Ron van Maanen
In 1885 raised a dissension between Germany and Spain when German troops occupied the island Yap belonging to the Caroline Islands or Islas Carolinas in the western pacific north of New Guinea. As the Nueval Filipinas formed the Caroline Island part of the government Spanish East Indies situated at Manila, Philippines. Pope Leo XIII arbitrated in this cause and although Yap was returned to Spanish possession in 1886 Germany possessed since then free trading rights. After the disastrous war with the United States of America in 1898 sold Spain in 1899 the archipelago to Germany and formed together with German New Guinea one administration.
The journalist supplied details dealing with the armed forces of both countries.
The Spanish navy consisted of 6 armoured ships with 35 guns, 15 screw steam cruisers with 105 guns, 1 floating steam battery with 5 guns, 3 wood built frigates 1st class with 102 guns and 3 2nd class with 63 guns, 9 screw steamships 2nd class with 36 guns and 20 3rd class with 49 guns, 7 paddle steamships with 14 guns, 2 screw steam transports with 8 guns, 11 small screw steamships with 21 guns and 41 screw steam gunboats each with one gun. The personnel strength numbered 673 admirals and officers, 14,000 petty officers and sailors and 7,033 marines.
The German navy consisted in begin 1885 of 7 armoured screw steamships with 127 guns, 7 armoured corvettes with 96 guns, 11 cruisers with a covered battery, 12 cruisers with a open battery (batterie batterie), 10 cruising gunboats, 14 coastal defence gunboats, 15 torpedo boats of different type and 24 being build, 8 advice yachts, 2 transports, 2 armoured river gunboats and 8 training vessels. The personnel strength numbered 843 officers and 6,285 petty officers and sailors.
