Durango semi-weekly herald., 1901-11-28

why American naval officers continue
to predict war between the two
countries. Within the last few weeks
pertinent article on this subject.
written by Lieutenant Commander
Joseph b. Murdoch OF the United
States navy, which appeared in the
August number of the Journal of the
Naval Institute at Annapolis. Com
mander Murdock seems to share with
many other officers of our navy a sus-
picion that the Germans are building
their big fleet especially to fight the
United States, and that the future
violation or defnance of the Monroe
Doctrine on the part OF Germany by
invading the American continent will
be the casus belli.
/ have heard the same opinion ex-
pressed hundred times by American
officers. 1t seems to be the almost
unanimous sentiment that war with
Germany within the next few years
is inevitable; and the Germans ap-
pear mystified on the subject. They
are very curious to know the grounds
loi SuNh expectations, anu ohly
conjecture that the alleged attitude
of the German fleet at Manila and
the supposed intention of the kaiser
10 secure footing in Brazil and upon
the coast OF Venezuela have excited
apprehension and uneasiness on our
side of the water. German officers
take great pains to explain and apol-
ogiZe for the behavior of their fleet
at Manila. and declare that 1t was
misunderstood and misrepresented;
that there was never any intention
or desire to interfere with Admiral
Dewey's movements or diminish the
fruits and the glory OF his victory;
and that the whole trouble grew out
of the ignorance and ineXperience of
the commander of the German fleet,
who had never been in the presence
of actual belligerents before and did
not know what was expected of him
under the circumstances He con
tinued his daily drills and evolutions
and the manipulation of his search
lights at night. according to the regu-
ations. with motives that were en-
tirely innocent, and therefore was
greatly astonished TO receive an ar
bitrary order from Admiral Dexeg
that they must be suspended. AS
soon as he comprehended the situa-
ton he made ample explanations and
apologies, and the Germans think the
American navy Should accept them
and forget the incident.
1t may interest Lieutenant Com
,tt
officers who have given public utter
ances to their opinions on this sub
ject to know that the kaiser and the
Naval League, which is organized to
promote the interests of the German
navy, have made wide use of their
articles for the purpose of persuad-
ing reluctant members of the Ger
man reichstag to vote more money
to bujlG new ships. Vigilant persons
on the American side of the Atlantic
perhaps it may be the consuls and
perhaps the embassy at Washington,
or both. or perhaps the clipping bu-
reaus-send to the naval league at
Berlin every paragraph in the Ameri-
can newspapers that can be construed
as unfriendly to Germany. TheEe
paragraphs are translated and fur
nished to every newspaper that will
print them throughout the entire
empire with a view of affecting pub
lie opinion. They are then repub-
lshed in pamphlet form and placed
in the hands OF those who oppose
further increase of the navy, in
order to convince them that it will
soon be necessary to defend the faith
erland against an attack from the
United States. Many million
dollars has been added to the naval
budget by the use of such influ-
ences.