The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1901-11-05
BUILDING THE GERMAN NAVY.
American Officers Are in Part Respor
sihln or the Movement

American Officers Are in Part Respon-
sibIe or the Movement.
W. T. Curtis in Chicago Rccord-IIcrali.
Whenever an American meets a German
naval officer he is always asked the reasons
for the feeling of hostility against Germany
that prevails I'm the Uuitcd States navy AMI
why American naval officers continue to
predict war between the two countries.
Witnin the last few weeks the newspapers
have published very pertinent article on
this subject, written by Lieutenant COM
mander Joseph y. Murdoch of the United
states navy. which appeared I'm the August
number Of the journal of the Naval instl-
tutr at Annapolis. Commander Murdock
seems to share with many other officers OF
our navy suspicion that the Germans are
building their big fleet especially to fight
The United states and that the future viola
ton or defiance of the Monroe doctrine on
the part of Germany by invading the Amer
lean continent viii the the casus belli
| have heard the same opinion expressed n
hundred times by American officers. 1t
seems to he their almost unanimous senti-
ment that a war with Germany within the
next few years is Inevitable; ana the ter
mans appear mystiied on the subject Ihey
are YER, curious to know The grounds for
such expectations, ana can only conjecture
that the alleged attitude Of the German
fleet q Manila ana the supposed intention Of
the kaiser to secure q footing In Brazil aud
upon the coast of Venezuela have excited
apprehension and uncasincss ON orr side
OF the water German officers take great
havior of their fleet AT Manila ana declare
that 1t was misunderstood and uisrepre.
Sented; that there was never amy intention
or desire 10 interfere with Admiral DrWcys
movements or diminish fhc fruits and the
glory of the victory; and that the whole
trouble grew ont OF the ignorance ana IN
experience Of tho commander Of the Ger
maA i'ret who lad never been I'm the pres
cnCe of actual hrlllgcrcute before and did
not know what was cNpcctcd of him under
the circumstances. He continued his daily
"a q lTI In
Of his scarchlghtS az night according TO
the regulations. with motives that were en-
urcly innocent, and therefore was greatly
asIouNhgd TO receive nm arbitrary order
from Admiral Dewey that they must he
suspended As soon as he comprehpudud
the situation he made ample explanations
and apologies, and the Germans think the
American navy should accept them ana for
get the incident
1t may interest Lieutenant Commander
Murdoch and other American officers who
have given public uttorances to their opin-
ions on this subject to know that the kaiser
and the Naval league, which Is organized
10 promote the interests of the German
navy, have made wide use of their articles
FOR the purpose of nerSunding reluctant
members Of the German rcichstag to vote
more money 10 build new ships Vigllant|
persons on the American side Of the Allan
tic--pclhaps II may be the Consuls and per
maps the embassy NJ Washington. or both
or perhaps the clipping bureaus send to the
Naval league at Berlin every paragraph in|
me American newspapers that can he con
strucd as unfriendlY to Germany. These
paragraphs are translated and furnished to
every newspaper that will print them
throughout the entire empire with a view
or affecting public opinion. They are then
IN the hands Of those who oppose 4 fur.
Their Increase Of the navy. In order ia con
vince them that 1t will soon he necessary
TO defend the fatherlaud against an attack
from the United States Many million
dollars has been added to the naval budget
by the use of such Influences.
William z. Curtis.