The Washington herald., 1914-02-22
by EDWARD w. HARDEN.


Admiral Dewey's statement regarding
the so-caIled German incident in Manila,
as given in his autobiography, lack much
of giving an adequate idea Of the
strained relations that existed there dur
ing the time of the blockade of Manila
Bay. Admiral Dewey is a diplomat, and
what he has written has been done with
the idea of giving the facts regarding
the situation without offending the sus-
capabilities of the German officials. The
relations between the American fleet
under Admiral Dewey and the German
fleet under command of Admiral Won
Diederichs were always tense, and we
who were participants in the drama
know that but for the exceeding pa
thence of the American commander there
might have been serious consequences.
The Spanish fleet was destroyed on the
morning of Sunday, May l. On Monday
afternoon, May 9, Admiral Dewey cut the
cable connecting Manila with Hong Kong.
At the same time he instituted a strict
blockade of the harbor of Manila, a block
ade which was respected by all of the
neutral nations which had warships in
the bay during the period it was in force.
1t was respected by the Germans, but il
was done in such a manner as TO cause
constant friction. and to our minds, who
viewed it at close quarters, the situation
W. fraught constantly with possibilities
Of serious trouble.
strict Watch Maintained.
The strictest atch had to be main
tanned to prevent ships running the block
ade and taking supplies or ammunition
to the belea-ured enemy. All of this
work was done by the American fleet of
six fighting ships, with the assistance
furnished by the revenue-cutter McCul-
loch. the Spanish gunboats which had
been captured and two supply ships.
Manila Bay is approximately twenty miles
wide and twenty-five miles long, and
there are two passes to guard Boca Chico.
which is one mile wide, and Boca Grande.
which is more than five miles wide.
The difficulty in maintaining a strict
blockade may be imagined. The admiral's
greatest trouble was not the enemy be-
fore Us but those who came under the
guise of friends and neutrals.
The number of German citizens in
Manila at that time was very small 1
was told by the Belgian consul that there
were not more than forty Germans in
the Philippine Islands, most Of whom
were in Manila. Before the blockade
ended the Germans had six warships in
Manila Bay, all but two vessels Of the
Asiatic feet maintained at that time by
Germany. Admiral Won Diederichs came |
early in the blockade on board his flag |
ship Kaiserin Augusta and took command |
Of the German ships. The Cormoran was |
the first of the German ships to appear |
II was followed by the Irene, next by |
the flagship Kaiserin Augusta, and later |
by the Kaiser. a first-class, cruiser, the |
and the Princess Wilhelm. |
These ships were much in evidence dur
ing the time Of the blockade.
In addition to these warships the Ger
man transport Darmstadt, came into the |
bay on June 6, with 1000 sailors on board. |
The explanation was that she was bring
ing relief crews for the German vessels,
and, as most of the German Asiatic /
squadron was in Manila Bay, 1t was de-
cided to make the transfer at that point.
This ship, however, stayed in Manila Bay
for two or three weeks, and to our minds
t looked as though she was there for
The purpose of landing fighting men
Early in July / visited the insurgents
on the border OF Malate in company with
Gen. Noriel, the insurgent leader who
had command Of the Filipino force at
that point.
story of Spanish Dcserter.
At division headquarters we found a
Spanish deserter. who told US he had
led from the Spanish lines because Of the
,ruelty Of an officer He told a circum-
Itantial story to the effect that two rapid
iring guns had been brought ashore from
me of the German vessels and had been
in the Spanish trenches in front
" Malate. and that on the day following
heir arrival two officers from a German
had come ashore and had
superintended the mounting of
hese guns.
Admiral Dewey always expressed doubt
IS to the truth of this story, but he knew
hat supplies were constantly being sentl
Ishore from German ships to the Spar-
ards in Manila.
suoig Bay, which Is now an important
avail STATION. lies some thirty or forty
niles north Of the entrance to Manila
Say. In the entrance to Subig Bay is
sla de Grande, on which there was a
panish garrison with 400 Spanish SOL
iers and number of civilians. After
Iguinaldo began operations against -