Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1899-03-04
GERMANS LEAVE.i
Their Warships Withdraw from
Philippine Waters.
The Lives and Property OF German
subjects In the Archipelago are TO
be Protected by the American
Military and Naval Forces.

Washington, March 1.-The German
government has set at rest effectually
the rumors of purpose on its part to
embarrass the United States in the
Philippine islands and has given sig
nal manifestation of its desire to pro-
mote the most cordial relations be-
tween Germany and the United States
by ordering the withdrawal of all ves-
sells of its navy from Philippine waters
and placing the lives and property of
it's subjects there under the protection
of the United States government. The
action taken is regarded here as mas
ter stroke in diplomacy, by which will
be removed all possibility of a clash be-
tween American and German interests
in and about Manila, and notice to all
the world, and especially to any Ameri-
cans who entertained any suspicious of
sinister designs by Germany of the
purpose of the German empire to culti-
vate the friendship of the United
States. BY it Germany 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 sensa-
tional rumors of clash between the
Americans and Germans in Manila, the
rumors 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 We 4 is in control of the United
| States government, so that 1T might be
reasonably expected that it would re-
ceive the first news of any disaster or
| collision at Manila,
Finally at the close of the day 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 Manila. 1t was announced
that the German government had Or
| dered its ships away from Manila,
| probably to their new naval station at
! Kiao Chau, 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 of Tientsin. The Germans
have come to believe that the only way
to meet such cases is by punitive meas
ures, and as Tientsin is at the head OF
navigation on the Pieho river, just be-
low Pekin, it may be the purpose to
send some warships up the river to
convey an idea of German displeasure.
The German government followed its
announcement to the state department
of purpose to order it's vessels away
from the Philippines with a formal ap-
plication to the United States govern
ment to undertake the protection of all
the Germans in the Philippines, not
only in person, but in property. Ihe
president promptly accepted the trust
and there will be no German ships at
either Manila or Iloilo to disturb the
relations between the two countries by
forming the base of sensational and
false rumors.
1t is possible that by assuming this
responsibility the United States gov
ernment has accepted liability for any
damages that may be sustained by the
German interests at Manila, but it Is
probable that the application must
have been granted and responsibility
assumed anyhow, as it is believed that
Admiral Dewey and Gen. Otis had as
sured the German commander OF the
Augusta of their ability to protect ev-
ery interest in Manila as a reason why
German marines should not be landed.
1T is official opinion that whatever the
responsibility for damages, it will not
be too large for the benefit which will
accrue.