The functions of a military attaché are illustrated by the American military attachés in Japan during the war years. A series of military officers had been assigned to the American diplomatic mission in Tokyo since 1901 when the US and Japan were co-operating closely in response to the Boxer Rebellion in China. The military attaché advised the United States Ambassador to Japan on military matters, acted as a liaison between US Army and the Imperial General Headquarters, and gathered and disseminated intelligence. The military attaché's office in Tokyo usually had two assistants and a number of "language officers" who were assigned specifically to learn Japanese whilst attached to Japanese Imperial Army regiments as observers. These "language officers" translated training and technical manuals and reported on conditions in Japanese military units.Liddell Hart Centre for Military Archives, King's College London: US Military Intelligence Reports, Japan, Context
Selected military attachés serving with Entente powers
Russia Nakajima Masatake, Japan (1915). Mitsumasa Yonai, Japan (1915). Vidkun Quisling, Norway (1918).
France James Collins, US (1917).
United Kingdom Arne Dagfin Dahl, Norway (1916-1919). Teijiro Toyoda, Japan (1914).Japan Center for Asian Historical Records: "US-Japan War Talks," key figures. Nicholas Alexandrovich Wolkoff, Russia (1913-1919)
United States Lieutenant Colonel Karl F. Baldwin, Japan (1917–1919).Stringer, p. 435. Lieutenant Colonel Halsey E. Yates, Romania (1916-1920). Lieutenant Colonel James A. Ruggles, Russia (1918). Captain Franz von Papen, Germany (1913-1915) Japan Kichisaburo Nomura, Japan (1914–1918). Major-General Katsusugu Iouye, Japan (1917–1919); awarded Distinguished Service Medal.Stringer, p. 466. Lieutenant Colonel T. Mizumachi, Japan (1917–1919); awarded Distinguished Service Medal. Captain Hsiao Watari, Japan (1917–1919); awarded Distinguished Service Medal.
Belgium Arne Dagfin Dahl, Norway (1917-1919).
Selected military attachés serving with Central powers
Germany Joseph E. Kuhn, US (1915–1916).Venzon, p. 318.
Ottoman Empire Lt. Col. R.H. Williams
Selected military attachés of fighting powers serving with Neutral countries
Persia
Georg von Kanitz, Germany
Mexico
Captain Franz von Papen, Germany (1913-1916)
See also List of participants to Paris Peace Conference, 1919 Military attachés and observers in the Russo-Japanese War United Nations Military Observer
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Further reading