THE AIMS OF GERMANY.
[TO THE EDITOR OW THE "SPECTATOR."] SIR,—In your issue of October 25th, 1902, the following para- graph appears in a letter signed " Cautus " " A few years ago some sailors landed from a German warship at Singapore, got drunk, committed assaults, and were locked up by authority. The Captain of the man-of-war landed a company of marines, broke the prison door, and returned with the prisoners in triumph, in defiance of the Governor's protest."
This amazing story is described as a " perfectly authentic " example of " Germany's scornful hostility towards us." As nearly as I have been able to ascertain, the facts are as follows. A German sailor was locked up at a police-station for being drunk and disorderly. A party of his comrades, probably also more or less drunk, invaded the station and
d4manded his release. The police officer in charge of the station, in the face of a superior force, and to avoid what would probably have been a serious fight, thought it prudent to give up the man. I am told that an apology was afterwards tendered to the Government, and the men punished on board their ship. I venture to send you this correction, though late, because I am sure you do not wish to lend your columns to the circulation of fabulous stories calculated to inflame inter-
national dislikes.—I am, Sir, &c., J. GEAEAm. ' Singapore.
Previous page
