The Washington herald., 1915-03-24
.SECRECYSHR0UDS
ILANGHORNE CASE
u. S. Lips Sealed on Recall
of American Officer from
Berlin Embassy.
TOO DELICATE TO TALK
Secret Known to Diplomats of All Ma
lions. Is Indicated by
Developments.
TOO DELICATE TO TALK

Developments here yesterday served to
deepen rather than to lessen the mystery
with WHICH the administration Is at
tempting to surround the reasons for the
recall OF Mai George T. Langhorne. from
his post as military attache at Berlin.
There We're Indications that the facts ara
being concealed less for reasons Of state
than to avoid embarrassment.
II was admitted In official quarters that
for the present Mai Langhorne would
be engaged in preparing reports of his
observations Of the German war opera
tons. Th!s work he Will do In connection
with the War College and the general
staff
1t became definitely known. however.
that important as Mai. Langhorne's data
IS regarded. his reports on the results
OF the unusual opportunities afforded him
by the Germans for studies in the war
zones do not by any means cover the
case. II can be stated positively that
his departure was preceded by incidents
which the War and State Departments
have reasons OF their own for trying to
keep a close secret.
No Secret Elsewhere.
What Is being held a secret In admin
istTation quarters In Washington, how
ever. Is no secret elsewhere. There is
good foundation for the statement that
all the peculiar circumstances in the
LanGhorne case are known not only in
government circles In Berlin. London
and Paris. but also IN the diploma tic
corps In Washington. 1t may be stated.
further. that foreign officials are inclined
to take more satisfaction In the affair
than 90 officials OF this government.
Such evidence as/is obtainable here in
the case points strongly to the whole af-
fair having arisen In regard to certain
communications sent In Mai. Langhorne' s
name. Whether these communications,
said to have been sent by wireless were
actually written by Langhorne himself.
Is a point that has not yet been cleared
Up here. 1t is stated. however. that
victim OF the incident. and that, though
his recall became necessary, no blame or
discredit attached to him.
At the War Department the air Of mys-
terry and solemnity adopted by all those
having full knowledge OF the Langhorne
case vas even more noticeable than was
the case Monday. Langhorne was at the
department for a time yesterday. closeted
with the Chief of STAFF. In one quarter
the statement was made that the case was
too delicate to talk about
1t was established positively yesterday
that the British government did not make
any representations in the Langhorne
case. One rumor. which reached this coun-
try ahead Of Langhorne, had 1t that GER
tain OF Maj. Langhorne's communications
had been Of such a nature that when
they came to the attention Of the British
government the matter was promptly
brought to the attention Of Washington.
There is little doubt. however, that the
British government is fully informed
about the whole case, having acquired its
information. 1t is presumed, through the
picking up of non-coded dispatches sent
either through the censored telegraph and
cable lines of England or by wireless from
Germany. At any rate. the London gov
knows much more about the af-
fair than officials of the United States
are willing to disclose.