New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-08-12
rHE IRENE AFFAIR.
.n,,,p.1 pEwEY's PROMPT ACTION IN
SECURING sUBIC BAY-SEizuhE
OF THE FILIPINAS.
-, TELEGRAPH TO THE rnIDuSE.]

D"' ,,s .er,,neI were captured by the cruis-
p.,s,vh and Concord on July after a
h,ood,ess encounter. in which only hsil-dozeh
.no,. were fred. The capture OF the place came
elimination OF series Of incidents. In
which the bloodthirstness OF the less Civilized
natives and what appears to be the UNDER
80 game OF Germany show in strong relief
Ever since the fall Of Cavite and the capture or
Manila Bay Subic had been left alone. Its
garrison OF Ave hundred Spanish. without sea
mower OF any kind. helpless to infct any
damage. and the insurgents lacked the strength
81 ,ote the island The seizure Of the seagong
.,.o,er F,lipinas by the insurgents made the
.an,ure OF the bay and the island possible. but
IN. Germans interfered just as the attack was
about to be made
The capture Of the Ffipinas makes one Of the
bIoodiest chapters Of the history OF this war
ridden country. and, as It is unbushingly ad-
n,,tted by the insurgents. It may be accepted
as true
The Filipinas was owned by a Manila tobacco
Arm and after the outbreak Of the war had
been hiding on the coast north OF Luzon. She
was differed and manned by twelve Spaniards
and ten natives. The latter had for some time
been in sympathy with the insurgent cause but
lacked a favorable opportunity to assist 1t in
any way. They professed the greatest friend
,nut,ny. Their plans matured on Monday. July
4 and they suddenly rose and murdered every
Spanish officer and sailor. They admit that they
showed no quarter and gave them chance to
surrender They threw the bodies overheard.
and placing the vessel In command Of a Cuban,
turned her over 10 the rebel leaders Of the Prov
,nce of seambeles. The latter placed number
OF soldiers aboard Of her. and at once prepared
TO attack Isle de Grande.
THE IRENE INTERPRETERS.
In subic Bay. day later they encountered
the German cruiser Ircne The latter ordered
the FlMpinas TO keep away from Grande. and
threatened to use force II she made an attack.
The Germans said that they did not recognize
the ,,surgent flag and ordered the Filipinas
10 Dull her colors down. The insurgents were
also told that they must hoist a flag Of truce
or 20 to Manila as prisoners. The Fflipinas
was thus forced to leave the harbor. as opposi-
ton would have been useless. She stcomed up
10 Manila, and the leaders OF the party ex-
planned the situation TO Agunaldo. The latter.
In turn. informed Admiral Dewey. who decided
that the only thing 10 be done was to take the
island and bay at once. He ordered the Raleigh
and the Concord to prepare for action, and
placed the expedition in charge Of Captain j.
B. Coghlan. of the former vessel Coghlan was
directed to take the island and turn the prls-
oners over to the insurgents.
GERMAN CRUISER HAsTENs AWAY.
The Raleigh and the Concord steamed out Of
Manila Bay at midnight on the night Of July
6. and at o'clock reached Isle de Grande. The
German cruiser Irene was still at anchor In the
bay, but when she saw the two American
ships her officers slipped cable and put to sea-
They were In such a hurry they did not wait
TO haul up her anchor.
The Raleigh opened on the earthworks the
island with her 6-pounders but got no reply.
Then the fort was fired upon with 5-inch and
8-inch shells. moment later half dozen
white flags were sent up. and firing was stopped.
The Concord was not engaged, but was cleared
for action. The Raleigh sent an armed boat
ashore and after a parley there was uncond-
tional surrender Four hundred soldiers. 1OO
sick and 100 women and children were Included
among the prisoners and 500 rifles and some
small machine guns and several hundred POUNDS
of ammunition were also taken.
INSURGENTS EAGER TO KILL PRISONERS
In the mean time Aguinaldo had applied TO
Admiral Dewey for permission to attack Subic.
and when told of the mission Of the Raleigh
and the Concord he sent the Filipinas and
launch TO Subc. When the Flltp!nas reached
Grande. some insurgents crowded about Cap
tain Coghlan and demanded the lives or the
prisoners. He vas fearful for a time about the
consequences OF turning the prisoners over to
the insurgents but additional instructions from
Admiral Dewey brought the information that
Aguinaldo had given his personal pledge for
their security as csptives. and he consented 10
the proposal II is probable that they VIII all he
kept safe at Subc. although 1t has not been
definitely decided what will be done with them.
-~~inr d6d
snsn,sh soldier and several Spanish women. and
when she reached Manila Vice-Admiral Won
D:edrichs promptly informed Admiral Dewey OF
their arrival and courteousy asked for orders
as to their disposition. Admiral Dewey directed
that they should be landed ut Manila.
SHARP CRITICISM FOR GERMANS.
The Subic incident has caused additional irri-
tat,on among the men Of the feet. 1t was ad-
rnitted that perhaps the Germans had rght'
under a strict construction Of international law,
20 interfere with the insurgents but II was con-
sidered a breach to DO so under the present
circumstances The action Of the Irene In cut
ting and running as II caught in the commits
sion Of some over act sharply criticised.
There was the sharpest condemnation OF the
manner in which the insurgents took the FIN
pinas ond II agreed that II the 1eGiia'iS
knew the circumstances here was more eN-
tenuation for the action OF the Irene 1t was
however only one OF a long series OF unfrlehoiy
acts that seem to be tending toward rupture.
The capture Of Subic Bay is important IN
many respects The Spaniards were engaged IN
STRENGTHENING the island. and 1t was their PROB
able intention to make 1t a base for the opera
,iors OF a new fleet expected from Spain IL Is
q Mace that could be made very strong as us
natural advantages for defence are many Inc
capture has ended the operations or the Ger
mans there and more than all mat IL 'he
United States should decide 10 ABANDON 'he
Philippines. and only retain coaihs s'""o"'
Subic would be good place for IT,
The Fiiipinas Is a fine, new. steel Vessei OF
1910 a nd viii he Of grent aid