Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1914-02-26
DEYEY AND Won DIEDERIcHs.
German Admiral Takes Issue With
Hero of Manila Bay.

! Baden Baden, Germany, rep. 20
Admiral Won lDiedrich's, who wa!
! in command of the German warshlp:
at Manila Bay previous to the cap
ture of Manila by Admiral Dewey II
/ The Spanish-American war, and who
has taken issue with the American
/ admiral as to certain incidents thai
J transpired at the time, admits thai
( he had informed the British nava
commander at, Manila that he wouic
shoot any American officer who
attempted to board German war,
ship "to make inquiry and establish
her identity" in carrying out the
orders OF Admiral Dewey.
! Admiral Diederichs admits there
was certain justice in Admiral
Dewey's complaints to ships being
constantly on the move, although
this was necessary and in no way
meant to be unfriendly.
The bulk of the German squadron
was about to be withdrawn, said
tie German commander, when the
conflict arose over the right of visl-
tation, and he then decided to re-
/. tain his whole force there.
Admiral Won Diedrichs intirlated
that the conflict would never have
arisen if the American commander
merely had protested zone or two
trivial Incidents" instead Of firing
shots in order to stop two German
9inraces. One Of them was passing
the American vessels, and was held
up because the flag was not showing
plainly, and the other was approach
:ng the Olympia at night with Il
message ard was not promptly iden-
;iied.
The German admiral felt, he de-
clares, that Admiral Dewey's action
was decidedly unfriendly. He sent
nis flag lieutenant, Won Hintze, to
make formal protest against the
action OF the Mccullough in halt
i2g the German cruiser Irene in or
icr to learn her identity.
This, said the German admiral,
was the incident attributed to the
Cormoran by Admiral Dewey. The
American admiral retaliated with
an announcement that no ships,
commercial or naval, would be al
lowed to pass his lines. He then
announced his intention of sending
an officer on board every warship ar
wing in the bay. "to make inquiry
snd to establish her Identity
The word enquiry" apparently
aroused the ire of the German adj
r?iral, who identified it with claim
to the right to cross-examinc any
German commander. Admiral Won
Diederichs says he discussed the sit
nation with the British commander,
and told him he would shoot any
Office. attempting to carry out TINS
order of Admiral Dewey.
4 substantial victory for the Ger
mans was claimed by Admira! Won
D;edrichs in the final settlement by
which any arriving warship was to
report itself to the American COM
n,arder and afterward was required
only to show its flag.
According to Admiral Won Dlede-
r,chs. his call on the Spanish au-
ti,orities was justified by the fact
that no blockade had been formally
proclaimed.
Before leaving Manila, Admiral
Won Diederichs and Admiral Dewey
exchanged presents and cordial let
tcrs. burying the Ratchet and blam-
ing the newspapers for the fric-
ton.
Admiral Dewey adhered to his de-
termination to make no comment
u,on Admiral Won Diederich's ac-
count of the Manila Bay incident,
and further publication of the Ger
man admiral's comment yesterday
did not change his attitude.