Norwich bulletin., 1914-02-25
Spanish Anthem
 Was Not Played
GERMAN ADMIRAL DISPUTES
 DEWEYS STATEMENT.
INCIDENTS AT MANILA
Concentration of German Squadron There Due to circumstanees-Erro in oewey's Autobiography.

Baden- Baden, Feb. 24.-The contro- versy over the friction between the American and German admirals in Manila bay at the time of the Span ish-American war, which has been re- vfved by the narrative of Admiral Dewey recently published was made the subject of statement to The As sociated Press today by Admiral Von Dfedertchs. commander of the war ships.
 The German admiral took issue with the statements made by Admiral Dewey in his autobiography and said he felt himself forced to give his side of the case out of consideration for the honor Of his country and his off, cers.
 Admiral Won Diederichs attributed the troubles between the Germans and the Americans largely to malicious re- ports that appeared in the English pa pers in China. and the absence of defi- mite regulations governing the block ade and the governments of foreign ships. He indicated, however, that a latent distrust was responsible in a measure for the tension.
 He was desirous of cooperating with and supporting Admiral Dewey from the beginning, he said, but the Amer lcan admiral's fondness for Captain Chichester, in command of the British squadron and the time Admiral Dewey spent with the British officers kept him from seeing as much of Admiral Dewey as he would have wished.
 Germans Played American Anthem.
 The foundation of the trouble was laid with the arrival of the first Ger man cruiser, the Irene. It was report ed in Manila that the band on the Irene played the Spanish anthem when passing the American squadron which was interpreted to mean that the Ger mans were coming to take the Spanish side. As matter of fact said the admiral, the band played the Amer ican anthem, but the erroneous version reached the American sailors and ex- cited i'll feeling.
 The concentration of the German squadron in Manila bay. to which Ad- niral Dewey objected, was due. ac- cording to Admiral Von Diederichs to purely fortuituous chain of circum- stances
 Concentration. of German Squadron.
 He believed that the German inter- ests at Manila would be adequately protected by the small cruisers Irene 1 and the German, and he planned to concentrate the balance of the squad ron at Tsing-Tao where recruits and , tirne-expired sailors were to be tran 1 shipped. The emperor. however, sent a cable message to him to proceed tc Manila and assume charge personally No mall steamer was available and the nagShip Kaiser. first class cruiser was undergoing repairs at Nagasaki So, Admiral Won Diederichs and Flag Lieutenant Von Hintze. now minister to Mexico. sailed on the protected cruiser Kaiserin Augusta for Manila
 arriving there about the middle oi June. There was no room on the Kai- serin Augusta for the admiraPs staff and the kaiser was compelled to follow with the staff aboard.
 Errors in Dewey Autobiography.
 Mildly. but very decidedly. Admira. Non Diederichs declared that the ae- ! count of the incidents as related ir 1 the Dewey autobiography contains many errors which he attributed prob. | ably to defective memory of the events 1 or to transformation obtained from l subordinates He expressed regret that | the Manila affair had bee 1raked ou \ of oblivion having hoped that the mts ! understandings and differences hat l been smoothed over. He and Admira Dewey were friends and had ex. i changed visits. letters and gifts, tn, admiral said.