The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-04-28
GERMANY MAKES PROTEST
Against the Language of
Capt. COghlan
REPLY OF SECRETARY hay


Raleigh. but says IL Does Not Come
Within the Province Of the State De.
Psrtment-A Case for Naval Disci.
pline-SurpTise at Germany Taking
OfIense.
Washington, April 24.-The German
government has entered a formal pro-
test against the language used by Cap
tain Coghlan of theRaleieh at the Union
League Club banquet in New York last
Friday night and also his remarks on
Saturday night before the Army and
Navy Club.
The protest was lodged with Secre-
tary Hay through the German ambas
sador, Herr Won Holleben.
Secretary Hay replied that the Ian
guage appeared to have been used at a
dinner in a club and SO could not be
regarded as an official or public utter
ance in the sense that would warrant
the state department in acting. How
ever, the navy department was fully
competent to take such action as the
case seemed to require.
With this statement, the ambassa-
dor was content for the time at least
and will doubtless await a reasonable
length of time upon the navy depart
ment.
There are semi-oficial limitations
fhof tho ~ n ccodo- rr;l1 ro% --.1L
concern himself with the course OF
Captain Coghlan as with the course of
the United States in dealing with Cogh-
Ian. The German ambassador stated
today that the poem recited by Cogh-
Ian was 'too nasty to be noticed"
Though relieved from accountability
to the state department directly by
Secretary Hays attitude, the navy de-
partment, as it has been indicated,
must deal with the case. Captain
Coghlan can be called to account On
several charges, presuming that he has
been correctly reported and he admits
| the u%tterances.
AS in Commodore Meade's case, if
he stands mute and the newspaper men
refuse to testify, the navy department
can proceed no further. The charges
| which would most probably be brought
| against Captain Coghlan if the affair
went to court martial, would be con-
| duct unbecoming an officer. 1t is said
| that the officer will proceed with DELHI
Grafton in making any statement he
may care to submit to the department.
| In the meanwhile, unpleasant sugges-
| lions are 1.rising as to the embarrass-
ment that might follow the execution
| of the round Of receptions already
| planned for the Raleigh.
The German ambassador appeared at
| the state department at noon today for
the purpose Of making further repre-
| sensations to Secretary Hay touching
| the conduct Of Captain Coghlan 80 that
the utterances Of Captain Coghlan at
the Army and Navy Club, as published
in yesterday evenings paper, were re-
| garded as an additional ofense. An
| effort was made to ascertain whether
the United States government intended
to do anything officially in view Of sub
! sequent developments in the case.
Secretary Hay has not changed his
position in any degree. He deprecat-
| ed the lack OF tact and the bad taste
| shown by Captain Coghlan and he did
| not hesitate to let that be known to the
| German ambassador, but he still held
| that the case was one that required
J treatment by methods Of naval discip-
| line only and with which the state de-
| partment could not concern itself.
| The German ambassador will COM
municate the departments views to the
| foreign officials at Berlin. The officials
| on both sides realize that this episode
may grow into a very great source of
discord, unless treated f:screetly and
cody. Dur officials are somewhat sur
prised at the importance attached to
! this. incident by the German govern
ment. 1t is said that our own govern
ment has ignored many u%tterances of
! German officers Of sentiments far more
| inimical to the United States than was
| the talk OF Captain Coghlan to Ger
] many.
After the conference between Secre-
tary Hay and the German ambassador
| this noon, it was stated in an authori-
| tative quarter that there was no reason
to view the Coghlan affair in too serious
a light or as presenting grave inter-
national complications. The two
meetings today, it was stated had been
mutually agreeable. The main feature
! of the state department conference was
in establishing that the Germans ex-
poets this government to deal with the
Coghlan affair according TO the gravity
of the ofense and the United States in
turn gives assurance that every just
expectation in this respect will be per-
| formed.
AS VIEWED IN GERMANY.
Belin, April 24.-It is announced in a
semi-oficial note that the United States
secretary of state has expressed to the
German ambassador at Washington,
his strong disapproval of the conduct
of Captain Joseph B. C~oghlan," OF the
United States cruiser Raleigh.
The afternoon newspapers here con-
tain few comments On Captain Cogh-
lan's remarks, and they generally take
a calm view of the after dinner speech
| and consider the incident closed, partic-
| ularly in view of the semi-oficial note
published here, announcing the strong
d~isapproval OF the United States secre-
l fary IF cfafa with tho eapfair'S rouduc$