The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-04-30
IT'S OF NO IMPORTANCE
Germany Explains Away the
Manila Unpleasantness.
IT WAS NEVER SERIOUS
Slight HftcheS at First, as the Situation
Was a Very Difficult One
The Grass Has Over
grown 1t.
Copyright 1899 by Associated Press.

Copyright 1899 by Associated Press
Berlin, April 29.-The Coghlan Incl
dent at New York has been very gener-
| ally discussed by the German papers
| this week, although it is evident, as
stated to the associated press CORE
| spondent here by a responsible member
| of tn government, that the mouthpieces
of the government, that the mouthpieccs
strue the objectionable utterances as
anything more than the remarks of a
man who had not been accustomed to
measuring his words.
For day or two a number of the
leading newspapers published severe
| structures on the case with view to
obtaining a declaration FROM govern
mental headquarters. The correspond
ent here of the associated press sought
an interview with Privy Councillor
Hannah, a high official of the foreign
office. Having been instructed by the
minister for foreign affairs, Baron Won
| Buelow, Councillor Hannah said:
so far as the foreign office knows,
there never was a serious nisunder-
standing between Admiral Won Died
richs and Admiral Dewey, not even
during the early part of last summer.
We will not deny that there may have
been slight bitches at first, for the sit
uation was a difficult one for both Ger
mans and Americans. Admiral Dewey
may possibly have suspected for time
that Admiral Won Diedrichs was intrigu-
ing with the Spaniards at Manila or
that Germany may have meant to take
hostile stand. This may have been
due to certain evolutions of our ships
which Admiral Dewey misconstrued.
On the other hand. Admiral Diedrichs
probably keenly felt the restrictions of
a stringent blockade. which greatly
hampered the movements of his ships.
This irksome position may have tried
the patience of Admiral Won Diedrichs
at times.
This, we believe, was the case both
at Manila and at Iloilo. but whatever
the little unpleasantness grew out of,
this condition never, if we have been
correctly informed, took serious com
plexion and it never was so understood
by either party. All of this was over
long ago and the grass has overgrown
it. Ever since the end of last summer
the relations of Admiral Won Diedrichs
and Dewey have been of the most pleas
ant character and according to the
latest advices. are now to the extent of
rendering mutual services and frater-
niZing on more than one occasion.
1.-THE same conditions exist at Sa-
moa where, all reports to the contrary
notwithstanding. our advices show that
never since the trouble began have the
terms of the commander and crew of
the German cruiser Fake and those of
the English and American vessels
ceased to be cordial and pleasant.
This has been the case especially
with the Americans. Among the crew
of the United States cruiser Phladel-
phia are a number of German-Amerl-
cans. and through them friendly inter
course comes quite naturally All our
reports agree on this point.
German residents of Apia,' Council
lor Hannah continued, respectfully
mention that they had not had to suf-
fer nearly as much from the Americans
on account of regulations and other
warlike measures as from the British,
thanks to the more urbane methods of
the former.
Regarding the utterances of Captain
Coghlan, the government" Councillor
Hannah concluded. has attached no
Importance to the incident. The as
surances received from Washington on
that subject have been entirely salts
factory
Some of the newspaper comments
ances are very significant. For ex-
ample, the Frankfuerter Zeitung ad-
mits that it saw no necessity for the
dispatch of a large German squadron
to Manila and asserts that the squad
ron interfered injudiciously with the
American blockade The Frankfuerter
Zeitung alleges that this interference
was due to direct instructions from
Emperor William.
Even more significant is the fact
that the Cologne Volks Zeitung, the
main organ of the center. the dominant
party in the reichstag, has an article
agreeing with the foregoing statement
sage.
Perhaps it was due to negotiations
on the part of Germany in order to OBJ
tain, If possible. a coaling station in the
Philippines, that a number of our YES
sells were sent to Manila. If this pre-
sumption is correct, those who sent in
structions to Admiral Won Diedrichs
Office, received a bitter lesson. The
foreign office has since been engaged
in repairing the blunder and has sue
ceeded with the American government,
but not yet with the people of the
| United States. as the Coghan incident
again demonstrates
The force of this editorial article is
heightened by the fact that the paper
in which it was published was from the
outbreak of the war with Spain one of
the most virulent enemies of the United
States
The lingo agrarian press seizes the
opportunity to attack the cabinet and
particularly the foreign minister, Baron
Won Buelow. and to reterate the charge
that he is pursuing a Vacillating policy.
The North German Gazette, for exam
pie. says:
advancing at the wrong time and
| then retreating at the wrong time
that has been our foreign policy for a
! decade past
Other newspapers continue the cam
! paign for larger navy, insisting that
| if Germany wishes to remain a world
| power she must have many more ships
! so as to be able to interfere at any
| time and anywhere. The great ma
| jority of the newspapers. however, pre-
| serve calm and reasonable tone over
| the Coghlan incident.
The correspondent of the associated
press learns that Emperor William has