Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1898-07-21
Dcwcy's Rcbul<c of the Germans


Of our war with Spain has Nndled feel
ing of indignation in the breasts of the
American people like that generated by
the attempt of the German gunboat irene
to NEEDLE in military operations in the
Philippines. The Germans undoubtedly
hoped by preventing the revolutionsts
from attacking the Spanish on Grand Is
land In Subic Bay to be able to provoke
collision with the former which would
offer prctcxt for their armed action. If
the Germans had been allowed to carry
out their plan unmolcsted it is plain that
they would have secured II plausible eX-
cusc for occupying territory in Subic Bay,
which they are known to have long COW
cted, but thanks to Admiral Dcwcy's wig
dom and energy they were not permitted
to engage in any controversy of this char
uctcr. Without INDUCING in talk or
threats he simply sent two war vessels to
the scene to take the island in question,
and the guns of those vessels promptly
set at rest all possibility of further mis-
Understanding between the Germans and
the insurgents
This act of Admiral Dewey is winning
flesh praise FOR him in this country, for
1t is now seen that he IL diplomat and
statesman as we'll as brave and bril-
liant naval commander. After referring
to the manner in which admiral Dewey
with the remarkable readiness with which
he is gifted, at once stiEmatized and null
lifted the intervention By himself taking 4
hand in" tho Troy\Times says: "Thc Ger
man shipmastcr raised the thin plea of
humanity, plea which finds its illustra-
ton in Gcrmany's seizures in China in
behalf Of slain missionaries. Some way or
other the Green Mountain boy with the
blue jacket who was named George Dewey
always gets there on time. lie seems to
have inherited Ethan Aliens backbone
with the Vermont disregard of king or
kaiser"
In the course Of an admirable discussion
Of tac international aspects of the Grand
Island incident, the New York sun says.
"'rho effect of Admiral Dewey's act is to
show unlocking nations that we propose
TO conduct our campaign in the Philip
pines In our own way and will not allow
them to say what ports, islands, or tor
ritory shall or shall not he taken from
the Spaniards, either by our forces or by
the insurgents, wherever the latter act on
parallel lines with us or under our con-
troll. 1t is this that gives the Subig Bay
affair, perhaps. its greatest value. Its
general result is to strengthen the impress
sion among all nations that we arc mas
tcrs in the Philippines now The situa-
ton Is made simpler instead of more COM
piicatcd by the Sublg Bay affair, and We
are the better off for It, thanks to Dow
cy's promptness. courage and good sense"
Anothe. phase of the incident is touch
cd off by tho New York Commercial Adj
vcrtisor in tho following happy vein: "a
refined example of humor was Rear Adj
miral Dcwey's refusal to take Spanish
refugees off the hands OF the German
cruiser Irene after the appearance of the
Raleigh and Concord had caused her to
abandon prociptatcly the attempt at in
tcrvcning between the Flipinos and the
Spanish. Tho admiral was determined
that the German should have all the con-
sequences of his Interference on his hands
for warning. He was not going to hclp
the impairment German let go of the red.
hot poker. Admiral Dewey is sardonic
humolist."
The persistent determination of the Ger
mans to interfere In the Philippines for
the purpose of securing pretcxt for the
seizure of territory was never more cvi-
dent than at tho present time. If weak
Ell or more vacilating man than Admiral
Dewey had been in command Of our fleet
at Manila. the Germans might even now
have a secure foot hold in that territory:
but lie has met every advance on their
part with promptness and with measures
that could not lie misunderstood lie be-
gan by irtimating To Prince Henry, broth
or Of the German emperor. who is in COM
mand Of the German squadron, that the
latter should keep out of our line of fire,
and after resisting every other attempted
entertainment, he has allowed American
guns to teach the Germans that Amcri-
can rights in the Philippines are not to be
triilcd with. our country may not be able
TO escape trouble with Germany over the
settlement Of the Philippine problem; but
IL 1t is thus fortunate, it will probably
never fully realize the debt that It owes to
the wisdom and iirmness of Admiral Dew
cy.