The San Francisco call., 1898-07-14
WILL FOLLOW UP
 THE ADVANTAGE

NEW YORK, July. 13.-The Heralds S Washington correspondent telegraphs: The administration is preparing to fol- low up the advantage gained by Rear Admiral Dewey in successfully repell- ing what was probably the initiative step in German interference in the Philippines.
 It wants definite knowledge of the exact position of the Berlin Govern ment with reference to the Philippine question, and tDe effort by the German warship Irene to prevent the operations Of insurgents against the Spanish forces at Subig Bay will in all proba- bilfty be the lever employed to pry into Emperor Williams s confidence. A copy of Rear Admiral Dewey's dispatch re- lating to the Irene's strange behavicr was laid before the President to-day by Secretary Long, and Secretary Day, who was subsequently, acquainted with its contents, took part in the discus sion which followed. This is Rear Ad- miral Deweys message:
 "Aguinaldo informs me that his troops have taken all of Subig Bay ports except Isla Grande which he was prevented from taking by the German man-of-war Irene. On July the Ra- leigh and Concord went there They took the island and about 1900 men with arms and ammunition No resistance. The Irene retired from the bay on their arrival. l shall send the Boston to Cape Enguano about July Is to secure another detachment. It is not practi- cable to send to Guam No troop ves- sels available. DEWEY"
 As a result of the discussion which followed the receipt of the dispatch there is strong probability that the Berlin Government will be officially in formed of the incident, with a view to obtaining from it an explanation of the peculiar conduct of the German commander.
 Germany has been we'll aware that the United States did not look with 1aV0r upon the assembling of such a strong squadron as she now has To- cated in the Philippines, although no formal protest has been made and it is not proposed officially to call attention to this matter
 The authorities with whom I talked to-day admitted that the retention of 1lVe German warships in the waters of the Philippines Is most irritating.
 The Irene incident" continued one
 
 of Germanys intention. Subig Bay is a magnificent harbor just to the north ward of Manila Bay. You will recall that Rear Admiral Dewey expected to find Montejo's ships at that point and explored the bay before proceeding to Manila. Its possession would be wei comed by the German Government. I have an idea that the squadron is act ing under no direct orders from Berlin. but the commanders of vessels under stand the desire of their Government to extend its colonial possessions.
 Had Rear Admiral Dewey not acted as promptly and as properly as he did l have no doubt that the Germans would have considered the procedure of the Irene as precedent upon which to base further action. To a certain extent the insurgents are allies of the United States.
 There has been no agreement be- tween Rear Admiral Dewey and the insurgents, and the American com mander has so scrupulously observed the proprieties that the natives can not claim that they have been recog- nized either as allies or as belligerents. But they have. common cause with the American forces in that they are fight ing the same enemy, and it is therefore incumbent upon the United States to