The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-01-16
BIZ RALPH HEINZEN.
United Press stan Correspondent
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Copyright. 1881, By United Press
PARIS, Jan. ie.-England learned
lesson during the World war when
she tcpk the field in France to find
an enemy which knew nearly as
much about her army as her own
war Office.
John Bulls job in these postwar
days Is as much to keep his own in
formation to himself as it is to find
out what is going on in a military,
naval, industrial and commercial
way across the channel.
So much has England been able
TO hide of her movements that only
a. few months ago when a picked
group of guests was invited to sit at
the edge Of a field and watch man.
euverss by some new war instru-
nents, the rest of Europe was taken
completely by surprise.
Britain has not always been so
fortunate, and although the utmost
efforts were used to keep secret the
first uses Of atrplai1es on submarines,
a careless official in a government
office tipped of" the rest Of Europe.
Exploding the Bubble
NO other nation had conceived
the idea Of making a folding air.
plane which could be taken into
the shell Of submarine, and then
unfolded to fly away from the sub
on the surface to scout, or attack.
The idea was original in Europe
at least.
But one day the London Gazette
printed a decree which appeared
nonexciting on the surface. but
which caused the war Office chiefs
TO tear their hair and delighted
military attaches in the embassies
and legations of London.
The Gazette decree merely settled
the question of extra pay for flying
officers serving on sirplanes carried
by submarines
That was all, but that blew UP
the bubble Of secrecy.
Military Attaches Work
London newspapers, commenting
on the fault, Jan. 3, 1923, declared
that the ennploye responsible had
been punished
The military and naval attaches
give most governments their great
est trouble
Every government knows that
these attaches file regularly long re-
ports on everything they see and
hear concerning the offensive and
defensive arms Of other countries,
but since their position in diplo-
matte circles IS accepted nothing
can be said
As diplomats, they are immune
from arrest, or bother by police, or
the counter espionage service.
They, are expected, out of polite
ness, TO be invited to army naneu-
vers, sham battles and great troop
concentrations but they are never
invited.
System Is Explained
Brigadier General Stanley H.
Ford, new military atCacne at The
American embassy in Paris, re-
Gently publicly exposed the role OF
the army and navy attaches abroad.
He Is a former chief of United
States military intelligence.
Today the United States gov
eminent has 4 network Of thirty
nine military attaches in various
parts Of the world" he said.
These attaches are stationed in
twenty-five foreign capitals and in
their reports they consider forty
eight countries.
1.-THE procuring of military data
is quite simple as to process. The
securing of information is usually
on the exchange basis--that is to
say, the government desires its rep
resentative to obtain a certain item
of information. That information
is furnished provided similar in
formation is furnished by us.
Next: Business of spying GEN.