The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1903-07-09
GERMANY AND THE UNITED
STATES.

The efforts on the part of Kaiser
william to make himself solid" with
President Roosevelt and the United
States have had another develop
ment. The record presents quite a
notable list of events. The capers of
Diedrich in Manila bay could hardly
be classed among them, but Prince
Henry's visit to this country, and at
tending incidents and circumstances,
were clearly propitiatory so was the
gracious gift from the Kaiser to the
American people of the statue of
Frederick the Great, the princely do
nation to Harvard University, with
certain acts and Incidents following in
the train of the allied demonstration
against Venezuela. Admiral Dewey's
recent contrasting of the German and
American navies, to the disadvantage
of the former, stirred up a hornets
nest in the Fatherland, but it was
probably the truth of Dewey's esti-
mates of the relative strength of the
two navies which enraged the public
men and newspapers of Germany.
Writing of this incident in the Ma
tional Review, London publication
of leading rank, A. Maurice Low, the
editor of the American Affairs depart
ment, said: admiral Dewey's re-
marks may have been trifle indis-
Greet, considering that he was the
senior officer of the American navy,
but no one questions their truth.
n Admiral Dewey, of course,
speaks straight from the heart when
he criticises Germany" Mr.. Lowe
then tells the story Of the ordering of
the famous Oregon to Manila for
"political effect He says; cat that
time Admiral Dewey had nothing
more formidable under his command
than an arnored cruiser, while the
Germans had more powerful vessels.
He wanted the Germans to see first
class American battleship. He wanted
them to understand that, although the
United States was represented in Ash
attic waters by cruisers merely, there
were battleships at home ready for &C.
ton if needed, and he knew perhaps
better than did the statesman in
Washington the political Importance
of adding the Oregon to his squadron.
President Mckinley appreciated the
significance of the suggestion and
ordered the Oregon to be sent to him
without delay. Admiral Diedrich also
comprehended, and from that time he
maintained more respectful atti-
tude." Whether or not it WAS the
relation of cause and effect, after
the coming of the Oregon the de-
meanor of Germany changed. Not
only did the obstreperous Diedrich
cease Fostering Dewey, but the Ger
man Admiral was recalled, also.
In this connection Mr.. Low OBJ
served with apparent satisfaction that
the German comments on Admiral
Dewey's speech had been received
with the cynical levity so character
istic of the American press, and
quoted the following remarks from one
prominent newspaper: Apparently
the whole complex structure of SIM
ulated German official friendliness for
the United States, erected by the
Kaiser at much pains, is about to
collapse. Plain speaking is the order
of the day at Berlin and the war dogs
are snarling at our heels. The horrid
fear seizes us that the Emperor will
haul back the Frederick the Great
statue. "
The circumstance was recited, in
further evidence OF the collapse, that
the Kaiser's invitation 10 the Presi-
don't to permit the European squadron
to visit Kiel during race-wee had
been politely declined. But the Amer
lean squadron was present at Kiel and
if the Emperor's complicated struc-
true of simulated German official
friendliness'' was strained by Dewey s
comments, it appears to have been
braced geographically, at least-by
the events of the recent gala week at
Germany's great naval port. The EN-
peror aud Prince Henry, the Ambas-
sador of the United States and the
American Admiral, have been hobnob-
bling in the most friendly manner; the
Emperor has been speaking of the
President with very distinguished
consideration and praising American
naval architecture without stint, shak-
ing hands with American jaokies and
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