JiU$/• VI. On January 3, 189S, Commodore Dewey raised his flag on the "Olympia" at Hong Kong. On February 20 he received the fol- lowing dispatch from Roosevelt : "Keep full of coal. In the event of a decla- ration of war with Spain your duty will be to see that the Spanish squadron does not leave the Asiatic coast, and then offensive opera- tions in Philippine Islands." On ]^Iarch 22, thirty-four days after the destruction of the "Maine" at Havana, the "Baltimore," loaded down with ammunition and coal, left Honolulu, and made all possible speed to Hong Kong — and Dewey. Here the supplies were transferred to his squad- ron, and preparations completed for the events which were to follow at Manila. The Queen of Spain declared war against the United States on April 24, 1898. A bill was passed by our Congress that the war be- gan April 21, and Commodore Dewey, at Hong Kong, was cabled to capture or destroy the Spanish war ships at Manila. On April 24 Commodore Dewey, at Hong Kong, received the following dispatch from the Navy Department at Washington : "War has been commenced between the United States and Spain. Proceed at once to the Philippine Islands. Commence opera- tions at once, particularly against Spanish fleet. You must capture vessels or destroy. Use utmost endeavors." On April 27 Commodore Dewey left for Manila with his fleet, consisting of the cruisers "Olympia," "Baltimore," "Raleigh," "Boston" and "Concord," the gunboat "Pet- rel," dispatch boat "McCuUock" and two col- liers. •^ »$• •$• VII. The Spanish fleet assembled at Manila un- der command of Admiral Montojo consisted of the cruisers "Reina Christina," "Castilla," "Velasco," "Don Juan de Austria," "Don An- tonio de Ulloa," "Isla de Cuba" and "Isla de Luzon," and a score of gunboats, torpedo boats, transports, etc. At Manila, in anticipa- tion of the impending naval battle, the Gover- nor-General, Augustin, issued the following bombastic proclamation : "The American people, composed of all the social excrescences, have exhausted our pa- tience and provoked war with perfidious ma- chinations, acts of treachery, and outrages against the law of nations and international conventions. "A squadron, manned by foreigners and possessing neither instructions nor discipline, is preparing to come to this archipelago with the ruffianly intention of robbing us of all that means life, honor and liberty. "The aggressors shall not profane the tombs of your fathers, shall not gratify their lustful passion at the cost of your wives and daughters, shall not cover you with dishonor, shall not appropriate the property your indus- try has accumulated as provision against old age, and shall not perpetrate any of the crimes inspired by their wickedness and covetousness, because your valor and patriotism will suffice to punish this miserable people." The Spanish authorities at Manila were ad- vised by cable, by their allies in Hong Kong, of the departure of Commodore Dewey's fleet. The wealthier residents of Manila, becoming cognizant of the impending danger, quickly gathered their portable property on board merchant vessels, while those who could not depart were in a condition of great alarm through their lack of confidence in the Span- ish army and navy. Meanwhile Dewey's fleet was coming to- wards Manila, and the Spanish fleet was cruising about the bay waiting to destroy what they sarcastically styled "the cowardly Yankee pigs." Early on the morning of April 30 the shore of Luzon was sighted by Commodore Dewey, and the cruisers were cleared for action, nets being stretched around the ships to reduce the danger of flying splinters, while chains were coiled around the ammunition hoists. It is interesting to note that this device for pro- tecting a vulnerable point was successfully used by Dewey when in command of the "Kearsage" during our Civil War. About 2 P. M. on April 30 the American fleet reached a bay on the coast forty miles north of Manila. Later that afternoon Com- modore Dewey gave orders for the fleet to "lie to," to avoid appearing before Manila by day- light, and informed his commanding officers that he intended to enter Manila Bay during that night. At II P. AL the American fleet arrived at the mottth of Manila Bay and turned in, Dewey's flagship, the "Olympia," leading, and the "Baltimore," "Raleigh," "Petrel," "Con- cord" and "Boston" following in the order named. No lights were shown except one at the stern, to guide the vessel next in line. There was a half moon, and the night was light enough to make it a risky matter to run through a channel that was commanded by batteries and supposed to be laid with mines. Not an officer in tlie squadron had been in the bay before, and the navigation of the fleet was an exceedingly responsible and perilous duty. Slowly and cautiously the fleet pursued its dangerous course into Manila Bay, passing the batteries of Corregidor Island, when a rocket went up from the island, and the Span- ish battery on El Fraile opened fire. The rear cruiser, "Boston," passed in close to the bat- tery, and pounded it until it was silenced. Untouched by a single shot, the fleet slowly continued its advance towards the city of Ma- nila, then about twenty miles distant. In the meantime the gun crews were relieved, and at 4 A. M. coffee and hard tack were served. An hour later the fleet was opposite the city, and in the early morning light it was dis- covered that there were no Spanish men-of- war in the port. It was discovered that the Spanish fleet was lined up for battle at Cavite, seven miles down the bay from Manila, where were located the most formidable of the Spanish naval arsenals and earthworks. These works had been strengthened by the addition of several mod- ern guns, while the forts and batteries on the north and south were in readiness to annihi- late Dewey's fleet. The crucial moment was at hand. In the same order as before the American cruisers proceeded towards the enemy's vessels. •f* »!