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About The Sunday Oregonian. (Portland, Ore.) 1881-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 27, 1912)
TIIE SUNDAY OKEGOXIAX, PORTLAND, OCTOBER 27, 1912. KEEP3 PRESIDENT AND HOW WORLD. TOUC -2 War. IN H WITH PC War Maps of Mexico, Nicaragua, Santa Domingo and the Balkans Hang in Cabinet Room of the White House -rHow Maps are Made, and Their Utility The Diplo matic r FAMOUS philosopher once said: A "The world what U. It? It a Is but a step In the eternity of time to circle the globe, and when you have done that you may with truth say. 'The world la but a small place, after all.'" The truth of the saying; was I never better illustrated than by the methods of the rulers of nations In keeping track of world events. Many people wonder how It Is possible for one man to know about everything: of consequence that goes on In the world and at the same time be able to di rect Intelligently affairs in any par ticular corner of the world that might demand immediate attention. asilv this may be done 11 shown by the war maps of the Presl- I dent of the United States. In the cab inet ropm at the White House there is a series of large maps of the worm h an trintr on the walL Each one of the maps represents certain portions of the surface of the globe. In addition there is a large sphere very similar to those used by teachers in our public schools, onlv much larger on which there appears a map of the world. The I sphere is fixed in Its exact relation to the un. When trouble breaks outl anywhere upon the surface of the earth, a map of that particular section of the world Is made at once by Uncle Sam's topographers, up to the minute I In every detail. It usually occupies a conspicuous place In the cabinet room. and uDon it the movements of the I armies are shown by a number of dif ferent colored pins, so that the Presi dent or any ' member of his official family may see almost at a glance the exact condition of affairs in that par ticular section of the world. A Thrilling; Tale. There was never a more thrilling tale unfolded than the story of the war maps of the President of the United States. Behind this simple phrase, "the war maps of the Presi dent." stands an appalling array of International intrigue and diplomacy. How the data for these war maps are secured in the first place would make in unusually interesting tale of inter national events and probably cause se rious complications. But because of the :onseuence9 the true story never will be" told. Aside from that, however. there are many interesting things I about these war maps never before I published. A striking example of one of the charts is the war map of Mexico, now occupying a prominent place in the I President's cabinet room at the White! House. On the wall Is a map of Mex ico, peppered with red. yellow and green headed tacks or pins. Here is I registered every change In the Mexl-1 can situation. At the bases of some of.1 the t icks figures are written on tiny I pieces of varicolored paper. Other taeks H miniature pennants, while still otKers arc connected with lines of srroivs. showing the line of progress of leii?! or rebel troops in that troubled territory. Often a Senator or Representative orl seme other person interested In Mex ican aff-ira will lay before the Presi dent a report regarding some district in Mexico. In an instant, by studying ti'o n.a;, tl-.e chief executive is abler" to verify ti e report with the latest infor mation received from the United States .consular and diplomatic officers in Mexico, which means that the map is corrected up to the minute. At a cab inet meeting the President has before h.'m a complete survey of the Mexican situation. Huntington Wilson, Acting Secretary of State, is the man responsible for the map, and there is one official of the State Department whose duty it is to Keep t:ie map corrected hourly, through niuunn receivea rrom many sources. Many times a day the tele graph keys at the State Department just across the street from the White House, click off a dozen or more code words, which are slowly unsnarled to form a message the daily report, per- I naps or tne consul at Durango. Mexi co,, announcing the advance of federal forces toward Velardena, where 100 Americans have been penned up await ing relief. The map man crosses to the White House and advances one of the green-headed tacks 1-H of an Inch nearer the tiny speck marking the town 01 velardena. ETery Little Pin Ha a Meaalng-. At the War Department, Department of Justice and the War College other code messages are clicking off the keys. A- secret agent of the Depart ment of Justice reports a border raid or the theatened gathering of troops south of Juarez. To the War Depart ment comes a report of the dispatch of American troops to some troublous bor der point. The War College is told of each Drlcge ourned and each railroad track destroyed. Consular and diplo matic officers report each move of I federals and rebels. All of this infor mation and much more is conveyed to the Cabinet-room map. Each colored pin or tack tells a story of its own- the location of federal or rebel forces, conditions of unrest or of anarchy or the opinion of Consuls as to the safety of American lives or property. So that when telegrams are received asking protection for some . American citizen or for American property In Mexico, the map will show the probable dan-1 ger to that property or man. If the Inquiry refers to a locality where con ditions are especially bad the Consul there is asked to make a special re port, but in many cases the inquiries concern a province known to be peace ful and the President can give reas- surance at once. In this way President Taft la kept in touch day and night with the -rap-idlv-changing conditions in Mexico, Santo Domingo, Nicaragua, the Balkans and the whole world. He has only to walk into the Cabinet-room from his office, glance at a map and see wheth er the Mexican revolutionary movement has moved north or south, or whether the forces of either are threatening American Interests. There Is a dupli cate of the President's map in the of fice of the -Acting Secretary of State and another at the War College. It Is never necessary for the President, when discussing any critical situation with the Secretary of War or State Department officials, to go back over the course of developments. He has the developments before him. The story lrniV1na tne0rnOswnrTo the ques - Service and It's Object XT Ari-- .