be concealed after the shin
has been launched and thrown open to
visitors.
| We don't make public Fairgrounds
of our Notifications, because they are
usually SO small that picnic parties
would be in the way. And. there is a,
fiction that no person is allowed to
I inspect them unless duly authorized.
But this is more Of a fiction than a,
fact. .,~
So what's there in this country for
a spy to do?