The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-05-01
THE BATTLE OF MANILA BAY.

y YEAR ago to-day, at quarter to o clock IN
| \ the morning, while Admiral (then Commodore
dewey and his forces fortifying themselves
by hearty breakfast for the second part OF the battle
OF Manila Bay Colonel George A Loud on the
revenue cutter Hugh McCuloch wrote in his diary
the following words:
This is Sunday and May day, and 1t VIII be an
American date in history.
This prediction, made when the echoes OF the ter
rbe cannonade that had destroyed the flagship OF the
Spanish admiral and wrought havoc the Spanish
fleet and the Cavte battery had scarcely died away,
has been literally fulfilled In the dead OF the night
the American squadron had passed Corregidor
Island and in the gray dawn it had approached
within four miles OF Manila. Five times it had
sailed in grand procession, describing semi-crce,
and had poured its terrific broadsdes upon the
enemy both in the water and upon the land. The
sla de Cuba which the Spanish admiral had trans
ferred his flag, had been sunk One torpedo-boat had
disappeared and another had been ridded under the
fire OF the Olympia When Colonel Loud wrote the
battle had been practically Won but minutes to
II it was renewed and by half-past u the Spanish
vessels were sunk or destroyed, Cavite had sur
rendered and Manila was at Our mercy. Not an
American life had been lost and only five or six OF a
gun crew on the Baltimore had been slightly
wounded by splinters.
This is a brief record of naval engagement that
humbed the pride OF Spain emblazoned our Occl-
dental flag with the splendors of the Orient estab-
lished epoch in naval warfare and enrolled Ad-
miral Dewey in the fraternity Of the immorals The
sacrifice Of life among the defeated Spaniards was
comparatively small But seven OF their ships were
swept from their chosen refuge, and their shore de-
lenses armed with powerful guns, reduced with a
precision and with celebrity that had previously
been equaled. In every sense the victory was COM
plete In the first actual test upon large scale OF
modern vessels and modern ornaments, in which me
chanca adjustments play such conspicuous part the
United States led the powers of the world. Admiral
Dewey, with his broad intellect, with his scientific
education and trained experience with his perfect
nerve and with his calm and prompt Judgment was
the very type OF great naval commander OF the nine
teenth century He made no mistakes, then or since
either of omission or commission. The deep enthu-
s;asm of his countrymen the plaudits OF the nations
have not shaken his self-pose. He remains where
his honors won, the appreciative recipient OF
Congressional and popular distinction, avoiding the
rock OF politics, upon which so many high reputa-
tons have been wrecked and illustrating his patriot
ism by the accomplishing endurance of privations
and by the resolute fulflment OF duty And no one
OF the intelligent and brave officers and men who dis
played their superiority OF and OF discipline has
been overlooked by their commander or will be for
gotten by their rejoicing feow-citizens All are in
cluded in the glory OF this suspicious anniversary
1.-THE dominant blood that daunts the foe,
That laughs odds and leaps to the blow
is Dewey's glory to-day, as Nelson's
A hundred years ago"