• VIII. Standing on the deck of the "Olympia," Commodore Dewey sighted Admiral Monto- jo's flag floating over the "Reina Christina," a steel cruiser of 3,500 tons, which fired the first shot of the naval engagement at half-past five. The "Olympia" was then at a distance of about three miles, and Commodore Dewey gave the order to the commaifder of the flag- ship to commence the battle in the following deliberate words : "You may fire, Gridley, when ready." All of the ships of both the American and Spanish fleets now fired every gun they could bring to bear on their opponents. The bat- teries on the shore let loose their powerful shells, capable of reaching a distance of five miles, and a mask of smoke and fire settled down upon the waters of the beautiful Bay of Manila, through which the early morning sun could scarcely penetrate. Two of the Spanish torpedo boats dashed forward to attack the "Olympia," but the American gunners sunk one, and the otlier was driven disabled ashore. For two hours seventy Spanish guns were fired at Dewey's fleet, which was within easy range, but so defective was their opera- tion that not a single man was killed, and only one of their shells hit the American ships, and that did no serious damage. The Spaniards fought with the courage which desperation inspires, and on the flag- ship, "Reina Christina," the guns were fired until but two of the gunners remained unhurt. Shortly after 8 o'clock, on that eventful morning in American history, the Spanish fleet was practically wrecked, and Dewey or- dered his ships to stop firing, and withdrew out of the range of the shore batteries for a period of rest. Three hours later Commodore Dewey re- turned. Before one o'clock the Spanish ships were entirely wrecked and sunk, the shore bat- teries destroyed, Spain's one-time formidable arsenal hauled down its flag, and the Hero of Manila led his uninjured fleet again to- wards Manila, the capital of the Philippine Islands — founded in the year 1571. •f" »!• »§• IX. As a writer stated, when the news of the remarkable victory first reached us: "That this Httle squadron could steal into Manila harbor and fight not only eleven war ships, but the shore fortifications as well, destroy- ing the entire Spanish squadron, killing or wounding seven or eight hundred men, and come out with hardly a scratch, under terrific fire, as they were, is one of the marvels of the world. And yet ten times more marvelous is the fact that on these boats of ours not a man was killed, and only half a dozen or so slightly injured. There have been fiercer fights, but none with so big a victory at so little cost. "Dewey is a modest, unassuming man, with a business head on his shoulders. He has waited a long time for his opportunity. When it came Ke was ready for it — the man for the hour. "It was as a young lieutenant in the Gulf that lie mastered the lessons which five and thirty years later made possible the victory of Manila." As the enemy had control of the cable sta- tions near Manila, Commodore Dewey sent the dispatch boat "McCullock" to Hong Kong, from whence the following first official information of the battle reached Washington : "Manila, May i. — The squadron ar- rived at Manila at daybreak this morning. Immediately engaged the enemy and de- stroyed the following Spanish vessels : ■Reina Christina,' 'Castilla,' 'Ulloa,' 'Isla de Cuba,' 'Isla de Luzon,' the 'Duero,' 'Cor- reo,' 'Velasco,' 'Mindanao,' one transport, and the water battery at Cavite. The squad- ron is uninjured, and only a few men were slightly wounded. The only means of tele- graphing is to the American consul at Hong- Kong. I shall communicate with him. "Dewey." The reply from Secretary of the Navy Long was : ^ < a, o in Washingtox, Jvlay 7, i8yS. "Dewey, Manila : "The President, in the name of the .\nitri- can people thanks you and your oflficers and men for your splendid achievement and over- whelming victory. "In recog-nition he has appointed you act- ing admiral, and v.ill recommend a vote of thanks to von bv Contrress. LoNr,." •4» •S» ^* X, President McKinley, on the gtli of May, sent the following message to the Congress : "To THE Congress of the UxMted States: '"On the 24th of April I directed the Secre- tary of the Navy to telegraph orders to Com- modore George Dewey, of the United States Navy, commanding the Asiatic squadron, then lying in the port of Hong Kong, to pro- ceed forthwith to the Philippine Islands, there to commence operations and engage the as- sembled Spanish fleet. Promptly oheying that order the United States squadron, consisting of the flagship 'Olympia,' 'Baltimore,' 'Raleigh,' 'Boston,' 'Concord' and 'Petrel,' with the revenue cutter 'McCullock' as an auxiliary despatch boat, entered