The age-herald., 1899-01-13
ADMIRAL DEWEY
 AND YON DIEDRICH Mas Never Friction Between the Ger
 mans and Americans. ENGLISH WERE TO BLAME
For the False Reports Circulated Al-
 Iegins Trouble at Manila.
THEY TRIED TO STIR UP DIscoRD
Sent Misleading Dispatches to Hong Kong Which Were Cabled All Over the World-The Natives Will
 Fight America.

New York January 12.-Major Alphone Von Sonneborg, the German military ex- pert who was at Manila during the block ade by the United States navy after the battle at Cavite, and who is now in this city, speaking today about Rear Admiral Dewey, said:
 There were never any honest difficulties between Dewey and the German Admiral Won Dietrich; there was only theoreti- cal difference about the interpretation of one word in the expression 'droit de vsite the right of search.
 That was the meaning of visite' for the forms of search were different towards dif- ferent kinds of vessels, toward merchant men and ships of war But after the friend Hest exchange of letters by the two admir- als an understanding was at once reached.
 ''ro show you the spirit that was in it all, I will tell you that the American squadron once received supplies of frozen mutton, and your admiral sent Admiral Von Died rich a present of half a sheep. The other returned the compliment by sending Dewey a living calf, procured somewhere in the islands.
 You see how stupid it is to think they wanted to begin shooting at each other.
 English Were to Blame
 "The English" Major Von Sonnenborg continued, "were at the bottom of this story of a misunderstanding. All that the English in Manila could do to create sus- picon and trouble between the two coun- tries they did. They sent false stories to Hong Kong, which from there were tele graphed over the world.
 Here is another example of the great broadmindedness of Admiral Dewey. When the consuls of various neutral countries be- came frightened for fear Manila would be bombarded, the German consul went to Dewey at Cavite and asked if he had any objections to this proceeding: To charter Ing Spanish steamers then lying in the river Pasig placing on board the neutral refugees and anchorins those vessels in between the neutral warships. Dewey an- swered: Well, why not? I do not make war against women and children Even the Spanish non-combatants were granted this privilege The only condition made was that those steamers which being in blockaded port, belonged by right to the government of the United States, should return to Dewey's hands after the surren- der of Manila. Furthermore, he granted that In case of typhoon all these steam CTS of refuge might come over and anchor with the. American fleet at Cavite.'
 Can Re no Ill Eeslins
 Asked if German military men generally who had seen the run of events at Manila held the same opinion as Dewey, Major Won Sonnenborg replied that they did.
 The question was asksd What are going to be the future relations of Ger many and the United States in regard to the possessions in the eastern archipelago?" Major Von Sonnenborg replied:
 German and American interests through out the whole world run along parallel lines, and parallel lines you know never meet. I do not see how any ill-feeling can arise between the two great peoples"
 Questioned about the attitude of the na- tive Filpinos toward the United States, Major Won Sonnenborg was emphatic:
 "The Filipinos will fight" he said, "un- less you give them what they want. I be- lieve they will not lay down their arms un- til they get sef-government."