-A m- . Av ??Nj W A . - m. r - , v. : A: ; t .;-a m--" w::, -m ..a:u-- ? ' sl' ---'A ' xiA li h 'AT Q I i i 1 1 --sJ' i a-v . -cv r u i V ' H a- ..LI IL ...... . r 1 I I A v AAA . V. - 5 III II . , - 1 X I I. :. : ; .;...-aJUL'J1,-,?.-ftik:V.W .itA.--.-O.-VJiS- :-;afc''.,i.tMf.v-i.--K'-.V"-r'.- X U . X II A C t ) : I x V I I'SviWiss-sWiris,:;?- 1 1 a -s t tat 1 . 1 T 1 11 w , : u.w A, ' .A tion often asked: How can man as "L with ?hY whirlwind changes' of the busy as the President keep t n ,t va y - ii ii J ... A-VW J f - Aa . ' .. AAA . .? .1 (C'A'H VWA IfAAA H ! AAaI ,.Avy.hi ...Av ... iOT I . . " ' i," A- , . '--. ' ii ii i v . '::wt2n-- 1 world? The war map Is supplemented . trr,ifH fii.t .ami I agents all over the world. These re- Woi'U Is .Small . PI - ,aL ,&erivA ' V a a.., . ports are compnea, Ul at the State Department, put in I book form and kept on the President's k. : ij -lf jvr5j-j" a r: - T r-7 v table. In a crisis the President Is aDie to direct the movements of troops and make Quick disposition of International questions with almost as accurate in formation as If he were on the spot. Major-General Leonard Wood and his alSs at the War Department take a very Important part In keeping the President Informed regarding affairs In all sections of the world. On the wall In the aids' room there are 29 of the latest maps of various parts of the world. These are intended to keep the General in command of the Army In constant touch with all move ments of the American Army. The General, In turn, advises the President of any change of Importance that takes place. For instance, in the Mexican war situation along the border, we now have troops scattred all along the in ternational boundary line between Mexico and the United States, and any information of importance coming to any member of the Army is immediate ly wired to Washington. In an account of the war maps. of the United States the War College at Washington should not be omitted. At this recently established institution there Is one large room filled with steel cases. In these cases are kept the lat est maps of every nation of the world. The maps embody the latest and most confidential information received from our agents abroad. , They show the latest fortifications, the easiest ap proach In case of war, and, in fact, all attacking detail necessary army to know. This room contains maps of almost In estimable value to the people of the United States. It contains the result of the labor of years of our agents all over the world. It contains confiden tial Information relative to foreign na tions that would be absolutely Impos sible to duplicate without years of la- Head Of Naiion, ace To -.i'-j'rw'rfiiyi'j i : : r : . . -1 bor and great danger to the parties furnishing the information. The maps and the information are kept In cases absolutely fireproof, so that even were the building to burn down they would remain intact. Function of the War College. Under the recent reorganization of the War Department the general staff is divided into the mobile Army di vision, the militia division and the War College division. The War College di vision is one of most interest to this story. In that division is worked out general schemes for reorganization and all schemes for offensive and defensive military actions. In addition, the War College has- on file plans covering any possible point of attack upon the Unit ed States, so that in case of emergency the only thing necessary for the Presi dent to do would be to call for plans so an' so, relating to the defense of any part of the United States. He would be given plans drawn months, and probably years, before the event, worked out to the minutest de tail. And- yet they would be just as effective as if they had been made at the moment of attack. The War Col lege is directly unaer the control of Brigadier-General William Crozler. In close relation to the war maps of the President is the telegraph room of the State Department. This room is one of the most interesting places in that big gray stone building the State, War and Navy Departments. It Is here messages are received from the whole world. The room is never closed. A full force of expert telegraph opera tors is on-duty day and night. Into this room come messages from our 4J embassies and legations and '655 con sular offices, centered In every quarter of the globe. As part of the methods by which the President keeps informed of world H fairs is the volume of dlspatcnes 10 from the United States foreign servl These dispatches, both telegraphic e mail, are laid before the President en morning. Just as they are laid bef. the Secretary of State. Philander Knox, and the Assistant Secretary State, Huntington Wilson. These t officers and their personnel constlti the "general direction" of the State I partment. Besides all this written formation, Mr. Knox frequently speu on hour nr two with the President . ing over Important or critical matt" In our foreign relations. When Knox is away, riuniinsiuii Is frequently called Into ci ference with the President. In way the President himself passed ur all grave matters of policy, all