the harbor of Manila at daybreak on the ist of May, and immediately engaged the entire Spanish fleet of eleven ships, which were under the protec- tion of the fire of the land forts. After a stubborn fight, in whicli the enemy suftered great loss, their vessels were destroyed or completely disabled, and the water battery at Cavite silenced. Of our brave officers and men not one was lost, and only eight injured, and those slightly. All of our ships escaped any serious danger. "By the 4th of May Commodore Dewey had taken possession of the naval station at Cavite, destroying the fortificatioiis there and at the entrance of the bay, and patroling their gar- risons. The waters of the bay are under his complete control. He has established hospi- tals within the American lines, where 250 of the Spanish sick and wounded are assisted and protected. The magnitude of this victory can hardly be measured by the ordinary standards of naval warfare. Outweighing any material advantage is the moral eftect of this initial siKcess. At this unsurpassed achieve- ment the great heart of our nation throbs, not with boasting or with greed of conquest, but with deep gratitude that this triumph has come in a just cause, and that by the grace of God an effective step has thus been taken to- ward the attainment of the wished-for peace. "To those whose skill, courage and devotion have won the fight, to the gallant commander and the brave officers and n^ien who aided him, our country owes an incalculable debt. Feel- ing as our people feel and speaking in their name I sent a message to Commodore Devvrey. thanking him and his officers and men for their splendid achievements and overwhelm- ing victory, ami informing him that I had ap- pointed him an acting rear-admiral. "I now recommend that, following our na- tional precedents and expressing the fervent gratitude of every patriotic heart, the thanks of Congress be given Acting Rear-Admiral George Dewey, of the United States Navy, for highly distinguished conduct in conflict with the enemy, and to the officers and men under his command for their gallantry in the destruction of the enemy's fleet and the cap- ture of the enemy's fortifications in the Bay of Manila. "William McKinley." "Executive Mansion, May 9, 1898." The Congress took irnniediate and unani- mous action in these words : "Rcsohcd, etc., That, in piu-suance of the recommendation of the President, made in ac- cordance with the provisions of section 1508 of the Revised Statutes, tlie thanks of Congress and of the American people are hereby ten- dered to Commodore George Dewey, U. S. N., Commander-in-chief of the United States naval force of the Asiatic squadron, for highly distinguished conduct in conflict with the enemy, as displayed by him in the destruction of the Spanish fleet and batteries in the har- bor of Manila, Philippine Islands, May i, 1898. "Section 2. That the thanks of Congress and the American people are hereby extended, through Commodore Dewey, to the officers and men under his command for the gallantry and skill exhibited by them on that occasion. "Sec. 3. Be it further resolved. That the President of the United States be requested to cause this resolution to be communicated to Commodore Dewey, and through him to the officers and men under his command." A bill was also passed giving validity to the President's promotion of Commodore Dev,-ey to the rank of rear-admiral, and the Secre- tary of the Navy was authorized to present a sword of honor to Dewey and bronze medals for the officers and men of the ships which took part in the victory at ^lanila. I •f* •!• XI. Governor Roosevelt, then Assistant Secre- tary of the Navy, commented on the victory as follows : ■'Admiral Dewey has won a victory greater thrtn any since Trafalgar, with the exception of Farragut's. It is one of the great sea fights of all time, and every American is his debtor. The chief thing that it shows is the absolute necessity, even with new engines of war themselves, to have the men in the con- ning towers and the men behind the guns trained to the highest possible point. Though the American fleet was superior to the Span- ish, yet the Spanish batteries and the danger of navigating the bay made the material odds against the Americans. Yet so cool and dar- ing was Dewey, so skillful his captains and so well-trained his gimners, that the Spaniards were smashed to atoms, while our people were practically unscratched. In fact the .Ameri- can fire was so overwhelming that it prac- tically paralyzed the Spaniards." Admiral Thomas Brand (retired), of the British navy, expressed himself as fol- lows : "Dewey's great victory at Manila was ad- mirably conceived and pluckily carried out," said the British admiral. "It will go down in history as one of the most brilliant victories in the naval history of the world. The Amer- ican commander not only showed remarkable courage in entering the harbor and tackling the enemy's ships in the midst of a harassing fire from the land fortifications, but he dem- onstrated the fact that his plans had been most perfectly laid, acid he had carefully ob- tained full particulars of the harbor naviga- tion before entering. Hitherto I had believed tlie United States warships to be of inferior quality, and I fully expected them to fail in some particulars when the crucial test came; but I am bound to say that I have changed my opinion, and from the showing of the American fleet so far, I am inclined to think it as good as any of its size in the world. That it is efficiently manned and commanded seems certain." «i^ i.'J ^^^^u^^g^U.