The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1916-10-30
EARL GRAY IN
SPEECH GIVES
SOME HISTORY
TELLS OF ACTION OF BRITISH IN
MANILA BAY WHEN GERMANS
WERE LIKELY TO lNTERF ERE
WITH AMERICANS.

London. Oct. 29.-During the recent
discussion in the house of lords re.
garding the operations of the German
submarine U-53 off the coast of the
United States, Earl Grey, former gov
ernor general of Canada, in asking for
assurances that reports were incor-
rect that commanders OF American de-
stroyers had moved their positions TO
enable the submarine to sink merchant
vessels, gave an interesting account
of a conversation he had with Admiral
Dewey as to the action of Captain Chi
chester of the British navy in Manila
bay at the outbreak Of the Spanish
American war. Earl Grey said:
Departure from Old Traditions.
"To me il is so incredible that com.
manders of American war vessels
should have acted in the way reported
that | cannot and will not believe ii
until all room for doubt has been re
moved. Such action on the part of
the American war vessels would in
volve new startling departure from
the old traditions of mutual service
between America ana England in the
cause of humanity. The custom OF
both British and American sailors In
all parts of the world TO go spontan-
eously to each others assistance in
moments of difficulty has been so in
variable that had learned before the
war to regard American and British
ships as practically ships of one uni
ted fleet for the purpose of safeguard
ing and promoting the highest inter
ests of mankind.
Incident Of Manila.
81 hope / may be permitted to quote
one illustration of the way in which
this spontaneous mutual service has
had far-reaching effects in promoting
good will between America and Eng
land. In 1905 had the honor Of meet
ing Admiral Dewey and some disting-
uished members of the American sen
ate at dinner in Washington. On that
occasion Admiral Dewey narrated to
me in a voice and with gestures elo-
quently suggestive of the most CRATE
full emotion the story-at that time
entirely new to me and perhaps news
to some members of your lordship's
house today-of the way in which he
had received invaluable assistance
from Captain Chichester at Manila at
a time OF great anxiety.
admiral Dewey informed me that
the presence at Manila OF German
cruisers with a heavier displacement
than that of the American ships
caused him to realize the grave char
actor OF the danger menacing his coun-
try in the event OF the German ships
beginning the hostile action of which
he, at the time. had reason to be
apprehensive. He described how the
whole American feet watched in ST.
lent anxiety the visit OF the German
admiral to Captain Chichester's ship
and the intense relief with which they
saw, shortly after the German admir-
ais return to his own ship, his majes-
ty's ships under Captain Chicheters
command hoist their anchors and
shift their anchorage to a. position
which placed them in the. direct line
of fire between the German and Am
erican ships.
mo action has ever done more TO
promote the friendly feelings OF one
nation to another than that action OF
Captain Chichester which I believe TO
have been absolutely spontaneous on
his part and which action is well
known to every officer in the naval
service OF the United States. ''.
81 trust that the secretary of state
for foreign affairs may be able TO as
sure the house that the rumors at
tributing to American officers action
so different from that Of Captain Chi
chester are wholly and absolutely
without foundation"