The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-05-07
GERMANS SoRELY TROUBLED.
CLAIM THEIR INTERESTS HAVE
BEEN DISREGARDED.


Many Claims Rest on IA Weak
Bnsis-BenninghOvnn Letter Said
All Export Meat Wns had.
Copyright. 1889, by the Associated Press.
Berlin, May 6-The belief has taken COM
plete possession Of the public mind in Ger
many that German interests in Samoa
have been brutally and ruthlessly disre-
garded both by England and the United
States.
1t seems that this view Is steadily gain
ing strength with nearly all classes. The
press certainly reflects the sentiment with
increasing violence. The government has
done nothing the past week either to for
tify or to dspel this trend of public opln-
ion. The government press has been
strangely silent upon the subject.
The Agrarian newspapers and many 9TH
er journals have seized the occasion of the
birthday anniversary of the imperial min
lister for foreign affairs. Baron Won Bue-
low. to severely attack him for what they
style his supine disregard of Germanys
legitimate interests in Samoa, and his al
legged obsequiousness toward Great Brit
ain and the United States.
German Claims for Damages.
The matter of claims for damages. both
in Samoa and the Philippine Islands for
German property destroyed in recent en-
gdgements, has also been injected into
the press discussion with singularly grow
ing excitement, the assertion being made
that the United States meant to disregard
these 'just claims" The imperial for
elgn office, however, has done nothing to
create or foster this condition of public
feeling. In the course of an interview
with the correspondent here OF the Asso-
ciated Press, the United States ambassa-
dor to Germany, Mr.. Andrew D. White
said:
THE question of German claims for
damages for property destroyed in the
Philippine Islands or in Samoa, In conse-
quence OF acts OF our naval
or land forces, was never once
mentioned during all the con-
ferences which l have had with the i'm
perial minister for foreign affairs So far
as l am aware no such question has yet
come up at the foreign office. At any
rate, 1t is too early to discuss the subject,
as no evidence, pro or con, has been ad-
vanced on either side"
Based on Private Letters.
1t appears that the sole basis for the
wholesale charges in the newspaper press
with regard to these alleged enormous
damages is a few private letters received
from the Philippine Islands and Samoa, in
which the writer's seek to make out a case
in advance.
The Vossiche Zeltung and other journals
have reproduced two of these letters, TAX
ing for granted all that was therein
claimed and arguing on the lines present
ed by the writer's of the letters. who,
among a number of alleged facts, assert
ed that Maj Gen. Otis, at Manila, had
bluntly declined to recognize any German
claims for damages
When United States Ambassador White
was asked about this matter by the AS
ISOLATED Press correspondent, he was very
reticent, only saying:
"Of course, the reports of Gen. Otis on
any OF these cases would have great
weight with the state department; but, in
any event the final adjustment of such
claims must be made at Washington, and
not at Manila"
A Slap at the British.
The Kreuz Zeitung, in the course Of an
editorial article that has attracted great
deal Of attention, says
Despite the African agreement between
England and Germany, and despite the civ
uties interchanged, this extraordinary
perfidous action in Samoa was planned by
the English who kept In the background
and sent some American hot spurs to the
front in order to establish the fact Of an
Anglo American brotherhood in arms, and
embroH Germany and the United States to
the extent that an understanding was rem
dered next to impossible. This much is
certain, that the friendly understanding
between the United States and Germany Is
a combination that British statecraft Just
now relishes least Of ALL"
The Agrarian Deustche Tages Zeltung
| in the course OF a severe review of Ger
many's attitude towards the United States
| during the past year, blames the imperial
| foreign Office with "knuckling down to the
Americans" In every case, even RECALLING
the instance of Admiral Won Diedrchs
at Manila, so as not to hurt the feelings
| Of Messieurs, the Americans" The ar
| tlcle concludes as follows: ,
"Only by now showing a bold and un-
yielding front can the prestige OF the etn-
pire, which has suffered so seriously lat
| terly, be re-establlshed."
Charges a Want of Tact.
The same newspaper and a number Of
others blame the Emperor for showing
too much frendliness toward Americans,
and charge President Mckinley With a
gross want Of tact In not replying 10 En-
| ton on thc subject of the new trans-At-
| lantic cable in German, and thus out
raging oil international courtesy"
on the other hand, the Berlin Tageblatt.
the Cologne Gazette and the greater part
of the Liberal press take a more rational
view of the relations between Germany
and the United States, alluding TO the
| good win of the United States as recent
| ly shown on several occasions in highly
| complimentary terms.
Against the Meat Bill.
The anlmosity Of the agrarlans towards
Baron Won Buelow and the foreign policy
of Germany is doubtless largely due TO the
meat inspection bill, the provisions OF
which, so far as can be seen, are favor
able TO American interests which eondi-
ton Of affairs is attributed TO the infu-
ence of Baron yon BuelOw. The agrarIan
campaign against the meat inspection bin
continues in full force. The Federation OF
Busbandry this week presented 3,O56 peu-
tions against the bill.
The Agrarian Deutsche Zeitung which
has had series Of articles aiming to show
| that the all-American meat imported into