The Continental Press, and especially in Germany, are still racking
their brains to find some means of convincing the Americans that they were on their side during the Spanish War, and that it is an absolute delusion to suppose that they ever showed any unfriendly feeling towards America. But, if this is the fart, it certainly ought to be able to be established, and should, in the interest of historical truth, be established. In the case of Germany, the necessary proof ought to be very easy of production. During the war the Germans had a squadron at Manila. If the Germans occupied a position of friendly neutrality towards America, as they claim, that friendliness and neutrality must have been reflected in the actions of the German squadron. All, then, that is wanted to settle the matter definitely is for the Germans to ask the Navy Department at Washington to allow Admiral Dewey to state what happened in Manila Bay, and to describe the actions and attitude of the German squadron. Such a statement would set matters at rest for ever. Admiral Dewey has only got to say that the behaviour of the Germans indicated the same friendly and correct neutrality as was shown by the British squadron, and all the strange allegations now in circulation as to the behaviour of the Germans, and the steps which the British commander thought necessary to take in order to secure a fair field and no favour in C3.83 of international complications, must fall to the ground.
