A Clash With Germany

Former Attorney General Griggs in a recent talk let out some state secrets regarding the events which followed the landing of the allied forces on Chinese soil in the summer of 1901 and told of a clash between Germany and the United States never before related, says a Washington special to the Chicago Tribune.

"The story which General Chaffee Is now telling," said Mr. Griggs, "about how America saved $80,000,000 for the Chinese government reads almost like a romance, and yet there is another story in connection with our forces in China which I am surprised American newspapers have never learned of, and that is about a letter General Chaffee wrote to Von Waldersee, the commander in chief of the allied forces In China.

"Shortly after the entrance of the German forces into Peking the soldiers of the kaiser entered into and destroyed the great and historic observatory in that city. So flagrant was the outrage that General Chaffee wrote a letter of protest to Von Waldersee.

"The letter of General Chaffee was read one morning at a cabinet meeting, and upon the conclusion of its reading the members of the cabinet were found applauding the sentiments therein expressed. I can only remember the tenor of the letter, and now that the Chinese war is closed incident and our soldiers, as well as the soldiers of the nations, have been drawn from the celestial empire it seems the incident of the Chaffee letter should accompany the story General Chaffee is now telling.

"In substance the letter was a protest against the destruction of so ancient an observatory as that of Peking. In the letter General Chaffee said it was the act of barbarians, and he wanted to protest as strongly as he could against such ruthless demolition. In due course General Von Waldersee returned the letter to the German ambassador at Washington without comment. Speck von Sternburg, then charge d'affaires, presented the letter to Secretary Hay and demanded an apology from the American government.

"It was a serious moment in the Chinese situation. General Chaffee's letter was not couched in diplomatic language. It was the letter of a sturdy American soldier protesting against useless and wanton destruction of property that should have been held sacred.

"Speck von Sternburg, who is a splendid fellow, is at the same time the perfect embodiment of the imperialism of his august majesty. Sternburg was greatly excited, and he was rushing around demanding reparation for the gross insult General Chi had put upon the commander in chief of the allied forces in China. It was necessary for the cabinet to move in the matter, and it was finally decided to write a letter that would appease the angry feelings of the kaiser and Von Waldersee.

"That letter was read to Mr. McKinley's cabinet before it was sent. I do not now recall who wrote it but it was read by Secretary Hay. I believe that President McKinley had something to do with its preparation. At least it was satisfactory to the German government. It was a masterpiece of diction, and it served its purpose. If I were General Chaffee, nothing would give me more pleasure than to have the original of the letter he wrote Von Waldersee and the letter of apology, so called, framed, so future generations might see how an American soldier conducted himself in a foreign war.''