The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-03-28
Coupled With the Presidents Re
cent Action Diplomatic Corps Is
Busy With Speculations.
WILL KAISER FEEL OFFENDED?
Admiral Sticks to His Statement,
but Says That He Did Not In
tend 1t as Hostile Crit
icism of Germany.
REPUBLIC SPECIAL.

REPUBLIC SPECIAL.
Washington March o1.-Admiral Dewey $
declaration in a published interview that
Germany's navy Is greatly overestima ted
that the recent maneuvers were an object
lesson in American naval strength more to
the German Emperor than any one else and
that the United States navy is the most
effective fighting force in the world created
an intense stir in Washington to-day be
cause this interview came close on the
heels CT the Presidents declination of the
kaiser's invitation for the United States
battleshipS squadron to visit Kiel, which
in turn had followed this Governments ex-
pressed Discrimination to accept this year a
statute of Frederick the Great as a gift
from Germany. There is much specula ton
here ~ to whether the German Emperor
will take oTerse at Admiral Dewey'S I'M
favorable comparison.
A high Official of the State Department
to-day said he would not be surprised if
Germany inquired whether the Caribbean
ma-euvers Were intended as an object les
son" to Germany but up to late hour to-
night no such representation had yet been
i made; The Baron s HGn Stsr I who has
notify. 1t by cable of any notable publica-
tons bearing on the relations between the
United States and Germany. read the in
terview this morning, but he will take no
action unless specially instructed by HIS
Government. 1t IL understood that Baron
Won Sternburg believes the feeling between
the two countries would not be improved
by agitation of Admiral Dcwey's criticism.
DIPLOMATIC CORPS VIEW.
In the diplomatic. corps it Is believed that
although Emperor William will be chaErined
at the statement of Admiral Dewey. he will
not make diplomatic incident of 1t. for tne
reason that such action wound onIy result
in agitation which would not improve the
feeling which exists in the United States
q N httf -nttl1 an hn ut NOR
hand, revive the feeling that Germany's
course in the Venezuelan episode had net
been friendly to the United States.
The German Government has in the past
been quick TO take offense at the pub,ica-
tion of interviews. in which the German
German Charge d'Affairc. even going %
lar. last December as 10 protest to Secre
ta;y Hay against an interview published
gwen. Secretary Hay Informed him that it
was obviously impossible to do anything in
the matter as long as the identity of the
officer was not revealed.
Admiral Dewey himself said to-day that
the interview in which he was quoted was
substantially correct He added:
Il see 10 reason why il should create any
particular excitement: | said our men were
the best in the world That is true. The
German Navy I merely took as an instance
for comparison. No hostile criticism of Ger
many was intended
AS rule. the Navy Department does not
encourage officers to tax for publication on
international questions, hut the views pub
lie or otherwise. OF Admiral Dewey are
held IN such high respect that the structure
OF s ~ b mas i never Ta been ap
to-day IL was learned that the matter was
there regarded as one which the depart
ment would not feel called upon to act
upon officially. unless it should assume IN
international aspect. which was not consid-
cred likely. At the White House 1t was
stated that the President had not felt
called upon to give any official considera-
ton to the interview.
UNEXPECTED FEELING.
AS n matter of fact. Admiral Dewey's
ing IAN object lesson to the Kaiser is but
a mild expression of the unexDressed feeling
existing wherever in Washington the inside
history CT the crisis of the Venezuelan in
cident Is known. In December when the
Venezuelan situation became very warm
the result of the institution OF the blockade
under command of Admiral Dewey was
modified at Culebras. Puerto Rico. On De
cember 10 i; had been planned 20 dsperss
the squadron 10 various ports in the Car.b-
bean In order 10 give the blue iIckets shore
leave at Christmas time The disposition of
the fifty ships of the fleet was made with
an eye to placing them where they would lie
most quickly of service should the United
States decide TO take hand in the Vene-
zme,an trouble by SENDING ships In. INTO Tenei
States throughout the crisis of the situation
was based on the fact that there was a
powerful feet under the Stars and Stripes
Zuelan mainland.
Early in January. when the situation be-
came even more acute Admiral Dewey re-
ceived orders from Washington. which
caused him and the officers of his staff ,
prepare themselves TO steam directly into
Venezuelan waters. For TWO days Admiral
Dewey momentariy expected orders which
would possibly have meant a clash with the
allied fleet then blockading the Venezuelan
Coast. These orders were never issued. but
it was because the situation peaceably adj
justed itself: Nevertheless. 1t has since been
taoitly admitted by officials here that the
presence of Admiral Dewey and the fleet
i'm the Caribbean was the strongest card
held by the United States during the Vene-
zuelan trouble. which this Government was
ever DESTROYS Of settling peaceably. ~