The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1917-10-11

German and American squadrons went
from bad to worse.
Germans spread stories seeking to
ridicule Americas naval strength and
cast reflections on all matters pertain
ing to the American war measures.
Many of these stories reached the ears
Of Admiral Dewey. The Germans
seemed to have latent fear that the
United States would graduate from a
helpless pacifst nation to a nation
prepared to defend itself. This did not
at all suit the German policies.
Meanwhile the fact that the Raleigh
had fired shot across the bows Of
the German cruiser Cormoran was be-
Importance by the Germans. There
were rumors that the Imperial Ger
man government would demand an
apology from Admiral Dewey. Re-
ports flew thick and fast concerning
measures which Germany would take
up with Washington Admiral Dewey,
desiring to see how far matters had
progressed and also wanting to know
whether American authority was to
continue to be ignored, wrote the fol-
lowing note to Vice. Admiral Deid-
erichs:
Dewey Defines Position.
Il distinctly disclaim any intention
of exercising or claiming the droit de
visite of neutral vessels of war. What
do claim is the right to communicate
with all vessels entering this port, now
blockaded by the forces under my
command" etc.
In spite OF this note the Germans
continued to be source of trouble to
Admiral Dewey as long as their ships
remained in Manila harbor
The discourteous manner in which
the Germans treated Dewey's request
for the return of the American de-
serter, the slight which Prince Henry
gave to the honor of the nation be-
fore the naval representatives of the
other powers and the arrogance of
Deiderichs and his refusal to recog-
nize Dewey's rules of blockade all
combined to make a lasting impress
sion on the American officer. From
that day until the day of his death
Admiral Dewey Is said to have had
the firm conviction that the Teuton
dream of world domination was
menace which had to be very seriously
considered.
Dewey Not Popular in German Navy.
When l last talked to Admiral
Dewey in washington 1t was in con-
nection with the respective advan-
tages of battleships and battle cruis-
ers as demonstrated in an encounter
between British and German warcraft
He hesitated for some time before
permitting himself to be quoted. and
jokingly remarked that it was always
dangerous for him to talk about Ger
many for publication.
His premonition regarding Ger
many's aims of conquest was well
known in the service but not gener-
ally shared until the European war
broke out in 1914. Admiral Dewey
was one of the few naval officers who
were not surprised.
The records which Admiral Dewey
has left at the navy department COW
ering the period of the Spanish war
are really divided into two classes,
tho official reports which are given in
the annual reports of the secretary of
the navy and the special reports |
which Dewey at first left simply for |
the governments reference. Charles
w Stewart, superintendent of the
office of naval records and library, was
entrusted with these. special reports
and was so impressed with the data
in them that he arranged |
for their publication. German officials
learned of his purpose, and there was
from time to time talk of protest
against the anti German observations
made by the American officer. No
officer in the American navy was more
in the German navy than
Admiral Dewey l.