was hardly customary for a friendly squadron visiting a blockaded port on the eve of hostilities to come in force greater than the blockader commanded. Von Diederich haughtily replied that such were the Kaiser's orders.
Doubtless it was also the Kaiser's orders which induced the German sailor to threaten the Philippine auxiliaries of the United States, and openly to send supplies to the besieged garrison. This last act brought affairs to a head. Dewey was a diplomat. As such he knew the proper way to deal with this particular manifestation. His message was:
"Say to Admiral Von Diederich that if he wants a fight, he can have it now!"
Von Diederich wanted the fight. But he did not want any unknown quantities about it. So he sent over to the English commander, Captain Chichester, riding at anchor in the vicinity, and asked what he would do if Von Diederich interfered with Dewey. Chichester's answer was discouraging, a naval corollary to Sir Julian's diplomacy. It was to the
