Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1914-03-05
DECLARES DEWEY
THREATENED war
Won Diedericks Re-
plies to American Story
Of Manila Bay I
Blamesm Malicious 1roubIemak
ers for misunderstanding
Between Commanders

Berlin, March 4.-That Admiral
Dewey, in charge Of the American
blockading fleet at Manila bav in
1898, threatened the German naval
commanders with war if. they did not
cease their interference with block
ade regulations, is the import of the
lengthy statement Of Admiral Won
Diederichs in the official Marine
Rundschau in further replying to the
American naval officers description
of the exciting incidents between the
commanders Of the two powers.
"Admirals Dewey gradually talked
himself into a passion" Admiral Q
Diederich says. Continuing, the
American commander declared. ac-
,ording ITO the German officer why,
I shall stop every vessel, whatever
nay be her colors. And If she does
not stop l shall fire at her. And that
means war do you know, sir? When
he phrase If Germany wants war,
etc. occurred again I took my leave.
II was under the impression that
his, in itself, incident put a match to
l mass of explosives which had long
oeen accommodating in Admiral Dew
ey's mind from suspicion, rumor and
newspaper reports"
Nervousness is Blamed. ~
Admiral Won Diederichs makes the
Comment that Admiral Dewey must
nave known a d~eclartion of a did
not depend on either officer. He at
tributes Admiral Dewey's conduct to.
ward Flag Lieut.. Won Mintze, who
paid a visit 70 him. to nervousness
arising from the weight of RESPONSE
,ility resting on him as commander
Of the blockadiag fleet and frcm the
'umors reaching him in regard to the
'alsity Of the Germans. .#..., ..
The German admiral took up
promptly Admiral Dewey's assertion
hat it was his right and duty to COM
uunicate. with all vessels entering
he port of Manila and to make such
Inquiries as we're necessary to cs,
tablish their identity. Admiral Dewey
had declared that the showing CT COL
ors by the vessels was inadequate,
since the display Of false colors was
| ommon use in war.
Denied Dewey's Rights.
The correspondence between Ad.
miral Dewey. Admiral Won Diede,
'ichs and Admiral Chichester Of the
British fleet is reproduced %textuaily.
July IL. 1898, the German admiral
lenied Admiral Dewey's right Of
7isitation and sent copies Of his LEI.
.er to all the foreign commanders
N order to ascertain their views. Ac-
;ording to the German commander,
he Flench. Austrian, Japanese and
British commander shared his Opin-
ion although Admiral Chichester re-
1uired some persuasion and endeavOr-
ed to demonstrate that Admiral
Dewey's pretensions were justified.
The letter of July IL from Admiral
Won Diederichs to Admiral Dewey,
which ends the correspondence.
:hows that the commanders were
substantially in regard to the proce.
lure in connection with warships ar
irving at Manila. The variance of
opinion was chiefly as to the inter-
probation of the word Inquiries
which the German admiral nterpret-
cd as an investigation to establish
the truth of the eutral commanders
word. s7s H.,
In bis letter Admiral Won Diede-
richs accepts Admiral Dewey's dis.
approval of the claim to the right of
visiting neutral warships and accepts