Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1899-03-01

, To Show That She Is Our Friend, and Puts
| Her Interests in the Philippines in Our
| Hands-0uestion of Liability Raised
| Possible Claim from England-Notf-
ing Going at Manila Except the Usual
! DesuItory Firing.
| Washington, March The German
government has set at rest, effectually.
the Iumors Of a purpose on its part, di-
| rectly or Indirectly, to embarrass the
United States in the Philippine islands.
and has given a signal manifestation of
its desire to promote the most cordial
| relations between Germany and the
United States. by ordering the with
drawal Of all vessels OF its navy from
Philippine waters and placing the lives
and property of it's subjects under the
protection of the United States gov
Crnment. The action taken is regarded
here as 4 master stroke in diplomacy.
by which will be removed all possibility
of q clash between German and Ameri-
can interests in and about Manila, and
notice 10 all The world-and especially
TO any Americans who entertained any
suspicious of sinister designs by Ger
many-of the wish and purpose OF the
German empire to cultivate the friend
ship of the United States.
Black Eye for Sensational Ruraors.
BY II Germany at once places the pro-
lection of all her large interests in the
islands almost completely in our hands.
The announcement of this act of the
German government came at the close
of day that had been full of sensation
a. rumors of a clash between the Amer
leans and Germans in Manila, the ru-
uors finally going so far as to assert
that Admiral Dewey had fired on and
sunk German vessel at Manila. These
rumors spread. despite the fact that the
cable connecting Manila with the outer
word is in the control Of the United
States government. SO that ii might he
reasonably expected that it would be
the government to receive the first news
Of any disaster or collision at Manila,
and that at the White House, war de-
partment and navy department positive
Genials were made of the receipt of any
news tending in the slightest degree t.
confirm the rumorS.
Uncle Sam Accepts Liability.
1t is possible that by assuming this re
sUonsibiIity the United States govern
rent has accepted liza ability for any dam
age that may be sustained by the Ger
man residents and interests at Manila, |
but il is pTOhs Bile that the application
must have been granted and responsible |
ity assumed anyhow. as Il is believed |
that Admiral Dewey and General Otis |
Rad assured the German commander OF |
tire Augusta of their ability 10 protect |
every interest in Manila as a reason |
why German forces and marines should |
rot be landed. II is official opinion that
whatever the responsibility for damage |
It viii not he too large for the benefit |
which viii accrue. Il viii destroy the |
hope Of German intervention the NATIVES |
had. and it assures this government Of |
the friendship Of Germany.
Damages for Two EnSIishmen.
AprOpos of this question of liability |
for damages cable from London stat
ing that replying in the house Of com
mons to Hon. Philip James Stanhope. |
Liberal. who asked the government to
make friendly representations to the
United States on the subject Of Pc
cuniary compensation being granted to
the relatives of the Englishmen who
were victims of the unfortunate shoot
ing accident at Manila. the parliamentary
secretary of the foreign office said the
British consul at Manila had tele-
grapheG the facts of the shooting. but |
the government must wait Il full report
on the subject before forming an opin-
ion on the points raised"