Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1899-01-05

WASHINGTON. D. C.. Dec. %
There is a great flutter here in all
circles over the rumor that Admiral
Dewey is TO be ordered home on the
Olympia. If the gallant Admiral ooaras
his ship and, with his noble crew
starts for the United States, MS coun-
try will await his coming and afford
him a home greeting with a cheer never
before given a naval hero, within the
memory of modern times.
In history all predict that the name
of Dewey will be carved along with
Farragut. Nelson and the rest or the
immortals; with the Simpsons and the
Schleys and other great commanders.
But Dewey's name must stand alone,
in the unique distinction of having won
a mighty battle, off in a strange land'
too far away to have received any as
sistance in case of defeat.
Had Admiral Dewey suffered at the
hands Of his sea opponent, had the
slightest mishap occurred in the great
battle off Cavite. he would nave had 10
be taken captive, for no ship could
have come to his relief under a month,
and in fighting the enemy he faced
danger which those, a few miles from
home, shuddered at and pronounced
marvellous feat of courage.
THE RECEPTION.
The way in which his country Will
greet Admiral Dewey is as yet unde-
cided. There have been many sugges-
lions for his reception. The most popu-
lar one is that the entire naval de-
partment of the United States within
available distance, shall come together
and wait him at any harbor on the
Eastern coast; and sail up the bay
with him in a great triumphal process
sion, which would be sea pageant.
Another is that the Admiral be al
lowed to land his ship quietly at the
navy yard, which will be either Brook
lyn, or Norfolk, and then be permitted
to proceed TO his own home, after
which he could be invited by the Gov
ernors of the States to make a tour
OF the country, during which tour
great public receptions would be given
him.
1t IS undoubtedly true that either
course, or any course which might be
selected for the glOrification of Admiral
Dewey, would be distasteful to him,
personally, as he is the soul of modesty.
To friend at Cavite he remarked that,
while he longed to come home, he
dreaded unspeakably the reception that
would be given him. Pointing to a
great pile of letters from strangers, he
said: '"These are in my mail for one
day! In week I get two or three
times as many, coming from different
ports all over the world. They manage
somehow to magnify the duty which i
did, into great exploit until 1 am
AFRAID they regard me as a hero"
REASONS FOR RETURN.
The reasons for Admiral Deweys
return are several, any one of which
would be sufficient to call the officer
hcme. The first is that he is entitled
to a furlough or vacation He should
De given leave of absence for a Ger
tain length of time from duty. and the
Navy Department has already suggest
ed such leave. At the time the sug-
gestion was made it was just at the
close of the war.
Admiral Dewey is said to have re-
piled that he preferred to wait until
the peace negotiations at Paris were
concluded saying that he did not CON
slider the situation in the Philippines
sufficiently quiet to permit him to leave
gust at present.
The excuse now advanced by Ad-
mlraF Dewey's friends in the Philip
pines Tor his absence is that he is
breaking down. The long continuous
strain, since a month before the battle
OF Cavite, is telling upon him and he
SHOWS the lines of care from fighting
and watching for six months, night and
day. Whlle well, he is a tired man and
needs TO come home to see his family
and be nursed back to strength.
Inc reason the people of the United
states want him back is that they may
see nm and tell him personally how
much they think of him. 1t is hard TO
nave real live hero, belonging to ones
own country, far off at the antipodes.
where one cannot express to him ones
words of praise.
Though whistles blow ever so loud
ly, though flags wave broadly. though
orators tell his gallant deeds, and the
printed paragraph proclaims them. still
~ would De much more pleasing to do
80 face to face.
We can honor Schlcy and Sampson