Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-07-19
Germany Looking for Trouble.

IL Emperor William of Germany
through his representative, Prince
Henry, in charge of his eastern fleet,
continues to NEEDLE in the Philippines
there is certainly trouble ahead for
somebody. We are fully capable Of
managing our own affairs at Manila,
without German interference between
us and our conquered foe. German
interests in the Philippines are the
pretense for the presence of a large
German fleet there, though other ma
tons whose interests there are really
greater do not find it necessary to send
so many warships. While it would be
unwise to eXaggerate unduly the sig
nificance of German actions in the
Philippines, it would also be folly to
blind our eyes to their true Importance.
German sympathy with Spain has been
but poorly concealed from the first.
Naturally the ambitious young EN-
peror is jealous at our success in the
East, and he is anxious not only to
humiliate us but also to gain new terri
tory for himself in that quarter of the
world. Not caring or daring to act
openly he has simply kept good fleet
at Manila, to encourage the Spaniards
and worry us. and has hoped the prog
ress of events would give him the de-
sired opportunity. Only the GOODNESS.
firmness and shrewdness of Admiral
Dewey, who is showing himself as able
a diplomat as he is brave fighter, has
very awkward.
The recent affair in Lubig bay, not
far from Manila, where the German
cruiser Irene interfered on behalf of
the Spaniards and would not let the in
surgents capture the fort and bay
Illustrates the drift of events. 1t APP
pears that the insurgents had sent an
armed steamer to take the fortified
island commanding the hay. when the
German cruiser interfered to prevent
it. and that thereupon Admiral Dewey
sent the Raleigh and the Concord to
Insurgents. which they proceeded to do
without delay and with little ceremony
the German cruiser withdrawing. If
Admiral Dewey had Shown less cour-
age and directness in dealing with the
situation thus Unexpectedly presented
We should have had awkward condi-
tions on our hands in the Philippines
The Germans would have set up a
claim to highly desirable harbor and
embarrassing complications would
have followed. The incident fully jus
tifes the Inquiries which it is reported
our state department. intends to ad
dress TO Germany regarding it. If the
captain of the Irene interfered without
orders, his conduct calls for an official
rebul<e. If his action was in accord
With the policy Of the German govern
ment, we are entitled To know on what
grounds Germany thinks fit To interfere
! in the Philippines while war is IN
progress between Spain and the United
States and the Philippine insurgents
are acting virtually as our allies.
There is no occasion for trouble or a
Misunderstanding with Germany. and
there will be neither if Germany let's
our affairs alone. In the meantime we
| are glad that a man like Dewey con-
| trolls the situation at Manila, and that
troops and powerful monitors are on
their way to aid him in putting an end
forever to Spanish dominion in the
Philippines. Very soon the Spanish
power will be as dead in Manila as it is
now in Santiago. and even a remote
| possibility of an excuse for German
interference will be out of the ques-
ton.