The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1914-02-20
THE MANILA LEGEND.

"The Manila Legend is the des
ignation which German newspaper
have given 10 certain passages in Ad
miral Dewey Autobiography treating
of the German Meet IS operations in
Manila bay during the Spanish -Ameri
can war. Yesterday Matthias Ersber
gel, leader Of the Clerical party
made ! sharp attack on Admiral Dew
ey, presume Ny questioning the truth
If the admiral s statements In this
way semiofficiaI notice has ar last
been taken in Germany of incidents
which at one time threatened 10 en-
broil the United States and Germany
in war Germany did not come of
triumphantly in her encounters with
the United States u 1895, ana natu-
rally the Germans wall whenever the
old wounds are reopened. The United
States has long been willing to let
bygones be bygones and to overlook
the bad Judgment which the kaiser and
some Of his naval and military chiefs
displayed before and during the Span
ish- American war.
When it became clear that the Unit
ed States was being drawn into a
war with Spain, the kniser sought to
intimidate this country by concert
Of the powers. The ambassadors of
the European nations met in Washing
ton to formulate a joint note to Presi-
dent Mckinley, stating that their ma
| tions wonld look upon any declaration
of hostilities by the United States
against Spain as unwarranted. The
meeting was called by the German en-
bassador and the British ambassador
was invited to attend. To the con-
sternation of the other envoys the
British ambassador declined to sane.
tion any protest, and the diplomats
were compelled TO be content with a
joint note addressed to President Nc
Kinley, containing friendly and hui
mane expressions of a general desire
for peace. This did not end, however,
the apparent unfriendliness Of German
dignitaries toward the United States,
and the operations of Vice Admiral
Won Diederich in Manila bay resulted
in Misunderstanding with Admiral
Dewey which gave rise to what the
German newspapers are now pleased
to call f'The Manila Legend -
Vice Admiral Won Diederich, aboard
his flagship the Kaiserin Augusta,
reached Manila bay early in June,
1898. He was thoroughly imbued with
dislike for everything American,
and his personal prejudice seems to
have driven him to an extreme that
his instructions did not justify. Not
only were his operations and his per-
sonal conduct Of an unfriendly and at
times threatening character, but he
displayed lack Of courtesy toward
Admiral Dewey which is seldom re-
sorted to even by military or naval
officer in dealing with foe.
Admiral Dewey, knowing that there
were Spanish gunboats in other parts
of the Philippines, gave command that
no ships should enter the harbor of
Manila after nightfall. The German
vice admiral moved from point to
point without notice to Admiral Dew
ey at night as we'll as in the day
time. When this occurred within the
harbor the American ships directed
their searchlights full upon the Ger
man vessels and kept them under the
brilliant glare, On several occasions
German cruisers, after leaving the har-
Dor, entered it by night in defiance of
Admiral Dewey's orders When this
had happened twice Admiral Dewey de-
sisted from further verbal protests and
decided upon vigorous action. Pres
emily German ship came stealing in
under cover of darkness. A shell was
fred directly across ser bow and her
searchhght revealed the Baltimore,
with decks cleared and her crew at
the guns, ready to follow the warning
shell with a full broadside. Admiral
Won Diederich was furious, but there
after this particular regulation was not
broken
Soon afterward there was an Incl
dent of still more serious character.
A launch made toward the Olympia
without displaying any colors, and a
shot was fred across her bow. AS the
launch continued On her way the ad-
miral ordered n solid shot TO be fred,
and 1t struck within three feet Of
the little vessel, drencbiDg it with wa
ter. Then the intruder stopped and
displayed the German colors. An Amer
lean launch overhauled the stranger
and took her officer aboard the Olym-
pia. He proved to be a staff officer
Of the German vice admiral He was
ordered into the presence Of Admiral
Dewey, who denounced his rash act.
and said: "There is no excuse for
such carelessness. Present my compli-
ments to your admiral and ask him to
direct his officers to be moro careful
in the future
When the German squadron at Ma.
Mia bay began to assume formidable
proportions three British warships un-
der the command Of Captain Edward
Chichester, whose flag flew from the
cruiser lmmortsllte arrived in fha bav