Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1898-08-26
THE GERMANS AT MANILA.

July II, states thet the German war
ships there, commanded by Admiral
Won Diederichs, gave Admiral Dewey
a great deal of trouble. The trouble
began almost as soon as the first Ger
man snip got at Manila. Every snip
The Germans have on the Asiatic SID
ton except two mas been at Mauila all
or part of the time, and the great part
of the squadron is at Manila constant
ly. Prince Henry is on the Deutsch-
laud, and that keeps the armorclad
well out of the danger zone. Admiral
Won Diederich's flag lieutenant said
recently:
"If we only did not have the Prince
But he must be taken care Of all the
time"
Admiral Dewey had ordered that
there should be no movement of ships
or boats about the bay at night without
his knowledge and permission. Tnis
was necessary 20 au effective blockade,
and in order to be legal blockade
must be elective. The Gsrmans be-
gan at once to disregard the reeuls-
lion. They sent launches about after
sundown as If there had been 30 such
regulations. The lauuches were stop
PED by our patrol boats and some Of
them were turned back. The result
was friction between the two ndmirals.
Won DieGerichs protested. ID w V r.
piled that his regulation must be OF
served.
The Germans kept up their work and
Dewfy US ships have watched the Ger
mans at night with their searchl'ghts
Il is particularly offensive to one war
ship to be the target ofanother's search
light, but that has happened 10 the
Germans several times as the wheeling
American lights examined the bay 10
see what was going on. Won Dieder-
ichs did not like it. Dewey sent word
that he regretted the necessity of such
work, but he was compelled to keep in
formed of what went on in the bay at
night. He intimated that the Germans
were acting as if they thought that
they insnead Of the Americans wer
blockading Manila.
Matters kept getting worse. Ger
man launches were stopped and sent to
their ships. Permission to move in the
night time was refused on some
occasions, and finally Admiral
Dewey took occasion 10 say to
the German flag lieutenant that
certain things m9ant war and the Ger
mans were approaching dangerously
near them. Then ne added in substance
that if the Germans wanted war they
could have it, now or al any other time,
at Manila or at any other place. Il
reply to this Won Diedericbs took
pacificatory tone and disavowed any
intention of violating proper usages or
the American admiral's blockade regu-
lations. Then came the Subig bay in
cident. The insurgents were attacking
Isla de Grande. They captured steam
err from the Spaniards and they sent
her down to Subig bay with men. She
came back one afternoon and reported
to Dewey that the German cruiser Irene
had prevented her from attacking
Grande Island, and had forced her 10
haul down her insurgent flag and raise
white one. When the Irene came
back the McCulloch spoke, but did not
stop her. This brought q protest
from both sides. Won D.ederichs
objected to the hauling up of his
ships. Dewey declared that the Ger
mans were lending aid and comfort to
our enemies, thereby making them
selves openly Spain's allies. He sent
message to the German admiral, the
substance of which was:
"'Is there peace or war between our
oo,,t.;a,G If thare Is war I want to
know it. If there is peace [ want you
to change your course. The way to
make war is to clear ship and 60 at it,
"Von Dlederichs replied with an
apology and an explanation. He said
the Irene had not interfered with the
insurgents, but had refused 10 answer
signals from the insurgent steamer be-
cause they could not be answered with
out recognizing the insurgent flag. He
agreed to answer signals, however, if
white flag was raised on the insurgent
| ship"