Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1898-06-25
GERMANS At MANILA.
Crews Of Foreign Warships Occupy
the Philippines Capital.
GERMAN ADMIRAL IN COMMAND,

whether He WIN Allow His Forces
to Re-embarE when Admiral Dew
ey's Reinforcements Arrive IL the
Main Question.
London, June 23-The Daily News
publishes a statement alleged 10 come
from a correspondent having access to
good information. that the occupation
of Manila by parts of the crews Of
foreign warships there is an ac-
complished fact, although ii may prob
ably be three or four days before the
official news arrives by way of Hong
Kong. The communication proceeds to
say:
over month ago Admiral Dewey
prepared to lombard Manila. At this
juncture, however, a new factor was
added to the situation. The German
consul acting on precise instructions
which had just arrived by the German
warship Irene, strongly opposed a
bombardment These instructions were
clear and categorical, and emanated di-
rectly from Emperor Williams cabi-
net.
TT was then that Admiral Dewey
asked for reinforcements and supplied
Aguinaldo with arms. While Germany
gathered naval force the intention at
Berlin was, If not to take possession
of Manila, at least to cooperate in the
landing, Admiral Dewey's force not be-
ing sufficient to protect German in
terests Captain General Augusti had
on his part informed his government of
the situation, and several interviews
took place at Madrid with the German
| ambassador. the result being that 1t
was decided that Captain General Au-
gust should appeal to the foreign war
ships at Manila, excluding the Ameri-
can, to protect the lives and property
of the inhabitants against the insur-
gents.
1T was an indirect way of capitulat-
ing, while sparing Spanish amour
propre There is no doubt Admiral Won
Diederichs has taken command of the
forces landed. although he has not
taken possession in behalf of Germany.
But will he. when the American re-
Inducements arrive, be willing to allow
his forces to re-embark? The whole
question lies there"
The Berlin correspondent of The
Times, commenting on the continued
says: There would be storm of in
dignation in the German press IL the
United States were to become master
of the Philippines while Germany got
nothing. In the view of many Ger
man politicians anything would be
better than that, and they would even
prefer to see the intervention of sew
eral European powers to protect the
life and property of their subjects from
the rebels, followed by the acquisition
of a naval station for each of them.
There is, in fact, a strong inclination to
repeat the Chinese drama at Kiao-Chou
whenever an opportunity is afforded.
Relatively to what Germany already
possesses she has everything to gain
by such a policy of fair shares all
| around.
There is. however, but little doubt
| that no European power or combina-
| ton Of powers would venture to pre-
vent the United States and Great
Britain from settling the future of the
Philippines conformity, or at least under
the protection of their conjoint naval
forces. Continental opinion would not
| only speedily acknowledge the
strength of an Anglo American naval
alliance, but would be practically
unanimous against mourning the risk
of the commercial consequences of a
breach with the United States"