The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1899-01-23
The story of Manila Ray.

The story of Manila Ray.
The story of Dewey's fight in Mania
Bay. tod by former Lieutenant Sti kney.
who, as newspaper correspondent. sailed
with the expedition and stood on the bridge
with Commodore Dewey during the engage
ment, and which was printed in our Sun
day edition, must be OF intense interest 10
all TO whom the achievements of Amsri-
can sea fighters are dear. Mr.. t'ckn Us
narration bears the impress Of clear and
simple truth and the scenes he depicts
are presented to the reader with de-
gree OF WITNESS that no one but trained
and scientific naval man and a master Of
English writing could produce.
The history of the great event which
gave a splendid Eastern empire TO the
American people, as we now understand
tin the light of Mr.. Stickney's narra-
tive, is not in the least disappointing. nor
does it tend to diminish any of the glrsy
with which the adventure and the actors
in il have been endowed by an admiring
country. But some of the incidents of the
battle and several other things, mani
testify. have been misunderstood, and the
correct version of the affair now before
us is Of additional value on that &C cunt.
For example. all former reports have led
the public to believe that after the early
morning engagement on May /, Commo-
dore Dewey calmly withdrew from the
fighting line in order to give the crews
OF his squadron leisure to eat their break
fast. But for the iconoclasm of Mr. Stick
ney's truth-tel!ing propensities, it is pos
sible that this myth might pass on to
| posterity along with the Washington
cherry tree and William Tells apple. The
| facts are more prosac than the fiction, but
they seem to fit in with the circumstances
better.
| We know now that the real reason for
| the withdrawal was that Dewey was not
able to see that his fire had much crippled
! the enemy after two hours of constant
| cannonading. and he was painfully con-
| scious that three or four hours OF the same
work would exhaust his ammunition and
perhaps change his position from that of
the pursuer to the pursued. He was fearful
that his other ships had equally made Sc
rious inroads upon their fighting ability,
and he determined TO haul off and take
account OF stock. Neither the crew OF the
| flagship nor the men on the other ships
knew anything OF his. The former at least
were impressed with the breakfast lneory
and resented it, because it seems that
| for some reason the gun captains were as
confident about the destructive effect OF
| their fire as the commodore on the bridge
was dubious, and they begged to be allow
| ed TO continue. remarking with the piety
| peculiar to Jack afoat, TO hi with
| breakfast"
\ little later the results OF the fusillade
began to appear. and Dewey, who had been
considering what might happen TO him il
caught seven thousand miles from his
base with speeches.. harmless guns. re-
turned to the attack and sent the Span
fsh squadron and the Spanish power in the
! Orient TO feed the fishes
! The moral which we draw from this Fart
| Of the Stickney narrative is that our es-
teemed friends Long and Roosevelt have
p!umed themselves unnecessarily on theii
shsre in the victory Of Mania Bay. They
have given the world to understand that
it vas their provision in giving Dewey
everything he could need long in advance
that in fact won the battle. They have
been modest enough to put on shoes ex-
actly like those of Sampson. who is en-
titled to the credit OF Schley's triumph
over Cervera by reason of his having or
dered searchlights TO be kept gong as
much as month before the mad rush oil
! Z,
broad daylight. Now, when all is made
| plain. we learn that Dewey's squadron
steamed for Manila short of ammunition
One other thing in the story is inn
pTessiyely interesting. 1t is the relation
| OF our brave commodore's conduct ant
action in respect OF the annoyances, af-
fronts, and violations Of naval courtesy,
international comfy. and ordinary de-
cency by Vice Admiral Won Diederich anc
the officers Of the German squadron il
Manila Bay. Dewey stood all these thing;
like an angel. until what he considered
an overt act was committed. Then ht
sent his flag lieutenant to the Kaiser's
representative with the politest kind OF
message Teciting The grievances he haG
endured and winding il up with this part
ing injunction to his envoy: And Brum.
by, tell Admiral Won Dederich that if h
wants a fight, he can have it right now
OF course that put an end TO Teutonic ef
frontery and bad manners in an instant.
The beauty about our Dewey is that tn
more his daily walk and conversation ar,
exposed to the light Of truth, the NOR
splendid appear his sense, ability. an'
proves. Truly he is the Spanish wa
hero par excellence.