The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-07-19
THE ORDERS TO DEWEY.
An Apparent Discrepancy I'm Crownin-
shields Statement.

Washington Special New York Commercial
Advertiser.
The statement OF Rear Admiral Crownin-
shield, chief of the Bureau of Navigation.
describing how he. and not Lieutenant
Whttlesey. wrote the dispatch ordering
Commodore Dewey TO proceed at once TO
the Philippines and capture or destroy the
Spanish fleet. has caused some talk here.
The discussion as to the authorship OF this
dispatch was precipitated by Secretary
Long, who said in his Massachusetts Club
speech that it was not written by himself,
but. like many other famous dispatches.
was written by some young officer in the
department who never received credit for IL.
Secretary Long under the impression
that Lieutenant Whittlesey wpote the dis
patch ordering Dewey 10 proceed 10 the
PHILIPPINES and this was generally ac-
cepted until Rear Admiral Crowninshield
stepped forward TO claim the credit. Crown
inshied's recollection is that Lieutenant
Whttlesey brought 10 him the dispatch
from Dewey saying that he had been or
dered TO leave Hong-Kon by the Governor
of that province within forty-elght hours,
and that he took this dispatch 10 the Presi-
dent Secretary Long being out or town.
He says that after consulting with the
them the importance OF answering IL at
once to enable Dewey 10 depart from that
port, the President directed him 10 write
dispatch. and he penned the one In question:
which was sent
There is apparently one important dis
crepancy between Rear Admiral Crowpin
shields recollection and the official record
of the dispatches in the Navy Department.
In the record there is given no copy OF
been ordered TO leave Hong Kong port
within forty-eight hours and asking for or
ders. There is a dispatch from Dewey.
dated Hong-Kong, April %, saying: In
accordance with the request OF the Gov
ernor of HongKong, the squadron leaves
to-day for Mrs bay, China, TO await tele-
II on
/ will communicate by tug. DEWEY.
The dispatch directing Dewey 10 proceed
TO the Philippines was dated Washington.
April "a, and read Dewey. Hong-ko7g.
War has commenced between the United
States and Spain. Proceed at once 10 phil
ippine islands. Commence operations al
once. particularly against the Spanish
fleet. You must capture vessels or destroy.
Use utmost endeavor. Long;
The Washington dispatch bears date one
day in advance OF Dewey's. These Dispatch
es were possibly sent about the same time.
as 1t was April p in Hong Kong when Il
was April q IN Washington. but even had
Dewey's dispatch been received here before
Longs dispatch 20 him was sent there was
no occasion for the hurry described by
Rear Admiral Crowninshield 10 reach Dew
ey with orders 10 sail from Hong Kong
before the time limit OF the Governor OF
Hong Kong expired
Dewey ANNOUNCED in his dispatch that the
squadron would leave that day, and he was
already at Mrs bay, awaiting orders, when
the dispatch from Washington was sent.
but Dewey neeVeu no epetlhC lHStiuStiohS
as to what he should do when war was de-
clared Assistant Secretary Roosevelt had
sent him orders on Feb. p. three months
before 10 be in readiness 10 see that the
Spanish squadron did not leave the Asiatic
coast ia the event OF a declaration Of war.
Secretary Long had followed up this or
der with many others. and Dewey's dis
patches show that he was prepared and
waiting for the declaration OF war LoQg
informed him April II that war was imnh-
nent and ordered him 10 await orders. His
dfspatch on April % shows that he was then
ready 10 leave Hong Kong for Mrs bay
and announced that he would leave
and await orders at that point Rear Ad-
miral Crowninshield may have written the