^^ -^^=^7^^^...^ PRESIDENT, COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF ARMY AND NAVY U. Born Feb. 26th, 1844. S, A. James B. Eustis, ex- Ambassador of the United States to France, said : "One cannot calculate the enliancenient of American prestige and power that Dewey has brought about. He taught the European na- tions that if we can slaughter our pigs in peace, we can also slaughter our enemies in war. Our statesmen for a century have de- bated whether it was desirable for the United States to acquire territory. Admiral Dewey has settled the question." While thousands have publicly expressed their admiration of and gratitude toward the Hero of Manila, millions have echoed their sentiments. No individual of modern times has excited more world-wide appreciation. As the poet has put it : "Dewey was the morning, Dewey was the day, Dewey was the hero "Who ?ailed Manila Bay." xn. On May 7, after Dewey's first announce- ment of his victory, came a dispatch : "I control bay completely and can take city at any time, but I have not sufficient men to hold. . . . Will ammimition be sent? "Dewey." Secretary Long replied : "The 'Charleston' will leave at once with what ammunition she can carry. Pacific Mail Steamship Company's steamer 'Peking'' will follow with ammunition and supplies. Will take troops unless you telegraph otherwise. How many will you require?" Dewey answered : "I believe the Spanish Governor-General will be obliged to surrender soon. I can take Manila at any moment. To retain possession and thus control Philippine Islands would re- quire, in my best judgment, well equipped force of 5,000 men. . . . Spanish force is estimated 10,000 men. The rebels are re- port-ed 30,000. Dewey." In the weeks that followed the tact, diplomacy and dignified firmness of Dewey's character were displayed in his trying posi- tion before Manila while awaiting the arrival of the transports from the Pacific Coast. On August 13 Generals Greene and }vlac- Arthur marched into Manila, while Dewey, on tlie "Olympia," bombarded Fort San An- tonio. The white flag was shortly hoisted over Manila and the surrender of the Spanish ^vas complete, and on the evening of August 13 the seat of Spanish power in the East was cap- tured, with 13,000 prisoners of war, 22,000 small arms, hundreds of pieces of artillery, and a public fund of nearly a million dollars. On the afternoon of the day previous the formal act that ended hostilities took place at Washington, where the protocol had been signed by representatives of the governments of the United States and Spain. •?» wft* r)f« * V r XIII. On Decemljer lo the Peace Commission signed at Paris tlie treaty that, besides se- curing freedom for Cuba, wrested from Spain, forever, their colonial empire in the Philip- pines, and made true for the first time of the United States that proud assertion : "The sun never sets on our possessions." On Christmas Day, on board the flagship "Olympia," at Alanila, Admiral Dewey wrote a letter in which he expressed this sentiment : "On this day of good will and peace on earth I hope we may have no more wars; but if we should, may our patriotism inspire us to greater deeds of heroism." On February 5, 1899, Admiral Dewey sent the following cal>le to Washington : "Insurgents here inaugurated general en- gagement last night, which was continued to- day. The American army and navy were gen- erally successful. Insurgents have been driven back and our line advanced. No casualties to navy. Dewey." On February 9 he cabled : "After continued interference and intimi- dation of our workmen, I ordered armed in- surgents to leave San Roque by nine this morning. They left during the night, a few remaining, who burnt village this morning. It is now occupied by our troops. All quiet. "Dewey." Two days later : " 'Petrel' just arrived from Iloilo. That place taken by our force Saturday, and now occu- pied. No prisoners. No casualties on our side. Insurgent loss not known, but believed to be slight. They attempted to burn town, but foreign property generally saved by our force. Dewey." «£• «f* •^ XIV. On February 13 the Senate of the United States rewarded Dewey for his victory at Ma- nila Bay on May i, 1898, by passing a bill creating him an Admiral of the Navy, as fol- lows : "That the President is hereby authorized to appoint by selection antl promotion an Admi- ral of the Navy, who shall not be placed tipon the retired list except upon his own applica- tion ; and whenever such office shall be vacated by death or otherwise, the office shall cease to exist." President McKinley, after the passage of the bill in the House, appointed George Dewey Admiral of the Navv of the United States. •|» »J» ■"So, mates, these words is all I've got to say, I says 'em, an' I means 'em, every one; They ain't no other man alive to-day Would tried to do wot Dewey tried an' done ; We knows it, us as sweat behind his guns; They knows it. them as writes the scroll of fame, An' w'en they tells o' heroes to our sons, 'W'y, mates, they'll head the list with Dewey's name." f ■'^T7 16 ms LXUKHK lUKbbb 013 903 074 6