Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-03-01
Admiral Won Diederichs Further
Replies to Americans Story
of Manila Bay.
THINKS U. S. OFFICER
WAS HIGHLY NERVOUS
Blames Malicious Troublemaker.
for Ugly Misunderstanding Be-
tween Commanders.

BERLIN, February 2S.-That Admiral
Dewey. in charge Of the American block
aiding fleet at Manila bay in $685. threat
ened the German naval commanders with
war II they did not cease their inter-
ference with blockade regulations, is the
import Of the lengthy statement of Ad-
miral Won Diederichs in the official Ma
rine Rundschau, in further replying to
the American naval officers description
Of the exciting incidents between the
commanders Of the two powers.
Admiral dewey gradually talked him.
self into passion" Admiral Won Diede-
rich says. Continuing. the American
commander declared, according to the
German officer, why, shall stop every
vessel, whatever may be her colors. And
If she does not stop I shall fire at her.
And that means war. do you know, sir?
When the phrase IF Germany wants war,
etc. occurred again I took my leave.
II was under the impression that this,
in itself trivial, incident put match to
a mass Of explosives which had long been
accommodating in Admiral Dewey's mind
from suspicion, rumor and newspaper
reports
Nervousness Is Blamed.
Admiral Won Diederichs makes the COM
ment that Admiral Dewey must have
known a declaration of war did not de-
pend on either OFFICER. He attributes
Admiral Dewey's conduct toward Flag
Lieut.. Won Mintze, who paid a visit to
him. to nervousness arising from the
weight Of responsibility resting on him
as commander of the hlockading fleet
and from the rumors reaching him i'll re-
gard to the falsity Of the Germans.
The German admiral took up promptly
Admiral Dewey's assertion that it was
his right and duty to communicate with
all vessels entering the port of Manila
and to make such inquiries as were neces-
sary to establish their identity. Ad-
ing of colors by the vessels was made
ouate, since the display of false colors
was common ruse In war.
Denied Dewey's Rights.
The correspondence between Admiral
Dewey, Admiral Won Diederichs and Ad-
miral Chichester of the British fleet is
reproduced textually. July IL, 1898, the
German admiral denied Admiral Dewey s
right of visitation and sent copies of
his letter to all the foreign commanders
in order to ascertain their views. Ac-
cording to the German COMMANDER, the
French, Austrian. Japanese and British
commander shared hi sopinion, although
Admiral Chichester required some per
suasion and endeavored to demonstrate
that Admiral Dewey's pretensfons were
justified.
The letter of July II from Admiral
Won Diederichs to Admiral Dewey. which
ends the correspondence, shows that the
two commanders were substantially IN
accord in regard to the procedure In
connection with warships arriving at
Manila. The variance of opinion was
chiefly as to the Interpretation OF the
word enquiries" which the German adj
miral interpreted as an investigation to
establish the truth of the neutral COM
manders' word.
Accepts Disavowal.
In his letter Admiral Won Diederichs
accepts Admiral Dewey's disavowal of
the claim to the right Of visiting neutral
warships and accepts his pretension of
right to enter into communication with
ships coming into Manila bay. This was
to be done by signal, hailing or the ex-
change of visits, but not by sending OIL
GERS on board neutral warships.
Admiral Won Diederichs sent the cruiser
Kaiserin Augusta 20 meet the Cormoran,
which was expe ef ehe 20 st tuat ton ''' anu
The two vessels, according to a letter
from a German petty officer, came up
the bay cleared for action. but the Amer
leans did not attempt to demand their
identification.
This incident, says Admiral Won Die
derfchs. cleared him of the suspicion OF
Welding a hairs breadth to Admiral
6ewey's demands. He had not ordered
the vessels to clear for action, he said.
Relations More Friendly.
The relations between the German and
American admirals were afterward more
friendly Finally. July 81. the text OF
the German-American agreement made in
Washington reached him, according to
which the names of German warships
must be- communicated through diplo-
matte channels before their arrival in the
blockaded harbor Afterward it was
necessary to signal only the name OF the
ship upon passing the blockade
In summing up the matter Admiral
Won Diederichs says:
Admiral Chichester expressed the opin-
ion that Admiral Dewey had been made
suspicious of the Germans by outside In
fuences-namely. Mania gossip - but
more or less malicious reports coming
from the shore cannot explain an incident
like that described by Flag Lieut.. Won
Hintze, which is exceptional in the inter-
course Of representatives Of modern CIV
iliZed nations.
Ugly misunderstanding.
II repeatedly asked myself how such
ugly misunderstanding could arise be-
tween the openly well intentioned Admiral
Dewey-who- was always trying to mod
crate the rigors of the blockade for those
innocently suffering-and me who was
always sincerely endeavoring to meet all
the wisIcs of the commander Of the
blockading feet up to the limit which
the honor of the flag sets. I can only
see the following explanation:
1.-The misguided public opinion of Ma
LIZ .anaat adlx exnressed with southern