Omaha daily bee., 1914-08-19
NIPPON TEACHES
SECRECY IN WAR
Nations Of Europe Engaged in
Struggle Learn From 0rientals
How to Shroud Movements.
MYSTERY AROUND EVERYTHING
British Council besides Not to Al
low Any Correspondents 20
Accompany ExpeditionRry
Force

LONDON, Aug. 1s--while japan has
borrowed most OF it's military science
from Europe. It taught the west, in re-
turn. the enormous value of secrecy In
warfare. All the powers engaged In tho
European death grapple have learned that
lesson.
Reports from Belgium say that the Ger
man prisoners have no regimental insig-
MIA on their uniforms, and have been in
structed to refuse information az TO what
regiments they are attached In 1910. the
English newspapers gave fun accounts OF
the German and French regiments. where
they were and what regiments composed
each army. The commands and person
alities OF all the leading generals were
widely known.
over all these details, the armies en-
gagged in the war theater in western
Europe, except perhaps. the Belgian. have
folded shroud OF mystery concerning
the men who will play the greatest pa is
In the drama. The public knows almost
nothing about the comma nder-in-ch!ef of
the French army General Joseph X. G.
Joffre. Joffre is not an advertised gem
eral. Even the French people know less
about him than almost any man who ever
guided their military machine.
Matters of Gueaswork.
The present dispositions OF the COMBAT
ant FORCES, their movements and plans,
arc chiefly matters Of guesswork. Ex-
perts can only surmlse that during the
oppressive darkness OF the past fortnight
or mobilization and of suspense for
Europe, the four great armies OF Ger
many, France. Austria and Russia have
been moving into positions which those
who have theorized on the subject hay.
expected.
The great mobilization appears TO have
proven one fact--that even the German
organization. put to the test under real
war conditions. could not move as fast
as expected. The great. swift battle ON
the French frontier. which was due last
week has not yet begun, so far as is
known or perhaph 1t may be beginning
today
Not even the Japanese were able to
cover their movements with such a cloud
OF secrecy as the millions Of men now
marching. on the greatest scale the world
has ever known
The censorship, which has been drawn
around Europe except for a few outlying
neutral countries. IL chiefly responsible
for the success OF this up-to-date military
secrecy. No telegram. private or for
the newspapers, goes out OF any belllg-
erent country without passing under the
eye and the pencil OF a keen censor. Ger
many and Austria have almost sealed
the other usual means of communication
Discuss War More Freely.
The British newspapers discuss the war
moro freely than the continental papers,
but under the imperative request of the
war office they say nothing Of the move
ment OF troops or ships. The German
newspapers. according to reports. print
only. official news
The British army council has decided
not 10 allow any war correspondents to
accompany the expediuonary force for
tho present Some passes had been is
sued. but these were revoked.
In letter announcing It's decision, the
council says that the French army off,
cials also have decided not to allow cor
respondents TO accompany their forces.
II is understood that correspondents will
be asked to leave Belgium. Some are
already returning.
The Russian army will have no oorre-
spondents. The German staff Is known
strongly TO dlsapprove of them.