New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-03-01
GERMANY'S FRIENDSHIP SHOWN
ALL HER WARSHIPS ORDERED TO WITHDRAW FROM PHILIP
PINE WATERS.


Washington. Feb. 2S-The German Govern
ment has effectuay set at rest the rumors OF
purpose directly 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 with the
United States by ordering the withdrawal OF all
vessels Of it's navy from Philippine waters. and
placing the lives Of its subjects there under the
protection OF the United States Government.
The action taken IS regarded here as stroke
in diplomacy by which all possibility OF clash
between German and American interests in and
about Manila will he removed and notice given
to all the world, and especially to any Americans
who have entertained suspicious OF sinister de-
signs by Germany OF the wish ard purpose or
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 almost completely in American
hands
SENSATIONAL, RUMORs EXPLODED.
The announcement Of this act by the German
Government came at the close of a day which
had been full OF sensational rumors OF CLASH
between the Americans and the Germans at
Manila. the rumors finally going SC far as to
assert that Admiral Dewey had fired on and
sunk a German vessel These rumors spread In
spite OF the fact that the cable connecting
Manila with the outer world is in the control Of
the United States. 80 that 1t might be reasonably
expected that It would be the Government 70
receive the first news of any disaster or collision
at Manila. and that at the White House, the
War Department and the Navy Department
positive denials were made Of the receipt OF any
news tending even in the slightest degree to
confirm the rumors
Fven some Of the more cautious naval officers,
we're infected with fear for the moment, for
while they had not the slightest idea that there
had been any trouble between the American
and German ships, still they realized that there
was always the possibility Of an accident aboard
shin that might result dsastrousy These lin
gerng fears in naval circles were set at rest
finally at the close Of the day by the receipt OF
some dispatches from Manila but without men
tion Of any untoward incident. Based on this
far, Secretary Long Secretary Alger Captain
Crowninsheld and General Corbin all took the
responsibility Of denying the runors in the
strongest term.
NO POSSIBILITY OF A CLASH
Eirauv AZ the close Of the day and after the
official close Of the departments, announcement
r.os made Of the reason for the great confidence
~ the officials in the fasity Of the rurors. the
statement teing authorized that by one bod
stroke Germany had removed all possibility OF
anv clash between hotheads at Manila IL was
o,,ounced +hat the German Government had
,na,rea ,ts ships away from Manila, probably
. tho rav naval station at Kiao-Chau on the
Chinese coast. The announcement was coupled
NTH the statement that the German vessels
were needed there. This may be the case TOT
.,,o s,orv has come 10 Washington that the Chi
nese have been abusing some German cl'iezhs
a. T,en-Tsin. The Germans have come TO oe-
Ieye that the only way to meet such cases IS
-. nunitive measures and as Tien-Tsin is at
,ho head Of the navigation on the Pei-Ho River
lust below Peking. it may be the purpose TO send
some warships up the river TO convey an iaea
Of Germany's dspleasure.
The German Government followed its an
rouncement 10 the State Department Of a pur-
nose 70 order its vessels away from the fh'Iip-
mines with formal application to the United
States Government to undertake the protection
81 all the Germans in the Philippines not only
~ norson but in property. This was regarded
as a signal manifestation OF confidence "hich
the Administration felt could not be resist
Cd and as practically formal notice that the
Germans have no ulterior purpose In the Philip
n,nes and rather than he subjected TO suspicion
on that score had taken the course OF turning
o,,er the care of the welfare of their citizens to
the United States Government.
THE PRESIDENT ACCEPTS THE TRUST.
The President promptly accepted the trust.
and there will be no German ships AT either
Manila or Ioilo TO disturb the relations between
the two countries by forming the base OF sem
sational and false rumors It Is not known here
., tbis moment lust what German ships were
actually in Philippine waters. The press reports
have mentioned the arrival at Manila or the
German flagship Kaiserin Augusta few days
ago. and IL Berlin accounts are accurate she Is
the only representative Of the German Navy
there. for the Irene sailed away some weeks ago
1t is possible that by assuming this responsi-
bility the United States Government has ac-
cented liability for any damages that may be
sustained by German residents and interests al
Manila but It is probable that the application
must have been granted and responsibility as
-. 10 IL hnlin,.nd that Admiral