The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-07-20

NEW YORK, July 19.-The Herald's
Washington correspondent sends the
following: Officials of the administra-
ton are now in greater fear of trouble
IN the Philippines from the insurgents
than from Germans. Germany has so
strongly impressed her sincerity and
friendship upon the administration that
the President and his Cabinet have no
longer any reason to doubt the presence
of her warships in the Philippines is
simply due to her desire to adequately
protect German citizens and German
interests.
On the authority Of a high official I
am able to say that through official
channels this Government has been in
formed that the acts of German officers
attached to warships in Manila are I'M
authorized and are deprecated by the
Berlin Government. These assurances
have had their effect upon the officials.
They frankly declare there is no longer
any fear Of Germany interfering in any
way with American operations IN the
Philippines, but that the insurgents are
likely TO seriously annoy and embar-
rass Major General Merritt and the
troops under his command.
When asked Secretary Long to-day
If he had received dispatches of any
nature from Rear Admiral Dewey he
positively stated that he had not heard
from that officer, thus denying the re-
port that news had reached Washing
ton.
1t is said by international lawyers
that Rear Admiral Dewey has right
to prohibit German men-of-war from
continually passing in and out of the
harbor, and credence is placed in the
report that the McCulloch overhauled
the German warship Irene. Before
passing upon the correctness Of Rear
Admiral Dewey's action the authori-
ties are waiting to hear from him. The
Secretary's instructions state 'men-of-
war of neutral powers should as a mat
ter Of courtesy be allowed passage from
and to a blockaded port and in view
| of the instruction the authorities ap-
preciate Rear Admiral Dewey had
some excellent reason for dispatching
! the McCulloch to overhaul the Irene.
In sending the McCulloch the author
! tiles see an act Of courtesy, designed
probably to impress the German Off
I GERS with the idea that Rear Admiral
Dewey had no intention of using force
/ in requesting them to observe Ine laws
and customs prevailing in blockaded
| ports.
In the Herald's announcement this
morning that Aguinaldo would not at
| tack Manila until sufficient force of
Americans had arrived the authorities
/ find some ground for their fears re-
/ specting the insurgents. This an
| nouncement means that Aguinaldo.
notwithstanding innumerable intrigues
which he doubtless has set on foot. and
concerning some of which the authori-
/ ties have been addressed, we'll appre-
| ciates that Rear Admiral Dewey Is
master of the situation and will comply
/ with his wishes. These wishes, as COM
| municated TO Aguinaldo, are that moth
| ing shall be done looking TO the reduc-
ton of the city until Major General
Merritt with the third army expedition
reaches Cavite, early in August
II is the desire of the administration
TO have a sufficient force Of Americans
at hand TO obviate the necessity Of for
eign men-of-war landing marines for
the protection of the interests OF their
respective governments. AS soon as
| Manila has capitulated, Major-G General
/ Merritt will issue his proclamation de-
claring the Philippines a military pos
session Of the United States, and here
will undoubtedly come clash with
Aguinaldo, IL ii comes at all. Like the
Cubans, he and the men under his COM
nand, desire the possession Of Manila
and the control Of the islands under q
government republic of which he pro-
claimed himself President Any inter
ference with the American troops by
the insurgents will result in operations
against them, as it is the principle OF
international law that it is the right
and duty Of the conqueror to secure
his conquest, and to provide for the
maintenance of civil order and the
rights of the inhabitants. General Mer-
rift is empowered TO take such actor
against any person or persons resisting
his authority as the rules of MARTA
law permit