Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1914-12-29

DIlllSl T~1eduQudTLeIS, FRANCE, DtC
28.-Reconnaisance by %aeroplane OF
otherwise is the most direct and prob
ably the quickest way Of obtaining
news of the enemy, but the use OF
spies is still most to be relied upon on
modern warfare.
This is the conclusion of the Brit
ish eyewitness" at the front, who
devotes the greater part of the &C
count he dispatches to England to.
day to a discussion OF spying. He di-
vides the methods of obtaining in
formation Of the enemy's plans OF
movements into three groups. They
are broadly he says, Reconnaissance
whether it be by cavalry, infantry, or
both, by motor cycle or aircraft; the
employment of spies or, as they are
more pleasantly called, agents.; and
the collection of such information as
can be gained from an inspection OF
the uniforms worn by the dead or by
prisoners and from the papers carried
by or the cross-examination of the
latter.
1.-The employment of agents is on
OSCooIO1 thS AlooJ NlloACoC1C way IA
which intelligence can be gained, and
at it's best it furnishes a broader basis
upon which to build than the others.
The work of such persons does not
always depend on the accuracy OF
vision Of an individual, which is
very variable quality, but is often es-
tablished on statements of facts pro-
duced with the greatest care by the
enemy for his OWn USE
1t is a slow method, however, the
account goes on to say, as it is neces-
sary to transmit the information OBJ
tanned through devious channels.
Reconnaissance" he adds, sis the
most direct and probably the quickest
way of obtaining news of the enemy.
1t is not uniform, however, in amount
or quality, because it generally de-
ponds on the quickness of eye and
power Of appreciation of some scout
or observer watching from a dis
lance; and it is likely to be affected
by atmospheric conditions.
LASTLY comes the third method
mentioned. If a prisoner gives away
information either through stupidity
or from a desire to curry favor and
to better his lot a good deal may he
attained at one bound. But this ap-
plies chiefly to the information given
by officers, who are not very often
captured and are, moreover, not in
the habit of imparting valuable news.
A soldiers knowledge of what is 60
ing on on his own side is compare
lively limited. Communications from
prisoners, also, are to be accepted
with reserve In the direction of iden-
LITIGATION the activity of an intelli-
gence section is largely confined to
the examination of the badges or
equipment worn by the dead and by
prisoners. The personality of the in
dividual Of course has no military
value; but the identity discs and eff
fects of the dead are carefully guard
ed for eventual return to their gov
ernme1t. The examination of letters,
diaries and orders also claims a great
deal of attention. Newspapers are
rarely of value, because no one gov
eminent allows current details of the
nature sought, to be published lby the
press. On the other hand, soldiers
diaries and letters are often indis-
Greet in the extreme, for the writer's
in describing the physical condition
of the men often unwittingly betray
the state of their morale, and in re.
cording their impressions of the Ell
fects produced by the enemy's rifle
fire or the havoc. wrought by his ar
tillery quite i%nnoce1tly give away
valuable information as to where the
shoe pilches.
"Since the composition Of the larger
formations of all armies is known, it
is possible, except in those cases
where sweeping changes are made
during a war, to extract vital infor-
nation from the connection Of even a
single soldier killed or captured at a
certain spot with a certain battalion.
The result of ascertaining that this
battalion was at that point at a given
time may lead to the first suspicion
that a much larger formation to which
that battalion belongs is not some
where else where it's presence has
been assumed. The possible sigaifi,
canoe Of the results of such a discov-
cry when c~orroborated is obvious.
This explains why the Identification
Of units with localities by means OF
accoutrements, badges, etc., takes so