The other threat was posed by a large German squadron that was collecting in the Philippines. Other nations' ships had also arrived but the German strength seemed more like they were positioning themselves to take the colony for themselves should any opportunity arise in the aftermath of the Spanish-American war. Germany had earlier come into conflict with Spain over Yap Island (awarded to Spain) and was trying to build on its mediocre collection of overseas colonies. [Also staying in Manila Bay were British, French, and Japanese warships, all with their own imperialistic interests of course. It is interesting that despite the fact that Spain had occupied the islands for hundreds of years, both Germany and the USA (relatively new nations) had quickly gathered more powerful cruiser squadrons in the Philippines than the original Spanish colonial force. Japan might have also been able to come up with a similar squadron if it had wanted to, or France, which had a cruiser squadron based in Indochina...of course, Japan, England and Russia also each had a couple of modern battleships in the Pacific]. Although several Spanish ships of their destroyed squadron were eventually raised by the Americans, these would probably not be available to the Americans for any immediate showdown with Germany.
Analysis: [Germans vs. Americans] The most powerful German ships were the two old, reconstructed ironclads Deutschland and Kaiser, heavily armed but slow. Against these the Americans would have to count on the monitor Monterey, equally slow but perhaps a smaller target, and some combination of the powerful Olympia and other cruisers with 8in guns (the Charleston and Baltimore, supported by the obselete Boston). The rest of the German ships were more lightly armed than the American cruisers, making it a contest of many rapid-fire 5.9- and 4.1-in. guns versus the American 8in. and 6-in. guns. A very tough matchup to call.
[Spanish vs. Americans] Here the situation is even stranger, as a Spanish battleship and large armored cruiser are pitted against a squadron of smaller American cruisers which would have greater combined firepower if they could get within range. One interesting matchup would be the Olympia vs. the Carlos Vscriptalthough the Spanish ship is an armored cruiser, its side armor is very thin and if the Olympia got within range for its 8in. guns there would be a very close contest. (As mentioned for the USS Brooklyn at the battle of Santiago, the weak side armor of the Carlos V should be looked at in the context that the British started making large first-class cruisers with no side armor, instead making protected-deck cruisers like the Olympia but ranging upwards in size to the largest warships afloat). The Pelayo was a French design, with the heavy guns in four single turrets at each end and on the sides of the ship. It was Spain's only modern battleship and a serious threat.
In either scenario the Americans would have to make a choice in strategy: concentrate forces and try to slug it out, or scatter among the islands and harass the enemy (probably a failing strategy against Germany since the American Atlantic fleet could send few reinforcements and was unlikely to be able to threaten Germany itself; against the powerful Spanish warships this would work as Spain itself would be vulnerable without its home fleet, especially after the US Navy won the battle of Santiago).
In reality, the tension between the aggressive Germans and the Americans never boiled over, while the Spanish 'second Pacific squadron' was recalled to Spain to defend its shores against a possible attack by the main American fleet. Germany would buy a bunch of Spain's remaining Pacific islands shortly, and split Samoa with the USA, thus expanding its Pacific empire...which would be rapidly eliminated by Japan and the Allies during World War I.
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