Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-05-09
The Word from Dewey.

of Commodore Dewey to the govern
| and the heart of the natiCn bounded
with Joy at the glorious confirmation of
| the earlier reports of the victory. AL
though neither the government at
Washington. nor the public at large.
doubted the complete success of Dewey
at Manila nCr his safety after the bat
tie yet it was a great relief and salts
faction to hear directly from him ana
learn the particulars of his great vic
| tory. Our only information about the
battle came last Sunday, before the
cable was cut, through Spanish
sources, yet it was an acknowledgment,
Of an unqualified American triumph
For a week the world could not get the
report of the conQueror, but at last ms
dispatch boat reached Hong Kong. and
the tidings flashed around the world on
the waiting wires. Amply are we re-
paid for the weeks waiting.
A more complete triumph was never
won on the seas than the intrepid
Dewey wen at Manila. Without the in
jury of a ship or the loss of single
fife the American fleet of six vessels
totally destroyed the Spanish squadron
of nine vessels, six cruisers, two gun
boats, and an armed transport, killing
hundreds of SDaniardS and wounding
more. Moreover, the fcrts on the shore
were silenced and the city placed at tn.
mercy of the victor. This was done
mined harbor. Never was American
bravery, American skill and American
craftsmanship better shown on sea or
land The modest Yankee does not
boast of his victory. He gives the facts
merely, praising the discipline and cour-
age of his men, but the world will ap
plaud him through all time to come and
his name will shine with undying luster
on the roll of great heroes.
After his victory Commodore Dewey
did not attempt to occupy the city of
Manila. 1t lies. Subdued and Silenced
al his mercy, it's forts demolished and
its fleet shattered and sunken. But
without the aid of a larger occupying
force than was at his command he de
cided not to make a landing. His posi-
ton is easy and pleasant now, with
abundant supply of food and ammuni-
ton, and no doubt he will merely await
the arrival of the troops who will be sent
at once from the Pacific coast before
taking the responsibility of landing and
assuming control Of affairs in Manila.
In the meantime. the city is helpless
| before his guns, with no possibility of
aid from Spain, and with no means of
resistance when his landing force ar
rives.
The mystery of the cutting of the
cable from Manila to Hong Kong is ex-
/ planned by DeWey's report that he cut
|
municating with Spain. Without land
ing he could not use the cable himself,
and so he was determined that the
Spaniards in Manila should not have
the privilege of advice and instructions
| from the home government. Had Dew
ey chosen to destroy or injure the city
| by bombardment. as he had a perfect
right to do, he could have gained con-
| troll OF the cable, unless the Spanish
themselves had cut it. But he humane
y refused to reduce the city that way.
| 1t would have resulted in great loss of
life and destruction of property among
the n-comhatants of many nations
who dwell there. Much better is his
policy of waiting until troops arrive be
fore landing and occupying the city it
self
In celebrating our magnificent vic
tory in the Pacific we must in justice
give credit to the bravery of the Span
ish sailors. They fought without skill
or discipline. to be sure, and their
fighting was without effect on us. but
they fought braVely and they died like
men. without asking for quarter. Not
a flag was pulled down, but the Span
/ iards on board went down into the sea
with their shattered and burning YES
sells. They did not know they were
beaten. and the Americans had to de
stroy the entire fleet of the enemy tC
win the victory. The Spanish loss
reaches many hundreds, while not ar
American was killed and only a few
wounded. The full story of the fight
+ in Manila bay is not yet told Many
l interesting chapters will be added tc
q the brief, official report that announces
the magnificent victory that Yankee
tars have added to their unblemishet
e record of a century.
r Spain has found by Illuminating ex.
i perience that it is not SO easy to viii,
Yankee S1jlnrS awola IL u,ba,