The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1899-01-22

tpTY as one OF the WOftu Greatest naval
captains. 1t is because of the manner in
which he reached his end.
Cheyalicr used to sing song in which
occurred the lines;
II Amt so much Jest wat c seq,
As tie nasty way e sez it.
Something of the same idea is
applicable to Dewey's victory. 1t
was not altogether just what he
did so much as his thorough way
of doing il. He not only achieved victory
over an inferior force. bu, he showed that
he would have accomplished equal results
over an equal or even a superior
one. When it was reported that
Admiral Camara was on his way
to Manila with two powerful bat
tleships, no one in Deweys squadron felt
any doubt that Camara was coming to his
doom. although Dewey had only the light
els kind of cruisers, wholly unarmored,
with which to fight him. Similarly, when
the Germans began to show bad feeling
and worse manners, our men would have
been glad to tackle their feet in spite of
their two battleships and sups Tor NUM-
bers
And speaking of the Germans. it may be
well TO point out that while they made
themselves as offensive as they dared, and
while they acted in a very dlsagreeable
way from the first, Commodore Dewey re-
discourtesy until he should be able to do
so in such 4 manner as to admit of no
reply.
1t is a matter of international courtesy
to permit the warships of a friendly neu-
trail power to enter blockaded harbor at
will. II is also one OF the unwritten laws
of naval etiquette that when neutral YES
sci takes advantage of this courtesy she
shall be as careful as possible to do moth
h.a
| not TO give even moral encouragement to
| the biockaded forces.
| 1t would require too much space to re-
| peat all the annoyances to which the
| Germans lent themselves during the early
| part of their stay in Manila waters Their
| ships came into and went from the harbor
| at all hours Of the day and night. When
steamer made her appearance to seward
a German vessel would run cut to examine
| her With great prcmptitude After one
| such instance, which occurred at a time
when Vice Admiral Won Diederichs flag
lieutenant was on board the Olympia. Adj
miral Dewey said to the German officer:
one might almost think your ships
were blockading Manila, and not mine"
Inc lieutenant chuchled complacently, as
| though he thought it was a compliment to
the activity CT his commander in chief. but
he was wholly unable to comprehend that
| when Dewey became so sweetly suave il
was good time to look out for squalls
One night one OF the German steam
launches came steaming toward our fleet
at full speed. She was picked up by the
searchlights OF our squadron fully mile
away, and was kept in the focus of thci,
rays until she came alongside Our off.
GERS almost universally believed that the
object of her unnecessary and untimely
visit was to discover whether it would b,
possible for a Spanish torpedo boat to gel
within range of our vessels without be.
ing discovered by MS.
Then the Princess WilhelmiHa living of
Subis Bay. notified the insurgents that she
would not permit them to attack the Span
lsh troops at that point. At another time
one of the German ships tried to sneak
INTO the anchorage on the city of Manila at
night, ali her lights being extinguished
and her course being an unusual one She
was detected and promptly brought to-
By shell across her bows from the United
States cruiser that was on picket duty
that night.
Our courteous and courtIy commodore
made no sign. He was waiting until he
could put an end TO the whole annoyance
with ofe crushing blow. At last the op-
portunity came. He learned on unques-
tionable authority that one of the German
vessels had landed provisions in Manila
thereby violating neutrality. / was no
present when he sent his message TO Ad
1nlral Won Diederich, and therefore | d,
not speak from personal knowledge con
corning il: but | learned the facts from
a perfectly authentic source, as follows:
Orderly. tell Mr.. Brumby / would Xix,
to see him, said Admiral Dewey one fore
noon.
''Oh, Brumby,' he continued when tn,
flag lieutenant made his appearance on tn,
quarterback. y wish you TO take tn,
barge and go over to the German flagship
Give Admiral Won Diederich my compIi.
ments. and say that l wish to call his at.
tention TO the fact that The vessels of hi
squadron have shown an extraordinar,
disregard of the usual courtesies of nava
intercourse, and that finally one of then
has committed gross breach of neutrality
IN landing provisions in Manila, por
which am blockading
The commodore's voice had been as low
and as sweetly mOduiated as if he had beef
sending Won Diederich an invitation t,
dinner. When he had stopped speaking
Brumby, who did not need any better indi
cation OF the cOmmodore's mood than tn,
unusually formal and gentle manner of hi
chief. turned to go, making the usual off
cial salute, and replying with the custom
airy. "Ay. ay, sir
And Brumby,' continued the commo
dore. his voice rising and ringing with thu
| iHttiS4ty OF lttiinS tndt ne lelt he had re
pressed about long enough. tell Admira
ven Diederich that if he wants fight. h
can have it right now
Brumby went with his message and III
commodore paced the quarter deck il
silence for considerable time. evidentI-
working OFF some of the high pressure tha
had brought forth his emphatic message [,
the German admiral. The latter sent bacl
the extraordinary reply that he had no
known anything about these actions of hi
captains and that they would not be re
peated. When one considers the rigidit,
of discipline that is supposed to exist il
the German navy. the character of Admira
Won Diederich's apology is all the more in
, comprehensive.
But whatever may have been the new
methods adopted by Admiral Won Diedericl
to prevent his captains from violating neu
, trality and showing bad manners. the
were entirely etticacious. There was neve
, the least further need to refer to the nos
sibility Of giving Commodore Dewey IN
, job of disciplining them.