The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1898-07-20
PEAc7 OR WAR
Dewey Asks an Explanation
of the Germans.
COMES RIGHT TO THE POINT.
German Admiral In Manila Bay
Asked Whether It Is
Peace or War.

feace or war.
Friction Caused by Disregard Of Regula.
tions Established by the Americans
During the Blockade Germans Make q
Protest Against the Boarding OF Their
Vessels by Admiral Dewey's Men-Dewey
Expounds Some international Law.
Washington. July 20.-The navy de-
partment has received no dispatches
from Dewey relating to press reports
concerning our relations with Germany.
but officials feel much less concern over
Germany's attitude and there is good
reason to believe direct assurances have
been received from Germany that she
would offer no obstacles to the execu-
tion of our plans.
Hong Kong. July 20.-Admiral Dewey
has requested from Admiral Dledrichs
an explanation of Germany's position
in the Philippines. He has also pro-
tested against the German admiraPs
disregard of the American blockade or
Manila. For several weeks Germany
has been constantly enlargng It's feet
in these waters, until now all German
ships on the Asiatc station. with the
exception Of the Deutschland. the Ar
coma and the Gefon. are either in
Manila bay or in its vicinity. Th
German naval officers have taken pains
to show particular friendliness toward
the Spaniards, as for example In sa-
luting the Spanish flag at Manila on
the arrival of every additional German
ship. The German officers have visited
the Spanish fortifications and trenches
and the Manila newspapers have as
serted that the presence before the city
of so many German ships enabled the
Spanish authorizes and the people OF
Manila to regard the American fleet
with complacency.
The Irene Makes Trouble.
Three weeks ago the German admiral
| told Admiral Dewey that three OF his
| ships were TO depart, but they went
only as far as Mariveles, Subig bay and
| Cebu. On June 27 the McCulloch met
] the Irene. one of the German fleet. at
Corregidor island. preparing to enter
the bay, and signaled to her: We
wish to communicate with you" The
| Irene paid no attention to the signal.
| and proceeded on her way until small
| boat was sent out to her from the Nc
| Culloch. The captain of the Irene ex-
| planned the matter by saying that he
| had misunderstood the signal.
| The action Of the Irene in interfering
I with the attack by the insurgent ves-
| sci, Filipinas, on the Spanish garrison
| at Isla Grande, in Subig bay. was in
( Of adnntad q hU the
| German naval officers here. As soon as
| the insurgents reported the matter to
| Admiral Dewey he dispatched the
| Raleigh and Concord to Subig bay and
| captured the Spanish garrison the
| Irene departing hastily on the arrival
| of the American warships.
| Dewey's Protest to German Admiral
| Four days ago Admiral Dewey sent
an officer to the German flagship with
n request that Admiral Diedrichs make
statement of the German attitude in
! the matter of the blockade OF Manila
| At the same time he deliver d a pr test
! against various actions by German ofii =
| GERS. such as have been mentiorei here.
| The German admiral sent an immediate
| explanation. Two days la er however,
| he sent protest to Admiral Dewey
| against the dGllOi VI Niltli~ tiI tiliNS q .
| in boarding German ships coming TO
( Manila from Marivelc He cited the
! incident of the McCullotlr acd the Irene
| at Corregidor
Admiral Dewey replied TO this very
| courteously. but very firmly He point
| ed out to the German admiral that in
| ternational law gave 10 the commander
Of a blockaaing fe aUt;-or;ty to COM
| oil pntarinU q
blockaded port. As international law
permitted warships to fly any nlg they
| chose in order 10 deceive the enemy.
the nationality of vessels entering the
bay could not be determined absolute
" without communicating with them.
| He announced his intention to COM
municate with all ships entering the
bay. For the German admira's fur
ther information Admiral Dewey told
| him that IL Germany was at peace with
| the United States the German naval
officers here would have to change their
methods. and that II Germany was at
war with his nation he desired to know
II at once in order that he might act
accordingly. Presumably the German
admiral Is still meditating on this mes
sage.
German warships at Manila.
The German warships now here are:
The Kaiser. flagship. first-class ar
mored cruiser Of $500 tons. mounting
eight 10-inch guns and a formidable
secondary battery. The Kaiserin Au-
gusta, a frst-class steel cruiser OF 5000
tons, with twelve 5-inch guns and a
quick-firins battery. The Irene. a Sec
ond-class cruiser OF $500 tons, mount
Ing 5-inch and quick-firing guns. The
Cormoran, a third-class cruiser. about
the size of the Concord, but scarcely so
well armed. The Princess Wilhelm,
second -class cruiser. as large as the
Baltimore. but outclassed by her In
/ armament and speed
| The Boston has gone to meet the