CAROLINE ISLANDS. 



141 



ment on their behalf. In February, 1885, the 

 corvette Velasco visited the islands, but did 

 not consummate any form of annexation. In 

 July, 1885, an appropriation of money for the 

 administration of the islands was included in 

 the budget of the Philippines. 



The Planting of the German Flag. The Spanish 

 vessels Manila and San Quentin arrived at Yap 

 August 23, and began to make preparations 

 for taking formal possession of the island. 

 Sefior Capriles, as governor, selected a site for 

 a flag-staff and made a formal declaration of 

 the act, attested by his staff and the friars ac- 



were ordered, before the news readied Spain, 

 to complete the Spanish occupation of Yap if 

 their force was equal to that of the Germans. 

 The cruiser Velasco left Manila for that pur- 

 pose. The Iltis called at Manila to report by 

 telegraph to the German Government. The 

 troops on the Velasco, afterward replaced by 

 the Valiente, took possession of the island. 



Excitement in Spain. The German attempt to 

 annex the Caroline Islands suddenly chilled 

 the cordial feelings existing between Spain and 

 Germany, and roused a sentiment of animosity 

 to Germany so strong that it seemed likely to 



GATEWAY OP RUINED INCLOSUBE, STRONG'S ISLAND. 



companying the expedition. On the night of 

 August 24 the German gunboat Iltis steamed 

 into the harbor and landed men, who hoisted 

 the German war-flag and took possession in 

 the name of Germany. The imperial flag un- 

 expectedly met the view of the Spaniards the 

 next morning. The newly appointed Spanish 

 governor wished to pull it down and effect an 

 occupation by force, but was restrained by the 

 naval commander, to whom Gen. Terreros had 

 given orders to avoid any conflict with the Ger- 

 mans. The Spanish officers delivered to the 

 German commander a formal protest. Captain 

 Espana then re- embarked the cattle and mate- 

 rials and returned to report to the Governor- 

 General at Manila. The Spanish commanders 



produce a war between the two countries. 

 The effusive warmth of feeling manifested by 

 the visit of King Alfonso to Germany, led to 

 the insult of the Spanish King by a Parisian 

 mob and the estrangement from France of all 

 parties but the Republicans. The cause of the 

 intimate relations between the Spanish and 

 German Governments was the service rendered 

 by Germany in introducing Spain into the Eu- 

 ropean concert after seventy years of existence 

 as a second-rate power. Jules Ferry, during 

 his first ministry, suggested the idea and prof- 

 fered his services, but Count de la Vega, the 

 Spanish Foreign Minister at the time, preferred 

 to accept the offices of Germany. The project 

 has not yet been carried out. The Caroline 



