Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1898-10-20
CONTINENTAL POWERS MADLY
JEALOUS
DEWEY BROOKS NO INSULT
Made an Austrian Commodore Salute
Our Ships-Germans at Manila Said
to be Insolent and EXasperating to
the Last Degree-A Returned Tray
eler's Report

porter, born in Italy, but for 40 years
an intensely loyal American citizen,
has been travelling in Europe for two
months, talking with the people in
their own language and trying to as
certain public sentiment He gave a
reporter an interesting talk.
Il was always and everywhere an
American Citizen" he said. Il made
many of my old friends and acquaint-
ances in Italy and France very angry
with my free expressions of opinion.
At Berlin I attracted considerable at
tention in a cafe by declaring that Ad-
miral Dewey would forever humiliate
Germany unless Admiral Dietrich kept
out of his way and ceased to annoy
him"
What is the general sentiment of
Europe towards this country"
Don't make any mistake about it.
All Europe is against US, excepting
only England. l talked with none Of
the common people, because they don't
amount to much, politically or inter-
nationally, and the views of the COM
mon people are moulded for them by
men whom they concede to be their
betters. But in the theaters, in the
hotels and in all public places l found
that the leaders of the politics and So
ciety are possessed Of jealousy which
amounts to hatred of this republic
Have not our victories inspired re-
spect?"
Not a bit Of it. On the contrary,
they sheer at our humiliation of the
Spanish fleets. They sheer at our cap
ture of Santiago. They say that our
navy accomplished nothing but what
was expected. They say that Spain
was glad to maintain her national
honor with a battle at Santiago before
the surrender, and that the surrender
Of ToraPs army, including an entire
province, was ordered from Madrid,
because Spain was glad to reach an
honorable conclusion Of hostilities, and
glad to have her soldiers sent home at
the expense of the Yankee pigs"
Has not our naval victories evoked
admiration?"
"On the contrary, they say that the
United States would not dare to enter
into naval conflict with Germany,
France, Italy or even Austria. They
have no appreciation of the splendid
American gunnery which did it all. 1t
is their general belief that Admiral
CerVera could have destroyed the
American feet at Santiago but for the
fact that the Cristobal Colon had no
guns of fighting strength
What sentiment did you find on the
ocean liners?"
Il found nothing but sneers at
America, even from English captains
and subordinate officers. They all re-
gard the victories of the United States
navy as the result of good luck against
very weak power"
But the British people are our
friends, heart and soul. There is no
doubt about that. But, with it all,
there is goodly sprinkle of English
pride in their conversations, because
they eyince their patronizing views of
us by saying that but for the substan-
tial support Of Great Britain our coun-
try could not have held its own, even
against such a weak nation as Spain.
| cannot see wherein we have lifted
ourselves upon pinnacle in European
estimation by our successful war.
Some Of the Germans, AustrianS and
Frenchman told me that they regarded
the Americans as towards for attack
ing such weak country. They actu-
ally sheer at our naval and military
successes and say that il the United
States had attacked frst-class power
we would have been Inundated and
practically destroyed"
supplemental and confrmatory of
this unexpected reflection Of European
sentiment, the writer was informed by
a naval officer who has just returned
from the blockade of Havana harbor
that letters received by him from
naval officers in other portions of the
world sustain the belief that European
nations are averse to us. He has a
letter from an officer in DeWey's feet
saying: The Germans have been in
solent and exasperating to the last de-
gree. Admiral Dewey has found it
difficult to restrain some Of our most
aggressive fellows. After destroying
Montejo's feet our officers and men
have felt as though they could tackle
the whole world, but Dewey knows
better He has had his hands full with
restraining his own men. You have
read the stories concerning the confer
ence about the likelihood of action on
the part of the French and German
vessels, at which the British admiral
said: Nobody but Admiral Dewey
an attack on --e American fleet That
| is true, but there is one thing which
you have probably never read or
heard. We we're visited at that time
| by two Austrian vessels and when they
entered the harbor they saluted the
| Spanish, French, German and British
| flags. but failed to salute the Ameri-
ton of their commodore to the prac-
| teal insult to our flag, and the reply
was returned that no insult had been
intended. Our admiral returned a
message saying that he expected a sa-
! lutte for his flag. The reply came back
| that the fires were banked and the
guns could not be worked. Then our
admiral sent word that if the fires
were banked and the Austrian ships
| could not be worked, American ships
would tow them both outside the har-
| Dor, where they could raise steam, en-
| ter the harbor and show respect for