Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-03-01
GERMANY OUR FRIEND,
All Runors TO the Contrary E.
fectua|Iy Set al Rest
SHE TAKES MARKED ACTION,
Orders All German Vessels 10 Leave
Philippine Waters.
GERMAN INTERESTS IN OUR CARE.
Lives and Property of German Citi-
zens Formally Placed Under Our
Protection by German Government.
Naval Clash Now Impossible.

! me German Government has set at rest
ehectuaIly 'he rumors of a purpose on
| It's part. directly or indirectly. to en-
| barTass the United States I'm the Phillp-
! pines. and has given signal manifesto
ton 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 its subjects there under
the protection of the United states Coy
eminent.
The action taken Is regarded here as a
! stroke in diplomacy by which will be
removed all possibility OF a clash between
! German and American interests in and
about Manila, and notice to all the world.
and especially to any Americans who en-
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 protection Of
all her large interests IN the islands al
most completely in our hands.
|
The announcement Of this act of the
German Governments came after n dav
tnat had been full Of sensational rumors
oi a clash between Germans and Ameri-
cans and which went so far as 10 assert
that Admiral Dewey had fired on and
sunk German vessel at Manila. These
rumors SPY ld. and some Of the more
cautious naval officers were infected with
FEAR for the moment. for while they had
not the slightest idea that there had
been any trouble between American and
I German ships. stiH they realized that
there was always the possibility Of an
accident aboardship that might result dis
astrOusly
Ihese lingering fears in naval circle.
were set to rest finally, at the close OF
the day, by the receipt Of some dispatche,
from Manila. without mention of any nm.
toward Incident Based on this fact
Secretary Long. Secretary Alger. Captain
Crowninshicld. and General CorLin al
took the responsibility Of denying the
rumOrs in the strongest terms.
GERMAN SHIPS ORDERED AWAY.
Finally, at the close Of the day. an,
! after the official close of the departments
| announcement was made of the reason
! for the great confidence the officials IA,
i'm the falsity of the rumors, the state
ment being authorized that by one bolC
stroke Germany had removed all posi-
! biiitN Of any clash between hOt-heads a
Manila It was announced that the Ger
man Government had ordered their ship.
away from Manila probably 10 their new
naval station at klao-ChOu. on the Chi
nese coast. The announcement wa,
coupled with the statement that the Ger
man vessels were needed there. This ma'
b the case, for the story has come {,
Washington that the Chinese have beef
abusing some German citizens almost il
the shadow OF the Chinese capital, Tien
Tsin The Germans have come TO belieV
that the only way ID meet such cases J.
by punitive measures. and as Tien-Tsi'
is at the head OF navigation on the Pei-II
river. Just below Pekin. it NAV be tn
purpose TO send some warships up th
river 20 convey an .dea of the German
disqleasure.
APPLICATION FOR PROTECTION.
The German Government followed thi
| announcement To- the State Department
Of 1t blrpose tp order its vessels ava,
from the Philippines with a formal appli
! cation To the United states GOvernmen
| to undertake the protection Of all tn
Germans in the Philippines, not only II
person. but in property. This was r.
| garded as q signal manifestation OF con
p | hdence that the administration felt coul
E not be resisted, and is practically forma
notice that the Germans have no ulterio
purpose in the Philippines, and rathe
than be subjected 20 suspicion on tina
.f -
D ! over the care of the welfare Of thei
citizens to the United states Government
The President very promptly accepte
| the trust and there viii be no Gefmd
ships either at Manila or llOilo to distur
p the relations between the two countrie
- bv forming the basis of sensational an
{ false TumOrs.
II is not known here at this momen
! lust what German ships We're actual
| in Philippine waters. The press report
i ! nave mentioned the arrival at Manila a
The German flagship Kaiserin Augusta
. few DAYS ago. and II Berlin accounts al
o. accurate she is the only Representative
% Of the German navy there. for the Iren
! sailed away some weeks ago.
LIABILITY FOR DAMAGES.
II is possible that by assuming this Re
sponslbllity. the United states Govern
= ment has accepted Liability for any dam
oecs that may be sustained by Germa
- residents and interests al Manila. bu
, ii is probable that the application mus
have been granted ard the rcspOnsibiiit
! assumed anyhow, as it is believed tina
D Admiral Dewey and General Otis assure
p the. German commander Of the August
r of their ability TO protect every interes
i'm Manila as reason why German force
and marines should not be landed.
1t is the official opinion that whatev'
the responsibility for damages. 1t vi
= | not be too large in proportion To- IN
= benefit that will accrue in the first plac
. there is no doubt that the insurgen'
cherished the idea that the Germans wei
favorable 10 their cause. and this LED
the hope that they might actively inte
vene such u result possibly mISht nav
| been brought about through some cui
- ! ning!y-planned action by the Insurseh'
- that might Involve inc German an
American sailors In a collision.
t WILL. RELIEVE TENSION
! Then too. this frank action on the pai
- | of the German Government Is cdiculdte
n ia relieve the tension that was Deslhhii
) to manifest itself. Not that there wa
J., the slightest sign Of II In any oil the on
X cial relations OF the governments oi l"
United States and GERMANY Dut u,is su'iI'
od ,tterances I'm the press of both couT
Wv Rcd on llttle underr {
visiting negotiations. might cause frl'
G ,ion ,hat would have grave results.
< 80 ,bese however, IT is expected. WI
y au, dtsannear. and once IT is understood
:, | IN, ,ha only issues between the |"
o eovernments are rather abstrlse ecohuhi
O. cal ones. and do not IN any manner COZ
y csr, territory wanted by either no Tease