Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1916-10-31
ENGLISH RECALL
AID GIVEN DEWEY
Debate in House of Lords
Brings Out Interesting
Matter of History.
AS RELATED BY ADMIRAL

Correspondence OF The Associated Press)
London, Oct. 30--During the dis
cussion in the House of Lords Mon
day last regarding the operations OF
the German submarine U-S3 off the
coast of the United States, Earl Grey
gave an account of conversation he
had had with Admiral Dewey as to
the action of Captain Chichester of
the British navy in Manila bay at the
outbreak Of the Spanish-American
war. Abiding to the question put by
Baron Charles Beresford to Viscount
Grey, the foreign secretary, with re-
gard to the German submarine opera
tons, Earl Grey said:
Asks About Destroyers.
"My Lords, before the secretary OF
state for foreign affairs answers the
question, should like to be allowed
to ask supplementary question
namely, whether there is any truth in
the statement in the press Of Tuesday,
October TO- that the commander of
the German submarine U-53 asked the
commanders of American destroyers
Denham and Macdougal to clear out
of the way so that he might have
room to blow up the ships he was at
lacking, and whether it is true that
the American destroyers promptly
acceded to the German request? | sim
cerely hope the noble viscount will as
sure the house that there is no truth
in the statement that American de-
stroyers deliberately moved out Of the
position in the open sea in order to
enable the German submarine to sink
the merchant vessels.
Departure From Tradition.
"Such action on the part Of the
American war vessels would involve a
startling departure from the old tradi-
tons of mutual service between Amer
lea and England in the cause of hui
mainly. The custom of both British
! and American sailors in all parts of
the world to go spontaneously to each
others assistance in moments of diff
Guilty has been so invariable that |
had learned before the war to regard
American and British ships as prac-
tically ships of one united fleet for the
purpose of safeguarding and promot-
ing the highest interests of mankind.
II hope may be permitted to quote
one illustration of the day 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
meeting Admiral Dewey and some dis
tinguished members of the American
senate at dinner in Washington.
Sc. Manila Incident.
"On that occasion Admiral Dewey
narrated to me in voice and with
gestures eloquently suggestive OF the
utmost graefulness the story of the
way in which he had received invalu-
able assistance from Captain Chiches-
ter at Manila at time of great anxi-
ETY.. Admiral Dewey informed me
that the presence at Manila Of the
German cruisers with heavier dis
placement than that of American ships
caused him to realize the grave char
acter OF the danger menacing his
country in the event Of the German
ships beginning the hostile action, of
which he at that time had reason to
be apprehensive. He described how
the whole American fleet watched in
silent anxiety the visit of the German
admiral to Captain Chichester's ship
and the intense relief with which they
saw, shortly after the German ad-
miral's return to his own ship, his
majesty's ships under Captain Chi
chester's command hoist their anchors
and shift their anchorage to position
which placed them in the direct line
of fire between the German and the
American ships.
mo action has ever done more to
promote the friendly feelings of one