qu' Hons of new or drastic action, and short, all great diplomatic affairs. IIuntlniHon -Wilson Interviewed. H-iintlnH-ton Wilson is familial dubbed general manager of the St Department, and he probably Is m familiar with our foreign relatic than anv nthr nrirt man. With the ception of the Secretary of State a the President. The writer requested Interview relating to the war maps the President, and how he is kept J formed of world affairs. Also a words on conditions in Mexico, N arasua. Santo Domingo and the B kans, which are now much in the pu lio eve. "For more than two years the situ tion in Mexico has been tremendou acute." said Mr. Wilson. "It is 8 dom that an Administration is subject for so lonar a ceriod to so nerve-racKi an affair as the Mexican troubles hn been. Never a day passes but a nur ho, . ff ImprlcnnR call for DTOteCtl and telegrams have to be sent miiti representations to the Mexican fc ernment, calling on the Consuls to1 their utmost to protect American terests and communicating news anxious relatives or to interested bu? ness men in all parts of the Unit States. "The raids of Mexican rebels, surgli up and down the frontier, are a co stant menace to the peace of the Ami lean towns on this side. The repoi of consular officers, who have to be r ferred Instantly to the War Depai ment, so that they may have the be der natrols adjusted to meet conditio changing almost hourly. You remei ber the excitement caused recent when bullets fell in the towns of Paso and Douglas on the Amerlc: side and several of our citizens we Injured. This particularly acute sn atlon has been threatened at sevei other points, but by prompt action tronar representations a recurrence that trouble has been warded oft. Du ing these troubles thedlvlslon or uiti American affairs in the Department State, charged with Mexican amoi other Latin-American business, h known no office hours, telegrams b ing sent and received and acted up in the small hours of the night. "Our foreign service has a stair trained men on the firing line. T complete recent reorganization of t State Department has given Ameri picked men who have had actual I tlmate experience on tne spot. j.i new foreign serylce affords the m chinery by which the President Is ke Informed of conditions all over .. t world. The System of IVews. "During the recent Mexican troub for Instance, besides the daily to grams reporting Important even every Consular officer in Mexico sen to Washington twice weekly a compr henslve account of the situation in 1 district. All thesa reports also are se to the embassy In Mexico City for u In connection with Its daily telegrapl reports upon the situation as a who Thus, diplomatic service, consular ser ice and the Department of State dov tall together to form a great mill turning out prompt and accurate formation on everything that is goii on anywhere in the world. "Just now wo are having a good de of . trouble with our Latln-Americ neighbors to the South in Mexico, Ni aragua, and Santo Domingo. The la two are on a fair road to adjustmei When one reflects that the Unit States was placed by the Monroe do trine and the Pan-American policy Intimate relations with 20 republi many of which have been the vlctli of turbulence, it Is not strange mat the United States Is to hnve an activ constructive policy of helpfulness, i stead of sitting by and attempting accomDlish nothing, there must, in t nature of things, be such troublo days from time to time. This is esp ciallv evident when one analyzes t fact that President Taft's Latln-Amer can nollcv has been to make Fa American a real bond, based above upon mutual Justice and helpfulne Instead of an empty policy, celebrat merely In speech and expressions sentiment. The administration has tri n Via helnful to our neighbors of tl Caribbean, and has always been rea to do Justice, but has, on the oth hand, insisted on Justice to America citizens. The American Diplomat. "Our diplomatic service takes a le Inn- nart in keening the President' ii formed of world affairs, and at th point a few words upon this servl may not be tmlss. The welfare of peJ pies, rather than the ambition of ruler is the basis of the diplomacy of mo. ern times. Medieval trickery has a most disappeared. All that is needi today is a good case for one's countr and an able man to aavocaee ii. as heritage from the days gone forev the conventional idea that diplomacy nnilte dishonesty Is quite commo There Is a saying that 'a diplomat is n honest man sent abroad to lie ior c country.' "Another fallacy in regard to th service is the belief that diplomats a; creatures fashionably attired, "prefe ably in gold lace exclusively': their o' cupation principally that of hobnol bing with royalty and arlstocrac quarreling about precedence and go siping at afternoon teas, whose chl accomplishments are bowing beautifu ly and speaking foreign languages we: while forgetting their own, and who: diet consists entirely of truffles ar champagne. That Idea is all wron An American diplomat as a rule Is olain American gentleman who se right values on things, avoids afTeetJ tlons or ostentation or any Kina. u stead of the foolish attributes he suDDosed to have, he is a man of pa riotism. education, industry, intell u-ence. tact, and sagacity. These tel Ing qualities he devotes day and nigl to the advancement of his country's ii terests." How Important are the politic. phases of diplomacy Is self evident any one who knows the difference b tween peace and war. What Is n generally realized Is the fact recor nlzed In every foreign office In tl world: that the diplomacy of the 201 century Is largely occupied with t) extension of trade, and the wok l the diplomatic and consular servijv I intimately conected with the indust and commercial progress ot tne natioi (Copyright, 1912. by William L. Altdorfer.