The evening times., 1898-07-26
DEWEY TALKS OF MaA|ll|
The Here Tells Of the Greatest
Of the Words Battles.
DE- APPRECIATES CONFIDENCE
II Ii Mere 10 His Thaa congrats-
latson-An the Fleet Loves the
Han Who Esteems the Honor OF
HIS Cosntry Above Every Other
CONFEDERATION. a

Consideration.
New York, July 2e-The Journal today
prints the following Interview with Ad-
miral Dewey by John Barrett. former
minister to Siam:
Manila Bay. June l3.-Upon the after
noon Of my arrival In Manila Bay I cali
ed ON Admiral Dewey. He was seated on
the after gun deck of the Olympia. read
ang dispatches from home that we had
brought from Hong Kong on the zafiro. 5
Whether the news he received was par
his usual genial mood. he gave me kind
welcome that made me feeel at home
without the breaking of any formal ice.
While my conversation with the Ad-
mirai touched upon certain points which
am not authorized to discuss. there
were references made to some other
matters OF interest that am confident he
would not consider confidential.
In answering my inquiries about the
battle he said:
This battle in Manila Bay was fought
in Hong Kong Harbor. That is, the hard
was not difficult.
with the cooperation of the officers
of the feet my plans were carefully stud
led out there. and no detail omitted. Amy
man who had a suggestion to offer was
heard. and IL 1t was a good one It was
adopted. After the indications Of war
were so strong that 1t appeared inevita-
BILE devoted my time and energies to
making every preparation possible.
Of and anchor
ed in Mrs Bay, outside of the neutrality
limits, / had determined upon my line of
action. When We left there, few days
later, we sailed away ready for battle.
and expecting it as soon as we reached
the neighborhood of Manila
From the hour of departure until We
drew out OF action Sunday morning. May
i, after destroying the Spanish squadron.
we practically did not stop the engines
of our ships. We came directly across
from the China post to that OF Luzon.
headed down toward the entrance of Ma
nila Bay. reconnoitered Subig Bay. where
It had been rumored We would find the
enemy. made the entrance to Manila.
passed Corregidor Island by the south
channel in the darkness Of the night.
and steamed across the bay close to Ma
nila, where at break of day We discover
ed the Spanish fleet OF Cayite.
follew the flagship. I gave orders to
steam past the enemy and engage their
ships. The result you can see by look
ing at the sunken vessels in the harbor.
"Every ship and every man did his duty
well and the marvel of it all is that not
one man on our side was killed or even
seriously injured. The only harm in
f1icted on the ships was of trivial ma
ture. although the Spaniards kept up a
a~o xIA;- he M
longer out Of water and they had no men
to man the guns.
'sThe Spanish admiral and officers and
crews fought bravely, and deserve credit
for their valor, but all their vessels were
either destroyed or sunk. with loss of
several hundred killed and nearly as
many wounded.
''The battle was fiercely contested as
long as II lasted. but the superiority of
our fleet and ships. guns and men and
craftsmanship soon won for us the vic
tory"
I may not have followed the Admirars $
exact language all the way through. but
/ have given all the substance of his re-
plies to my questions in matters which
can be made public.
1t Is evident that the Government at
Washington reposes unlimited confidence
in the admiral and leaves to him the en-
tire conduct Of his campaign in Spanish
waters.
This is as 1t should be. but when the
Secretary of the Navy informs him di-
rectly that the Government has full con-
fidence In his judgment and discretion
there comes with the sense of personal
qualification also a feeling of RESPONSE
bility that must weigh heavily on him.
Despite this Responsibility, Admiral
Dewey said to me, as he held a telegram
in his hand just received from Washing
ton. which contained the message of the
pleased me more than all the congratu-
latfons have received"
This remark shows the man. He is not
labortng for public applause and compli-
ments, but he Is proud to do his duty in
such way as to merit the highest conf
dence of his Government at critical
period of its history and under most try
ing conditions.
My impression of him. gained from the
conversation. was that of one who had
been faced with an undertaking that
would make most men quaver but who
had executed orders without a thought
OF hinching and with an eye single to
his country's good. There is no sham
no hypocrisy. no insincerity about him.
gentle.
Admiral Dewey in manner and appear-
ance Is prepossessing. He is not tall and
stately. but Of medium height and well
Knit frame. With calm dignity and af-
fable smile he greets friend and stranr-
er. and makes him feel at ease. He talks
with a happy Aow OF language. without
apparent reserve and yet with due dis
crteion
He has quick way of moving his body.
hanos ana eyes that indicates a nervous
temperament. which q
complete control and enables him to de-
eide without delay what is the best poli-
cy to pursue or the wisest plan to exc
cute.
Were his mind once made up / would
say that 1t would be most difficult To
change 1t. but he would be willing to
listen to all opinions worth hearing be-
8ore reaching his conclusions
He Is not the man to tolerate. for a
moment bore. but as he would make
good companion so he enjoys the compan-
aonship Of bright men. The members of
the Metropolitan Club in Washington will
rejoice that one of their number has so
distinguished himself for Admiral Dewey
would impress any one as a popular club
man OF the best class He looks a GEN.
tleman and talks and acts like one. but
snot patronixer nor a victim of self
esteem.
Perhaps the best compliment that can
be paid to Admiral Dewey is that he
has the uAiversal respect of his captains
commanders. lieutenants and men. He
may be somewhat severe or cross Mt
times. but such moods can readily be
attributed to the cares and responsfbiIi.
Ties that continually worry him.
1t is often said that naval men do NOT
appreciate the importance and influence
OK the newspapers. and that correspond