The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-06-02
GERMANS In PHILIPPINES.
Two Under Arrest, One Alleged t.
Have Planned Insurrection.

Il
ped Manila and the Philippines.
Wherever one turns he sees on guard
soldier Of the regular army. sailor
OF the navy, or a Filipino guard taken
from the Philippine scouts. At the
various military posts throughout the
leland. guards have been redoubled.
Already two Germans are under ar
rest az precautionary measure" so
the government explains. One Of them
had not concealed his intentions in the
tense days that preceded the declara-
tion Of war. Of blowing up every piece
of American government property ne
could reach. So when war broke out
he was promptly put in jail.
The other arrest is a more serious
matter. Conrad Andre. former Ger
man consul at the important southern
city Of Cebu. for months has been the
center OF rumors that connected him
with a plot to stir up malcontents
among the Filipinos to open revolt.
These reports accused him of having
kept lists Of men who had figured In
insurrections against the United
States. He was supposed to have Of
fered Ave dollars to each ex-insur-
rectos who would pledge his support
to this revolt.
His agents worked In every part m
the island and they attained consider
able success---in getting signatures and
finding men to accept the five dollars
bribe. But their success never went
beyond that. There has never been q
time in the Philippine Islands when
the seeds of an 1nsurrection were
sown upon more barren soil. The
most hardened enemies of American
rule saw in the plan the project of a
madman and 1t never for moment
had a chance Of success.
The authorities. however. are keep
ing close watch on all Germans here
1t Il probable that there are nearly
1900 Germans in the Philippines Two
thirds of them are persons who sought
refuge In the islands after they were
driven from tho neighboring British
colonies. or members of the crews Of
twenty-t three interned German steam
ers. The remainder are members of
the German colony. or the latter.
there Ia little fear but the war visi-
tors are watched pretty carefully.
| Every German in the Philippines
has been compelled to register with
the Manila police or the consta bulary
In the provinces. Men in the govern
ment service Of German birth have
been compelled to prove their citizen
ship.
For the present. at least. the mill
tary authorities are not Interpreting
too strictly that portion of the presi-
dents proclamation which bars enemy
aliens from approaching within half
a mile Of any camp or fort. Strictly
enforced, that regulation would close
every German commercial house in
the downtown district. would drive
from certain residential districts Ger
mans who made their home there be-
fore American occupation. and would
prevent Germans from crossing the
two down town bridges which span
the Pasig river.
But the very day the proclamation
was received the constabulary descend
ed upon two of the biggest German
houses In Manila and confscated their
entire stocks Of guns and ammuni-
ton. This was an easy task. as under
the laws of the Philippines no one
may even temporarily possess arms OF
ammunition without IA permit.
Tie status OF the German business
man In the Philippines is OF vital
concern to the islands and there was
general rejoicing in business circles
when Gov. Gen. Harrison announced
that contracts between American and
German subjects. not having rela'
tion to the war. are not per Sc invalid
He also announced that the insulal
government would pay all German
0 claims for goods already delivered
{ and would not cancel contracts will
4 Germans. f they were not contrary t.
] the military interests OF the United
States. German capital Is very heavi
ly interested In Philippine industries
b Much OF 1t has helped to develop tn
y islands. and II Ia feared that any dras
Z tic Interpretation of the laws of wa
) will mean O serious commercial set
back to the country.