The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-10-01


been completed. though a~ctually'they had
not been completed. SO from the time
of the battle TO the day the second Span
ish squadron, which got as far as me
suez Canal. went back hcme, a good
deal Of tho Admlral's time was taken up
Manning what he would do when the fleet
did arrive. He never doubted, nor did any
Of his officers ever doubt. that unar-
mored as the American ships were. they
nevertheless would whip the Spsniards as
they had whipped the first feet. But the
work Of planning 10 receive them was as
great as was the three months work in
Hons Kong preceding the original battle.
And aI This work was being done, too,
whlle the Admiral was looking after the
Germans. and while he was looking after
Aguinaldo. and Was seeing that that
leader did not 20 too far in his depreda-
lions in and about Manila, which was IT.
self SIN in the hands Of the Spanish.
He had too. on his hands the problem
of supplying his feet with fresh provis-
ions. The weather was very hot. In that
climate fresh provisions were absolutely
necessary now and then TO keep up the
health Of the men. In this latter work,
the Admiral. while not being helped. was
not Intcrfered with by the British. The
nearest place where provisions could be
had was Hong Kong. a British possession.
The law allowed the shipment Of delica-
cies for the use Of a Admiral OF a fleet IN
war and that was all. The Admiral sent
his supply ship. the Zafro. to Hong Kong
and the Adm.rals officers purchased
there the supplies that were need
cd. The Spanish Consul was active, but
be didn't learn in time that these supplies
we're being put on board lighters and
when he made his protest he was in
formed that there was no law against a
few delcacies being taken 10 the Admiral.
Before anything could be done about this
decision. the provisions were aboard the
Zanro and she was off for the fleet. Many
times trips OF this KIN were made Some
times she carried potatoes "for the Ger
man Admiral" and when she arrived at
Manila. potatoes we're sent TO the German
Admiral with the compliments Of Ad-
miral Dewey.
COULD HAVE TAKEN MANILA.
Dewey could have taken Manila at any
time after he defeated the Spanish fleet
and took possession OF Cav4te. He did
not do so for the reason that lie did not
have sufficient force to hold It after he
had taken If. and he could not have con-
trolled the natives in all probability after
h. had taken It. Further than this. 10
have taken the city, II would have been
necessary 10 lombard it. The army be-
gan TO arrive in front Of Manila on July
,th. so that from May 1st 10 July eth Dew
ey and his officers had a lonely vigil. not
TO say "a diplomatic job, in looking after
the fleet in their command and avoiding
complications with the various nations
that had commercial interests of great
magnitude on the Island of Luzon, and
warships in the harbor to look after
them.
In the taking of the city Of Manila,
Dewey co-Opcrated fully with General
Merritt. II was not the fault of the Navy
or Of Dewey that the city did not fail
until the day after the Peace Protocol
was signed. for three times before that
Dewey had his ships ready and would
have gone ahead had the army been
ready. The correspondence which pre-
ceded the assault on the city consisted of
exactly five letters. in the first, General
Merritt and Admiral Dewey notified the
Governor-Genera that the land and naval
forces would begin operations against
the defences Of Manila AT any time after
forty-eight hours. The Governor-General
In replying stated that he found himself
surrounded by discretionary forces and
therefore he c0uldnt remove nOn-com-
batants TO a place of safety. The next
letter from General Merritt and Admiral
Dewey pointed out the inevitable suffer
ing of thu wounded, sick, women and
children. i'm the event Of the reducing Of
the defcnces Of the walled city and de-
manded it's surrender. In reply 70 this,
the GOvernor-Genera asked time TO con-
suit his government by gay of Hong
Kong. The fifth and last note Of the
series was by General Merritt and admiral
Dewey. and told the SoNernor-General
mat they had the honor 10 inform him
that they declined to grant the request he
made. Thi< was on August 10th. on Au-
gust 18Th the assault was begun and
hardly more than begun when il ended IN
the surrender Of the city,
A HAPPY FACULTY.
Dewey developed that knack. invaluable
In diplomacy. of getting along with every
body, even ones enemies, during his Nsar
in Manila bay, following the battle Whlch
he won. lie made friends with every
body. lie even entertained on board his
ship the wives Of Spanish officers, and Il
VS. done so gracefully that they went
back 10 the city and told their friends
how delightful was the man who defeated
their husbands. lie got along with the
irrepressible newspaper correspondent
The censorship. so long as ne exercised IL,
was not irksOme although II was eiec-
tive. and II was enforced chiefly by, ad-
vice to the correspondents themselves and
putting them on their honor. They did
not send what he did not want them 10
though they could have done so.
Hard as was Admiral Dewey's work In
Manila bay after The naval battle on May
list. he was Jealous Of 1t and determinod
to give It up. on August z0th. When
he feared that he might be recalled Ut a
when II was said his health was
breaking down. he cabled to the Depart
ment 81 washington, u trust II may NOT
be necessary 70 order me 10 Washington
should regret 70 leave here while matters
rema.E In The present critical condition"
The reply that he got 70 that was this:
President has received your tele-
gram ard will respect your wishes md
+ OF direct you 10 leave y-ur present duty
Dewew was almost the only officer OF
the American fleet that stuck day L
nleht to his post from the first. They all
AZ one time or another took trips TO Hong
Kong but he remained always in Manila
Y. sun.