Evening star., 1922-08-27

most slicient men in the service and
is particularly well qualified to direct
the work Of the o. N. I.
From the inception OF this division
Of the Navy until the present time
it has been the purpose to have naval
attaches abroad to collect informa-
ton, and the wisdom Of this plan and
the farsightedness of the naval au-
thorities is best shown by khe fact
that when war with Germany came
in April. 1917. the ONCE Of the naval
Intelligence department had a naval
attache at Berlin practically without
years No other government had .
naval attache there for anything like
this period. The British did not be-
gin seriously until about 1908, and
the information collected by officers
of this government proved to be OF
great benefit not only to this coun-
try but to our allies.
1t has always been the aim of the
naval intelligence to uBe only rep
utable business methods to secure
information and anything that bor-
dered on the gum shoe" method or
the trick mustache" or green
whisker stuff" has been avoided. The
Information secured by naval attaches
stationed at Berlin proved most valu-
able. Space win not permit giving
the names Of all the gallant officers
who served abroad, but let US, how
ever, mention Capt. Albert P. Nib
lack. who served at Berlin from De-
cember 80, 1911, to July l. 1918. He
afterward became the director of
naval Intelligence. Also Lieut.. Com.
Walter R. Gherardi. who succeeded
Capt. Niblack Gherardi stayed in
Berlin until February 10. 1917.
With the bringing out of war 1t Is
desirable to know as much as possible
of the enemy's plan of operation. the
composition and disposition Of the
naval forces, their condition as to
morale. food and supplies and finally
the actual movements Of his forces.
1t is necessary to carry on the
work of this branch of the service
day in and, day out, year in and year
out, whether at war or at peace, be-
cause there are literally thousands
of things that the government should
know about world conditions and
should know them before they actu-
ally happen. If possible.
X x5x
TN time of peace intelligence officers
on board United States vessels are
rather busy individuals and while
, to the layman they may appear to be
simply having a pleasure cruise they
! are indeed industriously working for
| the good of the government. Another
peace-time pursuit Is the studying OF
codes, for in time of war enemy mes
| sages are sent in cipher. and they
| must be deciphered by the art OF
code breaking" and code breaking
| is an art that requires diligent appli-
! cation. constant study and resource
| fulness. Much credit should be given
| to Rear Admiral Roger Welles who
was director of naval intelligence
from April 16. 1917. to January 81.
1919. "
Let us turn back to May, 1918, when
| the first German submarine appeared
off the Atlantic coast. The aid for in
formation from the fourth naval dis
| trict was the first to report the at
tempt of sinking the American
| schooner Edna, which was found
| waterlogged off Winter. Quarter
Ilightship May 2S, 1918. An examina-
! tion of the vessel disclosed the pres
| ence on board of detonating device
| which was FUSED in blowing hole
t below the Hater line in order to sink
her. The vessel did not sink. how
ever, being loaded with case oil which
: ,.ox -, fbo surfaee of the water