Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1899-10-05
DEWEY AT MANILA.
Marvellous Victory Which Made Him
the Idol of His Country.

Marvellous Victory Which Made Him
the Idol of His Country.
When war broke out between this
country and Spain Dewey, then at Hong
Kong, found himself in a trying position,
He was forced to leave British waters
and with no coaling station nearer than
Honolulu there was but one thing to do
take Manila. But the taking Of the
capital Of the Philippine Islands involv-
cd the defeat of the Spanish feet. The
location of that fleet was unknown, and
with thousands of islands to hide among
it could not be considered an easy task
to corner it.
1t is familiar history how Dewey with
his squadron arrived on Saturday even
ing, April 30, at Corregidor Island, which
guards the entrance to the harbor. The
moon was up, but no lights showed from
the vessels until spark from the fun
mel Of the dispatch boat Mccullough at
tracted the attention Of the forts and
drew their fire. The fire was returned
and the squadron passed on, while FEW
torpedoes harmlessly exploded in front or
the flagship. Steaming at slow speed
all night, with the men at full length be-
side their guns, the squadron saw as gray
! dawn broke the sleeping city OF Manila
and Cavite, with it's white houses and
battlements and it's great arsenal, close
at hand But gladder sight to Dewey's
eyes was the Spanish feet, it's officers and
men dreaming the national dream OF
manana"-to-morrow.
How Dewey, leading the line in the
flagship Olympia, steamed past the Span
| ish vessels FIVE times with gradually
decreasing range; how he issued the or
der to fire, "You may fire when you're
ready, Gridley;" how he smashed the
| Spanish vessels and forts with ceaseless
| rain Of shot and shell; how he retired to
rest his men and give them time for
breakfast and how he returned to COM
plete the work of destruction and did
complete it, sinking eleven Spanish ships,
without losing ship himself or q man
all this is familiar to every American.
And then his modest account Of the bat
tie, and the giving the credit Of the
achievement to his officers, caps the eli
max Of one of the most brilliant and COM
plete naval battles in the history of the
world.
| victory Brings New Labors.
| But with the sinking Of the Spanish
fleet Dewey's work was not done. His
victory had opened up new fields for his
energy. He had to deal with natives,
Spaniards and other foreigners. Under
the jealous eyes of foreign men-of-war
he had to keep watch and ward over the
new acquisition and solve the confusing
problems that arose daily. An indis-
Greet act might embrou the country with
other nations, and too much leniency
would be considered as temerity. But to
1 avery difficulty that arose he was equal.
He was warrior, diplomat, interpreter Of
international law all in one. And for
thirteen months he kept his vigil in Ma
Mia harbor ready for any emergency
that might come.
Once, after the battle Of Manila, when
Spain was about dispatching squadron
under Camara to the Philippines, Dewey
sent cablegram to the naval department
suggesting that Camara would turn back
| if the United States were to make DEM
onstration on the coast Of Spain. There
upon it was announced that Commodore
Watson would be sent across the Attain
tic. The hint was sufficient and Oamara
turned back to Spain from the Suez
/ canal.
The strain Of these eventful months
in the tropics bore heavily on the admiral,
j and when he set out on his triumphal
voyage home he was sick man. Fortu-
Inately his health Is restored and he is
i able to enjoy the demonstrations that ev-
IerYWhere await him in the land that he
has 80 signaIly served.