The Greeneville daily sun. (Greeneville, Tenn.) 1918-1920, 1920-08-07
Charges American
Got Military Maps
BY HENRY W. KINNEY

United Press Staff Correspondent J
TOKYO, July 10. (By Mail. 1.-THE
arrest of Tsunanoru Oyama, young
member Of one Of Japan's very high
est families, on a charge Of having
sold military maps to an American,
who III turn handed them over to "a
certain embassy" as the venacular
press carefully expresses it, has
caused considerable CONSERVATION in
official circles as well as with the pub
lie in general, although the matter is
at present yelled in the mists Of Off
cial secrecy.
Young Oyama is nephew of the
late Field Marshall Prince Oyama, one
of Japan's foremost statesmen of
modern times and member Of the
Elder statesmen group, which is vir-
tually the ultimate power in the coun-
try. The young man is also cousin
to Prince Oyama, the present head Of
this great family, ard his prominence
makes the incident especially inter-
esting, as well as the fact that, while
no direct charge has been made
against the American embassy, the
accounts Of the affair take pains to
veil their illusions so thinly that no
room is left open to doubt as to which
embassy is referred to.
1t Is stated that the young man was
with the 14th cavalry regiment when
it seized Habarovsk in August, 1918,
as a member of a surveying detail,
and that at that time he secretly took
possession Of about $50 maps which
had been in possession Of the enemy.
While in Siberia he is supposed to
have become friendly with certain
American and to have disposed Of the
maps to him, the military attache Of
the American embassy being, it is
said, the ultimate recipient of the
maps.
Several other young men have been
arrested as Oyama's accomplices, and
the authorities are now making a
thorough investigation of the affair.
1t is certain that considerable import
ance attaches to the matter, as is evil
dent from the fact that Oyama has
been arrested and as the gendarmerie,
which handed in the case claims that
it is made absolutely sure Of its
ground, before taking steps, owing
to the high connections of the young
man.
On the other hand it does not seem
quite plain why the American embas-
sly, or any other embassy, should pay
10000 yen which is alleged to be the
amount paid for the maps, for data
regarding Siberia, particularly as the
American forces have withdrawn
from that region and should therefore
take no great interest therein. 1t
therefore looks as If the maps may
be more important than has been CIV
en- out.
The vernacular press stated few
days ago that the foreign office had
been requested to take steps to secure
the arrest of the military attache.
Inquiry at the foreign office, how
ever, elected the information that no
such steps had been taken, and it was
added that a diplomatic official are
immune from arrest, no such action
could be taken, unless the country
involved consented thereto. The for
eign office officials were rather an
noyed that anything had been given
out at all about the affair. They
statedsthat the American charge DAT
fairs had called on the foreign min
lister and complained about the vari-
Gus statements which had been made
in the press, and as consequence an
investigation was made which brought
out that the gendarmerie had told the
story.
The press states That the authori-