The National tribune., 1903-07-02
THE AMERICAN
SPANISH WAR.
Continued from first pare.)

Continued from first paEe.)
cord, Boston, the Revenue Cut
ter McCulloch and the Supply Ship Zafirt
and Collier Nanshan. The Spanish squad
ron was composed of the Reina Cristina
flagship; the Castillo, Don Juan de Aus
tria, Don Antonio de Ulloa, 1sla de Cuba
Isla de Luzon, Marques del Duero. Genera
Lezo. Argos, Velasco and transport lsla
de Mindanao. Ali the ships of the Span
ish squadron We're sunk or burned. and the
casualties on the Spanish side amounted
to about 400 killed and wounded.
DEWEY A GREAT NAVAL COMMANDER.
This victory made Commodore Dewey
deservedly famous. and gave him rank with
the most distinguished naval heroes of al
time. Nor was his merit most III the bril-
liant victory which he achieved in the
battle fought with the utmost gallantry
and skill, waged without an error, and
crowned with overwhelming success. Ii
was still more in the nerve with which he
moved from Mrs Bay to Manila harbOr
the genius of his conception of attack; the
high commanding confidence of leader
who has weighed every risk, prepared him
self for every emergency, and has that un
falterinS determination to win and that
utter freedom from the thought or posi-
are more than half the battle 1t was 4
man of resolution and power, who, at thai
vast distance from home, with his little
fleet shut off by the neutrality laws from
every port, bearing the fate of his cOun
try in his hand, was equal to the emer
gency and met it as serenely and master
fully as if it were an incident of an ordi
nary voyage.
On May Z the following message was
cabled to him, 1.-The President, in the namt
Of the American people, thanks you ant
your officers and men for your splendid
achievement and overwhelming victory"
and on the 10th he was informed that the
thanks of Congress had been rendered hin
and the officers and men under his com
mand, and that he had been promoted tt
the grade of Rear Admiral. Admiral Dewey
established blockade of the harbOr Ol
Manila, and the Department at once tool
steps to reinforce this squadron. The
Charleston, which had been previously sem
to Honolulu, sailed for Manila on June
with the chartered steamer City OF Pekln
and the transports Australia and City OF
Sydney, carrying the first detachment oi
troops.
The Charleston had orders to stop a
the Island of Guam, in the LadrOnes, anl
to demand the surrender of that place witt
all officials and persons in the military
service Of Spain. She arrived at the POr
of San Luis d'Apra on June 20, and on th'
next day received the surrender of th'
island. After taking on board the Gov
ernor and Captain of the Port and al
officers and men in the Spanish service
she sailed for Manila, where she arrived
on June 80. Further to reinforce thu
Asiatic squadron, the Monterey sailed fOl
Manila. with the collier Brutus, on June
tbn
cOmpanied by the collier Nero. .
SPAIN ATTEMPTS A RETURN BLOW.
On June 1S, information was received
Of the sailing of the Spanish home fleet
under Admiral Camara, for the Philip
pines. Admiral Dewey was kept in
formed from day to day of the progress
of this squadron, and as soon as infOrma
ton was received that it had passed int
the Suez Canal, the Eastern squadron wa
formed under command of Commodore
Watson, and q statement given to tn,
press that this feet would sail at once 10
the coast of Spain. This action induced
Admiral Camara's squadron to return t.
Spain. The reinfOrcements, however
which the Department had dispatched t.
Admiral Dewey, SO strengthened the fore
under his command that no anxiety wa
felt on his account. During the cOntin
uance of hostilities, the conduct of affair
in the Philippines, under Admiral Dewey
merited the warmest communication of tn
Department.
On May 26, he was advised that it wa
desirable not to have any political al
liances with the insurgents or any factiOl
in the islands which might incur liabilit,
to maintain their cause, and on June IA h
was directed to report fully any confer
| ences, relations or corporations, which h
had had with Aguinaldo. Admiral Dewey
reply showed that he had acted with grea
discretion, and that while his relation
| with the insurgent leader were cordial, an
he had exercised strong influence t6war
having the insurgents conduct their wa
| in humane and civilized manner, he ha'
| refrained from any recognition of the in
| surgent cause or any action which com
mitted this country to support it. Upo
operations Of the Army and Navy were be
gun, which resulted in the surrender o
Manila on Aug. 13.
OPERATIONS IN CUBAN WATERS.
In the conduct Of the war in the Al
| lantic, three objects We're in view, tn
most important of which was the block
ade of Cuba. 1t was believed that the es
tablishment Of a close and efficient bloch
ade, which would prevent supplies an
munitions of war from entering the is
land, might induce the Spanish to capitr
late before the conclusion of the rainy sea
son.
The next important object was the d.
struction of the Spanish fleet. In orde
to introduce supplies and munitions of wa
into Cuba, it was necessary for the Spar
ish to raise the blockade, and this cOul
only be accomplished by defeating ou
feet, or by evading it and reaching a pol
| in Cuba.
The third consideration was the prote'
ton of the Atlantic sea coast of tn
United States.
With these purposes in view. the d.
partment in March directed the monitor
to join the squadron under Admir-:
Sicard, and detached the Massa chuseti
and Texas from his command and ordere
them to proceed to Hampton Roads, wheI
the Flying Squadron was organized, III
Brooklyn, Minneapolis and Columbia wei
also attached to this squadron. 1t wa
stationed at this central point in ordt
that it might go to any port on the A
lantic coast which should be menaced b
Spanish fleet, or be able promptly to r.
inforce the fleet in Cuban waters shoul
the Spanish endeavor to raise the blocl
ade.
Capt. W. T. Sampson, q. S. N, VIZ
assigned to the command of the Mort
Atlantic fleet on March 26 to succce
Rear-Admiral Sicard, U. S. N, whom, c
account of his health, it was found nece
sary to relieve from his onerous and e
acting duty. Upon the detachment Of A,
miral Sicard, Capt. Sampson was Il
senior officer present. He was thorough