The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-04-26
THE CASE OF CAPTAIN COGHLAN.

Captain Coghlan's ~offense, if any, is one
of environments. Circumstances have given
it a gravity and Importance that it would
not have had under ordinary conditions. No
| person questions his v~eracity or doubts the
substantial accuracy of his statement re-
| garding the strained relations that existed at
one time between the Americans and Ger
mans at Manila, and Admiral Dewey's per-
emptory message to the German admiral.
The main facts were related by correspond
ents at the time and are not new. Captain
Coghlan's relation gives them new interest
because of his personal knowledge of them
and his graphic way of putting them. If
there was any error of fact in his state
ment regarding the main incident the Ger
man naval officer, who carried Admiral
Dewey's message to Admiral Won Diederichs,
would be a competent witness in rebuttal,
but there has been no denial of the facts.
The indiscretion was in their relation at this
time by an officer of the United States navy
who knew whereof he spoke. The period of
bad feeling between the American and
German naval officers at Manila did
not last long-at least not long af-
ter Admiral DeVey's fat-footed mes
sage to the German admiral-and it was
followed by a better understanding and very
friendly relations. The Tageblatt. the gov
| eminent organ at Berlin, in an inspired ar
ticle says: IF we must admit Admiral Dew
ey first harbored suspicious of the German
squadron, these suspicious were subsequent
ly removed and their relations became most
cordial, Admiral Dewey even decorating his
ships with flags on the Empress's birthday,
which international etiquette did not compel
him to do" Friendly relations having been
fully restored it was indiscreet on the part
of Captain Coghlan TO recall the time when
they were so severely strained. especially
as the Samoan trouble has furnished a new
cause of difference between the two ma
tons which requires diplomatic adjustment.
Captain Coghlan is a victim of circum-
stances in another respect. He had no idea
that he was speaking for publication or that
what he said would yer be read or heard
outside of the room where he was speaking.
He was the guest of honor at a banquet ten
dered him by the Union League Club in its
own house, where he was entitled to as
much privacy as he would have had in a
g~entleman's private dining room. He had
no reason to suppose that anything he
might say would be reported. AS a naval
officer it is not likely such a thing as a re-
port of his remarks. ever entered his mind.
1t is said reporters were concealed behind a
screen. If this is so the Union League
Club is to blame for getting it's guest into
trouble. In this regard Captain Coghlan is
ity. A man should be able to speak freely
at a private dinner party without being am
pushed by reporters.
The affair is unfortunate because it has
it cannot make trouble between the govern
ments. If any official Importance could at
tach to the statement of a naval officer
which, though probably strictly true, was
vowal and expression of regret by Sec
| retary of State Hay and the prom
| Used reprimand of Captain Coghlan
would remove any ground of offense.
If the offending officer is reprimanded
| the country will understand that his Of
tense consisted in telling the truth at an
| inconvenient time and when invisible report
ers were present. But a thousand repri-
mands could not change the facts nor pre-
| vent Americans from admiring the action
| of Admiral Dewey, which formed the basis
| of Captain Coghlan's story.