Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1900-10-04
HOBSON AFTER DEWEY
MERRIMAC HERO DEGREES
The HERO OF MANILA
Says Spanish Ships Were Not Hit
Dewey Admits 1t but Says They
Were Destroyed As
Ordered.

Richmond p. Hobson, the naval con-
structor of Merrimac fame, arrived
here yesterday, and makes some start
ling comments on the achievement for
which Admiral Dewey has been so
generously praised. Lieutenant Hob
son declares that Dewey did not sink
the Spanish vessels in Manila bay, but
that the Spaniards themselves accom-
plshed the sinking by scuttling the
vessels.
The famous Lieutenant was seen by
dozens of press representatives at the
Hotel Vancouver last evening. Asked
in what condition he had found the
hulls of the Isla de Cuba, the Isla de
Luzon and the rest of the fleet when he
arrived at Hongkong to superintend re-
pairing operations, he said:
"The damage to the hulls was maid
ly the result Of the six months sub
mersion. The upper works had been
badly damaged by fire. the woodwork
having been destroyed and the iron
plates being badly twisted by the heat"
And what, in your opinion, Lieuten-
anti" he was asked. was the direct
cause of the laundering of the vessels?"
"oh, the Spaniards pulled out the
plugs and opened the valves. They
sank the ships themselves. Our she'll
fire did very little damage"
"Then they were not injured below
the water line?"
Very little. We had practically
done them no damage there at all"
Lieutenant Hobson has been per-
forming various commissions in the
Orient for the Government of the Unit
ed States. He superintended the re-
pairing Of the Spanish ships after they
had been raised and taken to Hong
kong. In the course Of his journeys
he has had frequent opportunities Of
which he has taken advantage, Of in
speeding the naval yards at Annoy and
Foochow. He went to the Philippines
and states that the United States Gov
eminent has definitely determined
upon establishing there a naval dock
yard on a large scale.
Our new responsibilities" he said,
make that imperative. We mus: have
facilities In the East for docking our
own ships and repairing them. We had
to use the japanese dockyard for the
Oregon, you know. That is all right
In Its way, but we must have one OF on"
own In that part of the world One na-
ton cannot depend on another for that
kind OF thing forever. The new base
will be established in the Philippine
Islands. Cavite, being close to Manila,
naturally suggests itself. but the har-
Dor has been found to be too shallow.
and also inconvenient in other ways.
1t has, therefore. practically been de-
cided to construct the dockyard at ST.
big Bay, sheltered harbor about so
miles from Manila, which has sufficient
depth OF water for all purposes and is
really an ideal place for a naval base"
Lieutenant Hobson's eyes began to
suffer owing to the glare OF the tropi-
cal sun, he having been employed In
the West Indies and the Orient for
nearly two years. The doctors recon-
mended return to northern climate,
and for the last two months he had
been In Japan. While there the Ore
gon was locked ut the japanese navy
yard, and the work Of putting her 20
rights was instrusted to the Japanese
officials. BY special permission given
at the request Of the Government OF the
United States, he was permitted to In
spect the work from time to time.
In speaking OF the damage to the
Oregon, Lieutenant Hobson said It was
trifiing, her bottom was little damaged
and she can be repaired for few thou
sand dollars, which will be good news,
as she was pet of the nation.
Lieutenant Hobson left today for the
Brooklyn navy yard, where he will re-
port to the commandant and then ASK
permission from the Navy Department
at Washington to return for an extend
ed period to his home In Alabama to
recover his health after his arduous
duties.
Dewey Not Worried.
New York, Sept. 2O.-Admiral Dewey
who is stopping at Sayville, L. l., talk.
ed today of the Hobson interview, say.
Ing: II hardly think the young man
meant to say anything unkind and per-
haps he did not say what is said there.
The three vessels he referred to are
the Isla de Cuba, Isle de Luzon and Don
Juan de Australia. They were the least
injured Of the ten or twelve ships sunk
at Manila. Naval Constructor Capps,
a very able man, was with me. and he
and divers and experts from Hongkong
made an examination Of all the spanish
ships and decided that these three were
worth saving-three out Of dozen.
They were raised and temporary re.
pairs were made at Cavite. The vessels