New-York tribune., 1901-07-09
SENT DEWEY TO MANILA.
ADMIRAL CROWNINSHIELD SAYS HE
WROTE THE FAMOUS ORDER.
1T WAS PREPARED AT THE WHITE HOUSE
AND APPROVED BY THE PRESIDENT
WITH THE ADDITION OF THE WORD
CAPTURE" OR DESTROY"
[BY TELEGRAPH TO THE TR1BuxE.l

[BY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.l
Washington, July S-Rear-Admiral Aren't
Schuyler Crowninshied, chief of the Bureau or
Navigation since 1897, to-day made an interest
ing contribution to the history of the war with
Spain involving the authorship of the cabled
order which sent Dewey to Manila at the same
time clearing up Lieutenant Whittlesey's con-
nection with the important incident, the lieu-
tenant being made to appear merely as an
instrument employed to put the momentous mes
sage into cipher and to secure Secretary Long
signature. After a long conference with the
Secretary of the Navy this morning Admiral
Crowninshield issued the following statement:
On the forenoon of Sunday April "a 1898, l
went with my and his cousin TO the
Arlington golf links to them play a round OF
golf About the time they had finished l noticed
the Secretary of the Navy and Miss Long drlN-
ing up the road passing the golf links, and
walked over to their carriage and had a snort
conversation with the Secretary, who informed
me that he was going out into the country TO
spend the day Soon after | returned to my
home in Washington, where l informed that
Lieutenant II. H. Whttlesey, an officer on duty
in the Bureau of Navigation had called to see
me during my absence with important dls-
patch. short time after Lieutenant Nhlttle-
sey again called with the dispatch in question,
which was from Admiral Dewey TO the Secre.
tary of the Navy, stating that the Governor OF
HongKo had notified him that he must leave
that port with the force under his commano
within forty light hours.
Deeming that 1t of the greatest impor-
tance that a reply should be sent soon as
possible Admiral Dewey, | took the dispatch
to the White House and laid it before the Presl-
dent The President suggested that the prep
aration Of a reply should be put off until the
Secretary of the Navy returned TO the city but
l urged upon the President the Importance or
sending dispatch to Admiral Dewey who was
undoubtedly anxousIy awaiting instructions. l
also informed the President that part OF
day had elapsed since Admiral Dewey had re-
Ceived the notice from the Governor OF Hong
Kong. and that it was, at the moment we were
talking, already Monday morning in Hong
Kong.
The President then directed me to go and find
Mr.. Long and Judge Day and bring them to the
White House. l procured cab and drove to
the Portland. where l was Informed that the
Secretary still absent and not expected back
until later in the day. l then drove to the resi-
dence of Secretary Day, whom / found at home,
and to whom l delivered the Presidents mes
sage Secretary Day drove with me TO the
White House, stopping en- route at the residence
of Assistant Secretary Adee, where we were
informed that he at the State Department.
Upon arriving the White House. Secretary
Day requested that / should go 10 the Navy
Department and remain near the telephone. as
he would probably send for me in fifteen or
twenty minutes.