The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1899-03-08
GREAT SCHEME
FOR GERMANY.
Orders Her Warships Away
From the Philippines.

Washington, Feb. 2s.-Tne German
government has set at rest ehsctualiJ
ice rauors OF q purpose on lts part,
directly or Indirectly. to enbarFas the
Joi,el States Ia ,he Philippine islands
ara has givoc signal manifestation OF
is desire 70 promote the most cordial
relations oetseeo Germany and the
Ualtei States og ordering the vita
d.awal of eli vessels Of its uavy from
Philippine waters aod piaciug the lives
sad property OF is subjects under tbe
protection Of toe Uo::ed States Govern
ueut The action taken IS here
regarded as stroke o! diplomacy by
which will be removed all possibility Of
clash between German aud American
interests in and about Manila, and
notice to ali the world. and especially
TO any Americans who entertained auy
suspicions of sinister designs by Ger
many, of the wish ADD purpose of the
German empire to cultivate the friend
ship of the United States. By it
Germany at once places the protection
of all her large Interests 10 the islands
almost completely 10 our hands.
The announcement of this aos Of the
German government came out at the
close Of the day that bad been full of
sensational rumors of clash between
the Americans aud Germans 10 Manila,
the ruuo.s 6nally going so far as TO
asser. that Admiral Dewey aad fred CO
snd suuk German vessel st Mao;la.
These rumors spread ana some Of tue
more cautious uava. officers were iufec,.
ed with fear for the momeo;, for while
they had DOT toe slightest idea that
there hau been aug trouble between the
American and German shi ps. still they
realized t6a. there was always the
possibility of an accident aooardshio
;hss might result dlsas'eroasly.
Finally a, ,bs close OF tee day add
after the Official close OF toe department,
tae aunouocemeo5 sas made of tie
reason for the great confidence the
officials had 10 the falsity of the
rumors. the statement being authorized
that By one bold stroke Germany had
removed al possibility Of any clash
between bo. heads at Manila. It was
announced that the German government
had ordered their ships away from
Manila, probably to their new naval
station at Kischan
The German government followed
this announcement 10 the state depart
ment of purpose to order its vessels
away from the Philippines with forosa!
application to the Uoited States gov
eynuess to undertake the protection OF
all the Germans in the Philippines.
not ouiy 10 person but ~ property.
This gas regarded as signai NANTES
tation Of confidence that the adniuis,ra,
ton felt could 10; be resisted ar3 as
practically formal notice that the Ger
mans have 10 interior purpose 10 the
Philippines ard rather than be subject
ed to suspicion o. that score had taken
the course of :urning over the care of
the welfare of their citizens to the
Uoised States government, TIE pres
iden: very promptly accepted the ,rues,
aud there will be 90 German ships
either a: Mania or Ilolo 70 disturb the
relations between the two countries by
forming the basis Of seosatio al and
false rumors
1t is not known bere at this momen'
just what German ships were actually
10 Philippine waters The press re-
ports have mentioned the arrival q.
Mauila of TIE German flagship haiscrin
Augusta few days ago. aud il Berlin
accounts are accurate. she is the Oh =
representative of the German navy
;aere for the Ireoe sailed awag some
weeks ego.
Il IS possible that By assuming this
respons 'oiIiry ,he Unitej States govern
nent has acceP1s. i:st'i:y for aoy dam-
ages that may oe sustained oy the Ger,
na1 residents ani Interests at Naalla,
bot /: is probable that tie Application
noust bave 5eou gained AID ;esPo">l.
5ii.ty assumed 2oytio* as It Y 3e.le7ed
:hat Aimiral De~ey and Cen e : a.d
assured the Gafa2a Ger: u3es o; tsc
Augusta Of ,heir aaii;ty 70 a1otecI evesy
ioterest 10 Maoita as 3 reason Why Ger
c. al forces aoG mariacs sbouId cot BE
landed. Il IS tie official opinion ,oas