Evening star., 1914-02-25

VICE ADMIRAL Won DIEDERICHs.
BADEN BADEN. Germany. February
23.-Admiral Won Diederichs himself ad-
mits he Informed the British naval COM
nander in Manila bay at the time of the
Spanish-American war that he would
shoot any American officer who attempt
ed to board a German warship ITO make
inquiry and establish her Identity. in
carrying out the orders of Admiral
Dewey.
This admission was made today in the
course of a narrative of events given to
the Associated Press by Admiral Won
Dlederichs regarding controversy over
the friction between the American and
German admirals in Manila bay. which
mas been revived by the narrative of Ad-
nliral Dewey recently published.
The German admiral, . little man with
closely cropped gray mustache, with
nothing of the appearance of a sailor,
took issue with the statements made by
ADMIRAL Dewey in his autobiogr raphy and
said he felt himself forced to give his side
of the case out of consideration FOR the
'lonor of his country and his officers.
Admits Justice in Complaint.
The controversy between Admiral
Dewey and the German admiral arose
over the visiting between the vessels of
the various powers, which. according to
Admiral Diederichs. was quite promiscu-
: Gus. He admitted there was certain
justice in Admiral Deweys complaint as
To the German 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about to be withdrawn.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 the German
commander. when the conflict arose over
the right of visitation and he then de-
cided to retain his whole force there
Admiral ven Diederichs blamed Admiral
dewey for the clash and ntinated that
IT would never have arisen If the Ameri-
can commander merely had protested
..one two trivial incidents instead of
firing shots in orde. to stop two German
pinnaces. One of them was passing the
American vessels and was held up be-
cause the flag was not showing plainly
and the other was approaching the
Olympic at night with a MESA &c and
not promptly identified
The German admiral felt that Admiral
dewey s action was decidedly unfriendlv
He sent his flag lieutenant, Won Hintze
10 make formal protest against the
action of the McCuIIoch in haIttng tbs
German cruiser Irone in order to learn
her Identity.
Threat to Shoot Americans.
c
the incident incorrectly attributed to the
Cormoran by Admiral Dewey. The
American admiral retaliated with an an
nouncement that no ship, commercial or
naval, would be allowed TO pass his
Zines. He then announced his intention
Of sending an officer on board every war
ship arriving in the bay TO make in
q1iry and to establish her identify.
The word inquiry" apparently aroused
kA tr0 n
identified it even today with a claim Ia
the right to cross-examine any German
commander. Admiral Won Diederichs saws
he discussed the situation with the Brit
shoot any officer attempting to carry out
this order Of Admiral Dewey.
a substantial victory for the Ger
mans was claimed by Admiral Won
which any arriving warship was to re-
port itself to the American com,
, mander and afterward was renuired
only to show its flag
According to Admiral Won Diedericbs
his call on the Spanish authorities was
justified by the fact that no blockade
had been formally proclaimed
Before leaving Manila Admiral Won
changed visits and cordial letters bury
ing the hatchet and blaming the news
papers for the friction
Admiral Won Diederichs said he mad
n.
and Admiral Dewey's action in reyivinu
the controversy in an erroneous state
nent was matter of surprise and re-
sret to him.
Blames English Papers.
ADMIRAL Won Diederichs attributed The
troubles between the Germans and the
americans largely to malicious reports
Yin the English papers in China ana
the absence of definite regulations gov.
erning the blockade and the move.
ments OF foreign warships. He indi
Gated. however. that a latent mistrus,
was responsible in a measure
He was desirous of cooperating wifi
and supporting Admiral Dewey from
the beginning, he said. but the Amert
can admirars fondness for Capt Chi
chester. in command of the British
squadron. and the time Admiral Dewe,
spent with the British officers kept hin
from seeing as much of Admiral Dewe,
as he would have wished
The foundation of the trouble wa
laid with the arrival of the first Ger
man cruiser the Irene 1t was reporte,
in Manila that the Irenes band playe,
the Spanish anthem when passing tn,
, American squadron, which was in