Omaha daily bee., 1899-04-30
DEWEY'S DAY AND DEEDS
Retrospective Glance at the Triumph Of the
Navy in Manila Bay,
FIRST ANNIVERSARY OF THE EVENT
frepnrntions at Hong Kong, the
stnrt for the Philippines, the Bat
d. tie and the RcsuIts-sketches of
the Admiral md His omcers,

May is a date Of epochal proportions in
american history. 1t marks a victory for
the American navy marvellous in conception
and execution aud far-reaching in results.
For the first time a fleet Of the new navy
unfurled its battle flags before an enemy
and the swiftness Of the attack, the deadly
aim Of American gunners, the tornado of
steel missiles hurled at the enemy's ships
urove Spain's armada to the bottom of the
sea and Instantly gave the United States a
conspicuous position as a world power.
Tomorrow being the first anniversary OF
that famous battle of Manila bay a sum-
mary OF the preceding events, of the battle
and the leading participants is appropriate
TO the occasion. The historians of the battle
were John 7. McCutcheon, the artist cor
respondent of the Chicago Record; Joseph
l.. S%tickney, representing the New York
Herald, and e. w, Harden, correspondent
of the New York World. They accompanied
the fleet from Hong Kong and observed the
battle from advantageous positions. From
their extended reports the appended facts
are taken.
Preparing for the Fight.
During the weeks Immediately preceding
the declaration Of war on April 81 the
United States forces on the Asiatic sta
tion, under command of Admiral (then Com
mander) George Dewey, were preparing
energetically for the impending hostilities.
The commander was kept informed of the
progress Of events at Washington. Stores
OF ammunition for the fleet had reached
Hong Kong and we're put on board the
ships. Keep your ships filled with coal''
was one OF the orders. Exact information
had been obtained as to the number and size
of the guns mounted on the water front of
Manila and in Cavite. Admira Dewey knew
as we'll as Admiral Montojo the number of
Spanish ships, their armament and speed.
ale overestimated their fighting strength,
however, as he gave them credit for being
in thorough condition, when 1t was shown
afterward the Castilla's machinery was dis
abled and the Don Antonio de Ulloa was
far from fit when the day Of action came,
From the reports which had been received
from Manila 1t was believed Admiral Montojo
would choose one of two places for an en-
gagement. 1t was expected he would keep
his ships either under the protection of the
forts which lined the bay at Manila and at
Cavite or that his fleet would go to Subig
bay, forty miles to the northward of Cor
regidor, and there await the coming Of the
Americans.
On April 10 a council of the officers of the
fleet was held on the flagship. In the dis
cussion OF plans of probable attack Admiral
Dewey suggested forming his ships in line
and going in bows-on to fight the Spaniards
if they were found at either of the places
named. His plan was to go at them at close
range and to fight with every gun that could
DE trained upon their ships and forts. Lieu
tenant Brumby of the Olympia suggested
keeping our ships under way and passing In
front of the Spaniards, firing broadsides
and turning, so as to bring the other guns
of the ships into actor. This was the plar
finally agreed upon and carried into effect
with such signal success. The desire OF
Admiral Dewey to give full credit to those
who deserved it caused him to discuss this
matter freely after the victory.
The cruiser Baltimore arrived from Homo
lulu on April 90, completing the admiral's
fleet of fighting ships, as follows: TIL
Olympia, the Baltimore, the Raleigh, the
Boston, the Concord and the Petrol, naming
them in the order OF their fighting strength
together with the armed dispatch boat Nc
Culloch and the transports Nanshan and
Zafro, the last two named being purchased
at Hong Kong.
start for Manila.
Forty-eight hours after the declaration o.
war Great Britain's declaration of neu'
trality obliged the fleet to move to Mrs
bay, in Chinese waters, a short distance
from the port of Hong Kong. For two days
more the WOTh VI pitpai "'H' VI
Belated supplies were shipped and the trans.
ports loaded to the gunwales. At 2 p. m
April 81 the flagship Olympia weighed
anchor. The marines were drawn up or
the quarterback" writes John t. Nc
Cutcheon, land the band struck up the in
spring march from Eel Captain Thu
McCulloch started at the same time, ant
the Raleigh took a position on the starooart
quarter of the flagship, The McCulloch tool
a place about 100 yards almost abeam o
the stern OF the Raleigh, and the Baltimore
moved rapidly up to the port beam of thu
Raleigh. The Petrol took a position cor
responding to that of the McCulloch, excep
she was on the port quarter of the Balti
more. From the flagship a white flag will
red diagonal crossbars ioated at the fore
mast, the commcdore's pennant at the mali
and the American flag at the main peak
1.-THE sky was dull colored and leaden AM
the water was overcast to almost the SAM
color. There was a gentle swell and a sof
breeze blowing in from the China sea. TIL,