The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1899-03-03
NOT HUNTING A FIGHT
As She Has Been represented Is
the Empire of the Kaiser
Wilhelm.
TAKES THE MOST DEFINITE ACTION

To Show That She Is Our Friend, and Puts
Her Interests in the Philip pines In Our
Hands-ouestion of Liability Raised
Possible Claim from England.
Washington, March 1.-The German
government has set at rest, effectually.
the rumors of a purpose on it's part, d.
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
protection Of the United States gov
eminent. The action taken is regarded
here as master stroke in diplomacy,
by which will be removed all possibility
OF a clash between German and Ameri-
can interests in and about Manila, and
notice to 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 Rumors.
BY 1t 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
al rumors of a clash between the Amer
leans and Germans in Manila, the ru-
mors 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
world is in the control of the United
States government, SO that it might be
reasonably expected that 1t 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
denials were made Of the receipt of any
news tending in the slightest degree to
confirm the rumors.
Uncle Sam Accepts Liability.
1t is possible that by assuming this re.
sponsibility the United States govern
ment has accepted liability for any dam
age that may be sustained by the Ger
man residents and interests at Manila,
but 1t Is probable that the application
must have been granted and responsible
ity assumed anyhow, as it is believed
that Admiral Dewey and General Otis
had assured the German commander of
the Augusta of their ability to protect
every interest in Manila as a reason
why German forces and marines should
not be landed. 1t is official opinion that
whatever the responsibility for damages
1t will not be too large for the benefit
which will accrue. 1t will destroy the
hope of German Intervention the natives
had, and it assures this government OF
the friendship of Germany.
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-
graphed the facts Of the shooting but
the government must wait a full report
on the subject before forming an opin-
ion on the points raised"