The Washington herald., 1915-03-25
FAXED MESSAGES
|. LED TO RECALL
U.S.. Military Attache at Ber-
lin Was Imposed Upon by
Somebody.
PLOT WAS DISCOVERED
They Hoped to Confuse Kaiser's Enc
mics. but Only Result Was to
Have Him Returned Home.

The facts regarding the sudden recall
OF Maj. George T. Langhorne from his
post as military attache at Berlin were
obtained here yesterday and are present
ed herewith They explain why admin
istration officials made a mystery OF
the case.
Maj. LIanghornc was recalled because
1t was discovered that persons in Ger
many were sending out unauthorized
dispatches over his name. Astounded
by this discovery. and not desiring to
raise any embarrassing questions with
the German government. the authorities
here decided the best way to deal with
the situation was to recall Mai. Lang
horne at once. and endCavor to keep the
matter from becoming generally known
The situation was the more delicate be-
cause the false dispatches credited by
persons in Germany TO the American mill
tary attache dealt not only with military
operations. but with political and diplO-
matte Developments in Germany. Natu-
rally, emanatng from German sources,
they presented the German situation in
a most favorable light. and disCredited
on the other hand, the achievements of
Germany's enemies Being signed with
the name of the American military at
tache, however. they bore the appear
and wholly competent military observer.
The intent seemingly was that these
dispatches should fall into the hands of
Germany's enemies and mislcad them as
to the German operations and develop
mentS. The dispatches did come to the
attention OF France and England. but
with result wholly UNINTERRUPTED by
those who perp"trated the unauthorized
messages. That is. they led to the dis
covery Of the plot and its abrupt termi-
nation by the recall of Mai. LanghUrne.
ShOwered with Attentions.
For a long time Map. Langhorne was
not permitted to see anything of con-
sequence about the German opera
tions. When the military authorities
did begin 10 show him what was GO
ing on, however. they overwhelmed
him with attentions and Courtesies.
He was taken about TO all the battle
fronts and every facility was provided
for him in regard to getting his re-
ports back to the United States
Since the cutting of the German
cable. a large part of the communiCa-
tion between Germany ana the United
States has been by wireless. Mai.
when he pcy.n to have
something to report regarding the
operations in the war zones, placed
his dispatches in the hands of the
German authorities who. naturally.
control all Communications in Germany
at this time, and they were forwarded
to the United States by radio
Some of these dispatches were sent
in plain language and when sent by
radio were. of course, open to all the
world, SO to speak.
This fact is what made it possible
for advantage to be taken of Mai
Langhorne by persons in Germany
X moving that his dispatches were be-
ing sent by radio and in plain Ian
suage. it was simple matter to file
messages over his name, with the GER
tainty that they would come to the
attention of the censors in British and
French wireless stations. Consequent
~. mingled in with the bona fide Lang
horne dispatches were messages ap-
Darently calculated to disturb the
allied governments as representing. TO
all appearances. the judgment of u
neutral observer as to operations on
the battle fronts and the situation in
Germany. Though eventually French
and British suspicious were aroused,
hey made no formal representations
10 this government.
Tho scheme is understood to have been |
exposed through a ridiculous blunder |
hhH' III dhur'SSlilS one OF the 1alSc nlS- |
patches. 1t was addressed TO War Col |
eGe. Annapolis |
This Immediately attracted attention on |
his side Of the Atlantic. for there is no |
Var College at Annapolis. and never |
has been. either of the army or navy. 1t |
$. however. the site of the Naval ACad- |
any. and hence might we'll become as
'ociated in the mind OF a person not over
'amlliaT with the United States or with
he armed forces of the American gov
.rnment. II was unthinkable. however.
hat Mai. Langhornc could possibly have
made such an error
This mistake led TO an investigation and
soon the whole thing was disclosed.
While the British and French govern
nents rcfraincd from making any repre-
TO the United States govern
nent on tn" subject there is some reason
o believe that officials of those govern
nents played part in opening the eyes
# the United States government to what
vas going on.
AS soon as tho truth was learned, |
pparently it was felt that to call the
natter to the German governments at
ention would raise very embarrass-
ng questions. There was nothing to
how that the Berlin government had
ny knowledge of what was going on,
nd for this government officially to
make any inquiries would have an I'M
leasant effect. 1t was decided, there
ore. to recall Maj. Langhorne without
nythinG being said, and this was
one forthwith.
There is no disposition here to hold
he German government in any way
esponsible for the use by individuals
Z Maj. Langhorne's name.