The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-04-27
GEORGE DEWEY
ONE YEAR AGO

By Z. W. Harden, in the Chicago Tribune.
Chicago, April 2i.-Admiral Vewey sailed
away from Hong Kong year ago today.
At 10 o'clock on Monday morning, April
Is, the Olympia steamed out of the harbor
of Hong Kong for Mrs Bay, followed by.
the Baltimore and Raleigh. The Baltimore
had received its coal and the Raleigh's
machinery had been repaired the day be-
FORE and just at 10 o'clock the three ships
weighed anchor and got under way.
This was Admiral Dewey's last time on
shore until after the battle of AIay l. 1t
was his start to carry out the orders of the
navy department to capture or destroy the
Spanish feet, but his plan was to remain
twenty-four hours in Mrs Bay before snap
ing a course for the Island of Luzon.
Oscar p. Williams, the United States con-
sui in Manila, had sailed for Hong Kong
on the merchant ship Esmeralda on Satur-
day night and was due in Hong Kong on
Tuesday morning He had been securing
all the information he could regarding de-
lenses in Manila, and the strength and ais-
position of the vessels in Admiral Montojo's
fleet. The cable offices had for some time
been closed to Consul Williams, SO far as
the sending of cipher dispatches was con-
cerned, and he feared to trust the mails
with the information he had obtained. Ad-
miral Dewey desired to secure the facts
which Consul Williams had ascertained.
and he decided, therefore, to hold the fleet
in Mrs Bay until the arrival of Mr.. Will
liams.
Mr. Williams had secured the permission
of the navy department and also of the
state department to return with the fleet
to Manila. When the Olympia, Baltimore
and Raleigh sailed out of the harbor there
was left in Hong Kong only two officers
of the fleet, Flag Secretary Caldwell and
Fleet Paymaster Smith, who remained to
meet Consul Williams and take him on to
Mrs Bay, where he would report to Ad-
miral Dewey on board the Olympia. 1 had
received permission from the admiral on
Sunday to stay behind and to proceed to
Mrs Bay on board the Olympia on Mon
day. 1 called on the admiral on Monday
morning and was again given permission
to remain behind and to proceed to Mrs
Bay with Consul Williams on his arrival.
The ship was a hustle of confusion inget-
ting ready to get under way, but the ad-
as if at anchor in time of peace. He spoke
freely of his plans for meeting the Span
iards, and he said he expected to sight the
Philippine Islands some time on Saturday.
He said, further, that he expected the bat
tie between his fleet and the fleet of the
enemy would take place on Sunday. From
the way his plans were carried into effect,
it would seem that the admiral had then
full knowledge of the exact movements
of his own vessels as well as those OF the
Spanards. AS the developments of the
next week show, his plans were absolutely
carried into effect. His vessels reached
the Philippines at the time he anticipated,
and the battle was fought at the hour he
had considered probable would be the time
of the conflict. He said, during the con-
versation, which lasted only few minutes,
he felt sure of winning victory when he
met the Spanish ships.
Admiral Dewey asked for no specific in
structions from the navy department, pre-
ferring to trust to his own judgment and
the exigencies of the occasion when there.
was meeting with the Spaniards. He kept
the navy department fully informed of his
plans, however. He sent a long cablegram
just before leaving, and this was the last
communication he had with the department
in Washington, except final cablegram
sent back from Mrs Bay on Wednesday.
When he left Hong Kong he burned his
bridges Dehlnd MIN. lie naQ no friendly
port for refuge in case he met defeat, ana
he recognized there was but one thing for
INN to do, and that was 10 win a decisive
victory and wrest from the Spaniards the
port he needed as a place of refuge AS the
Olympia got under way it passed a British
man-of-War on whose quarter deck the
band had been drawn up to give to the
Olympia and to Admiral Dewey q fitting
farewell. Crews of both vessels were drawn
up at attention, and while it was not down
on the cards that there should be cheer
ing, lot of the British sailors gave three
cneers for the Americans, which were re-
turned with a will.