Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-03-01

Washington, February 28.-The Ger
man government has set at rest eff
fectually the rumors of a purpose on it's
part, directly or indirectly, to embar-
rass the United States in the Philippine
Islands, and has given signal nantes
tation of the desire to promote the most
cordial relations between Germany and
the United States by ordering the with
drawal of all vessels of it's navy from
Philippine waters and placing the lives
and property of its subjects there under
the protection of the United States gov
eminent The action taken is regarded
here as master stoke in diplomacy
by which will be removed all POSSIBLE
ity of a clash between German and
American interests in and about Ma
Mia, and notice to all the world, and
tertained any suspicious of sinister de-
signs by Germany, Of the wish and pur-
pose of the German empire to cultivate
the friendship of the United States. By
it Germany at once places the protec-
ton of all her large interests in the ISL
ands almost completely in our hands.
The announcement of this act of the
German government came at the close
of a day that had full of sensational
rumorS of a clash between the Germans
and Americans in Manila, the rumors
Grn fo,. ~ ; L
Admiral Dewey had
FIRED ON AND SUNK
a German vessel at Manila.
These rumors spread despite the fact
that the cable connecting Manila with
the outer world is in control of the
United States government, so that it
might be reasonably expected that it
would be the government to receive the
first news of any disaster or collision
at Manila. and to-day at the White
House, war department and navy de-
partment positive denials were made
of the receipt of any news tending even
in the slightest degree to confirm the
rumors Even some of the more eau
tious naval officers were infected with
fear for the moment, for while they had
not the slightest idea that there had
been any trouble between the Amer
lean and German ships still they real
lied that there is always the possibility
Of an accident aboardship that might
result disastrously.
These lingering fears in naval cir
cles were set at rest finally at the
close of the day by the receipt of some
dispatches from Manila, but without
mention CT any outward incident. Based
on this fact, Secretary Alger, Secretary
Long, Capt Chowninshield and Gen.
Corbin all took the responsibility OF
denying the rumors in the strongest
terms.
Finally at the close of the day and
after the close of the departments an
nouncement was made of the reason
for the great confidence the officials
had in the falsity of the rumors, the
statement being authorized that
BY ONE BOLD STROKE
Germany had removed all possibility
of any clash between hot-heads at Ma
Mia. 1t was announced that the Ger
man government had ordered their
ships away from Manila, probably to
their new naval station at Kiachau on
the Chinese coast. The announcement
was coupled with the statement that
the German vessels were needed there.
This may be the case, for the story
has come to Washington that the Chi
nese have been abusing some German
citizens almost in the shadow of the
Chinese capital at Tien Tsin. The
Germans have come to believe that the
only way to meet such cases is By
punitive measures, and as Tien Tsin IS
at the head of navigation on the Pie
Ho river, just below Pekin, it may be
the purpose to send some warships up
the river TO convey the idea OF the
German displeasure.
The German government followed
its announcement to the State Depart
ment Of a purpose TO order its vessels
away from the Philippines was a for
NAV application TO the United States
government to undertake the protec-
ton of all the Germans in the Philip
pines, not only in the person but IN
property. This was regarded as sig
nal manifestation of confidence that
the administration felt could not be
resisted and as practically formal no
tice that the Germans have no Interior
purpose in the Philippines, and rather
than be subjected to suspicion on that
score had taken the course Of turning
over the case of the welfare of their
citizens TO the United States govern
ment They very promptly accepted
the trust, and there will be no German
ships at either Manila or Iloilo TO dis
turb the relations between the two
countries by forming the base Of
SENSATIONAL AND FALSE RU-
MORS.
1t is not known here at the moment
just what German warships were ac-
tually in Philippine waters. The press
reports have mentioned the arrival at
Manila of the German flagship Kaiser
in Augusta few days ago, and if Ber-
lin accounts are accurate she is the
only representative of the German
navy there, for the Irene sailed away
some weeks ago.
1t is possible by assuming this respon
sibility the United States government
has accepted liability for any damages
that may be sustained by the German
residents and interests at Manila, but
| it is believed that Admiral Dewey and