The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1899-12-07

American history Of the future as ships
like the Nelson, Howe, Rodney, Anson
and Collingwood are by association in
our own feet
Talking of the rewards open to a sue
cessful commander in the service of a
republic. asked Admiral Dewey what
his reward would be for his naval VIC
tory, and added that he would certain
ly have been made u peer under mon
archy. Yes; l suppose would have
been," lie remarked. simply; but
have been very amply rewarded, for
see from the papers that the senate
has voted me sword of honor, though,
mind you, ! have not heard word
about il myself. And, my friends tell
me, they hope TO secure my promotion
to the rank of rear admiral. | am only
commodore now, and perhaps they
will me medal, too. Besides, every
one has been most kind to me, and you
won't credit the number of flattering
little presents that l have received"
Here was republican simplicity with a
| vengeance-a sword, a medal and, per-
haps, II step of rank for winning great
| naval victory!
Among the many little presents
which the admiral showed me was
new broom decorated with the stars
and stripes, and embroidered with the
| inscription: "A Clean Sweep! TO Ad-
miral Dewey, from the M Club OF
Boston," He also brought out a hand
some little carved baton and cigar case,
presented to him by Aguinaldo, the in
surgent leader and ally of America dur
ing the war, together with very cor
dial letter which accompanied them.
illustrative of Admiral Dewey's
promptness and grasp of situation,
| minor incident may be mentioned. A
letter was received one evening from
/ Aguinaldo, saying that he had attempt
| ed to land on certain small island
in the bay, and to take possession of
it, together with some Spanish prison
ers who had been left there, but had
been prevented from carrying out the
operation by the German man-of-war
Irene, the captain of which ship APP
pears to have been a singularly indis-
Greet person. The admiral. European
complications OF no complications, very
naturally resented this second infrac-
tion of ''sea manners" and calling on
board the captains Of the Raleigh and
Boston, gave them explicit orders to
| proceed at once to the scene of dis
pute, and to land troops on the island
| at ell hazards. These instructions were
literally and promptly executed. The
| two American war vessels cleared for
action, ran up their fighting pennants
and bore down in all earnestness upon
the good German. The local emblem
| Of the mailed fist had hardly bar
gained for this exceeding prompt and
robust action and cleared out with more
haste than decency, some say slipping
his cable in his hurry, and left Agui-
| naldo and the Americans to effect the
necessary capture. Judging from the
general behavior of the Germans re-
Gently in these waters, they are perhaps
n little liable to forget that though they
have colossal and probably good army,
their navy is very low in the scale of
sea power Argument on land, backed
by a couple of million soldiers, is liable
to be effective. but a couple of million
soldiers are not Of the least advantage
in an argument at sea.
Admiral Dewey's firm attitude,
backed up as it no doubt was by the
moral support of British naval opinion
on the spot, went far to clear the at
mosphere and to make sufficiently ap-
parent to all and sundry that he meant
to take his rights as belligerent cap
able of insisting upon them, and that
he would brook interference from no
one. In the extraordinary and unwar-
rantable behavior of the Germans lay
the chief danger to the general peace,
but German bluster was met with quiet
dignity by the American commander,
who showed the most undaunted front
and clearly declared that if the Ger
mans did not as neutrals adhere to the
laws Of neutrality. he should fire on
them. "But. that. sir. would mean war
with Germany" said the horror
stricken German admiral. IL am per-
fectly aware OF the fact" was the suave
reply of Admiral Dewey. When the
question OF the bomba rdment of Manila
WAS under discussion, a matter which
lay entirely between the belligerents,
and which remained for them and them
alone to decide, the German admiral
was again on the point Of exceeding his
rights as a neutral in interfering, and
with view TO ascertaining whether
the British squadron would support
him, he visited Sir Edward Chichester
and asked what action he proposed taxi
ing in the event OF the Americans bonn
harding the town. "That, sir, is known
only to Admiral Dewey and myself"
was Sir Edwards polite but crushing
reply-a reply which did more than
much diplomacy toward furthering the
prospects OF pan-Anglo-SaNon alli-
ance. When at the end of the trou-
bles the Immortalite, on her way to
Hong Kong, steamed out of the bay,
every ship in the American feet
manned her yards and gave the Brit
ish man-of-war three cheers as she
passed along. and she. with the answer
ing signal "rbank yo,I" fyinp Mt her