Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-08-26

ference OF all the senior officers or the
men-of-war in the harbor. But only
one officer appeared. Capt. Chichester. of
the British Immortalite. He informed
the German commander that l as act
ing entirely within my rights: that
he had instructions from his govern
ment to comply with even more rigor-
Gus restrictions than ! had laid down:
and. moreover, that senior British
officer present he had passed the word
that all British men-of-war upon en-
tering the harbor should first report to
me and fully satisfy any inquiries on
my part before proceeding to the an
chorage of the foreign fleet.
i x
However. Vice Admiral Won Died
richs was unconvinced When. later. the
Cormoran. which was an old offender.
was sighted coming up the bay Flag Lieut..
Brumby was sent to make sure that she
stopped to report, in keeping with the
custom Of other foreign men-of- war.
When the Cormoran' saw the McCulloch
approaching she turned and steamed
toward the northern part of the bay. COM
pelling the McCulloch to follow. Brumby
first hoisted the international signal. 4
wish 10 communicate. No attention was
paid to this by the Cormoran. Then
Brumby fired a shot across her bows
which had the desired effect.
'On the following day Vice Admiral
Won D1edrichs sent a capable, tactful
memorandum of grievances. When | had
heard them through made the most Of
the occasion by using third person TO
state candidly and firmly my attitude in
a verbal message which he conveyed so
successfully that Vice Admiral Won Died
richs was able to understand my point
of view. There was no further interfer-
ence with the blockade or breach OF the
etiquette which had been established by
the common consent OF the other foreign
comma nders."
One may well picture the quiet mirth
of the conqueror when he penned those
concluding lines of this chapter of his
autobiography. rightly entitled "A Pc
riod of Anxiety" There is also obvious
satisfaction In the eliminating COM
ment: Thus. as | explained to- the
President. after the war was over, a
difference of opinion about Information
al law had been adjusted amicabiy
without adding to the sum of his wor-
ries."
Some interesting sidelights We're
thrown upon the occurrences of this
and later times by Miss Elizabeth r.
Scidmore. traveller and author, and :.
close personal friend of Admiral and
Mrs. Dewey. In an article published in
the Outlook last January. immedia ely
after the death OF Admiral Dewey, Miss
Scidmore tells that she learned from,
personal knowledge of the circumstances
that the United States came very near
to open hostilities with Germany in Ma
Mia bay.
when taxed with having let the Ger
mans off too easily in that autobiography.
and with having smoothed over the most
outra geous breaches Of etiquette and the
common courteSies of the seas, Admra
Dewey sa id that he had purposeiy omitted
everything that might be irritating OF
stir up controversy and international i'll
feeling" says Miss Scidmore. However
i l. lp
following statement concerning that
period: '.I have written out a full. de-
tailed and exact account of all my in
tercourse. with the Germans at Manila
sealed it and put 1t away with my pri-
vate papers. After my death it can be
published matter of history
THE fleet knew. the British knew and
all the gossip of the far east knew that
much went on at Manila that did not ge,
into print" Miss scidmore goes on &c
say And the courage of Admiral Dewe!
in dealing with the German menace was
as great as his magnanimity since il
writing of the events i'll which he played
the great part
She declares that when this chapter Of
Admiral Dewey's autobiography was read
in England unstinted praise was shoWered
upon it's author by the service journals o.
Britain for his tempered account of what
he has elsewhere termed the nasty be
havior'' of the Germans.
Miss Scidmore. who has lived in the fan
east OH ana on LOT ABOUT thirl! years
and who was in Manila in February. 1899
relates that "On that Sunday morning OF
February 5. 1899. when Admiral Dewey
steamed over from Cavite at sunrise and
took a position off the mouth of the river
| for the Olympia, the British man-of-war
picked ND anchor and moved to one side
of the Olympia. and the Japanese man.
of-war as significantly dropped anchor
on the other side The German shr
! swung in splendid isolation far to the
westward by ITSELF
In referring to the straightforward and
determined rectitude of the British ir
connection with the occurrences of the
time. another historian writes:
"'Her Britannia majesty had become
more to American eyes since her ships
ranged themselves besides our in Manila
harbor with unveiled intent to fire shot
for shot with our guns against any
power which presumed to break Dewey'i
blockade, and show that It was only
enaper'"