Austin's Hawaiian weekly. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1899-190?, 1899-07-01
The Philippines and
Round About

Major Younghusband mentions this minor Incl
dent:
A letter was received one evening from Agui-
naldo, saying that he had attempted to land on a
certain small island in the bay and to take pos
session of it, together with some Spanish prison.
who had been left there, but had been pre-
vented from carrying out the operation by the
German nlan-of-war, the Irene, the captain OF
which ship appears to have been singulary in
discreet person. The admiral European COM
pcations or no compcations-very naturally
resented this second infraction of sea manners
and calling on board the captains of the Raleigh
and Boston, gave them explicit orders to proceed
at once to the scene of dispute, and to land troops
on the island at all hasdrds. These instructions
were literally and promptly executed. The two
American war-vessels cleared for action run up
their fighting pennants, and bore down in all
earnestness upon the good German. The local
emblem of the "mailed fist" had hardly barganed
for this exceedingly prompt and robust action,
and cleared out with more haste than decency,
some say slipping his cable in his hurry and left
Agt1inaldo and the Americans to effect the neces-
sary capture.
In the extraordinary and unwarrantabe be-
havior of the Germans lay the chief danger to the
general peace. but German bluster was met with
ouiet dignity by the American commander. who
showed the most undaunted front and clearly
declared that if the Germans did not as neutrals
"ulleTe 10 tne laws or net1trdlS he would f1re
Them
But that. sir, would mean war with Ger
MANY" said the horror-stricken German admiral
Il am perfectly aware of the fact" was the s,1ave
reply of Admiral Dewey. When the question of
the bombardment of Manila was under discus
sion, matter which lay entirely between the bel
ligerents, and which remained for them. and
them alone. to decide. the German admiral was
again on the point of exceeding his rights as
neutral in interfering. and with view to ascer-
tanning whether the British squadron would sup
port him. he visited Sir Edward Chichester. and
asked what action he proposed taking in the
event OF the Americans bombarding the town.
THAT. sir, is known only to Admiral Dewey and
myself. was Sir Edward Chichester's polite but
crushing reply.
"Army officers at the seat of war;" saws the
writer. appear to be almost unanimous in depre-
eating the annexation of the Philippines on mill
tary grounds. while the naval opinion seems to
be in favor of it on the ground that increasing
commerce in Eastern Asia needs the fostering
influence which the display of power in any
quarter is supposed to bring" He adds:
1t may perhaps be prophesied that when the
cold fit which will in due course follow the
warmth OF the present enthusiasm, falls on the
nation, America will discover the true parting of
the ways was not in the actual act of annexation,
but in having allowed Admiral Dewey to do
more than defeat the Spanish fleet and exact
heavy indemnity from the city before sailing
away. thus leaving the Philippine problem for
the Spaniards and their friends to solve. The
new masters OF the islands have, in fact been
faced by two separate and distinct problems, the
one connected with the external bearings OF an