Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-05-02
'TWASIN MANILA BAY
Admiral Dewey and Officers
 Celebrate Naval Victory.
GAINED ISLANDS FOR UNCLE SAN.
Tf We Want Trade of PaciAc We Must Hold Philippines ms . Base For Operations In Far East"
 "Amm m nition Was Scarce"

"If We Want Trade of Pacific We
 Must Hold Philippines ns . Base For Operations In Far East" mmunition Was Scarce" WASHINGTON, May 2.-Eight years ago Admiral Dewey defeated the Span ish fleet in Manila bay, and last night 1 many of the officers who were with Dewey on May 1, 1898, held their an nual celebration. It is regular thing in Washington. this May day dinner, and the affair was brilliant function. Admiral Dewey held reception, and a great many came to pay their re- l spects and offer their congratulation The admiral looks exceptionally well ] and will probably enjoy many another l anniversary.
 1 He was made to talk of his victory. 1 He said that he believed that as the day of the victory of Manila bay grows more distant the importance of it ] grows bigger in tie eyes of the peo- ] pie. I Every year, that passes" Admiral Dewey said, makes me think that the people of this country have growing realization of the importance of the l victory of the American fleet eight l years ago bringing about. as it did, the possession of the Philippines by
 the United States. -'-
 There are those who say that we should give up the Philippines, but 1 think that if we want the trade of the ] Pacific. and we certainly do want it,
 we must hold the Philippines. They are essential to our success in con- merce in the Pacific. and we have in them base which is invaluable Spain l for hundreds of years had an immense success was due to her possession of
 the Philippines. It is essential that we
 have base for our army and our i navy in the far east.
 1.-The people of the nation appreciate
 more and more the value of the is- cers and men of the American fleet on
 that day" ,N
 Admiral Dewey has written the
 whole history of the battle of Manila
 Bay. but it is locked up and will not
 be published. at least not for long time He told of some details of the fight hitherto unknown.
 "When We were at HOngk0ng," he . said. "our situation was critical. We ! had but little ammunition. and had it not been for the timely arrival of the cruiser Baltimore forty eight hours be- fore our departure we would have been in serious predicament.
 i ''The Baltimore came from Honolulu, l coming on to HongkOng in nine days at top speed. As it was, we had only half the regular war allowance of am intuition. When we passed up and down in front of the Spanish fleet five times and then withdrew for breakfast..so so it was reported. we were really going 10 see how much ammuni. i tion remained. There was but little, and it was sorry lot shat went to ] breakfast that morning. But we had our opponents beaten then, although we did not know it at the time.'
 A story concerning the cables which J Admiral Dewey purposely cut was told. When Admiral Dewey reached Manila he knew of only one cable. He cut that without hesitation. Later on. aft CT the blockade had been fully estab- lished. the captain of an English ship came aboard on some pretext and ask ed If both cables had been cut" An hour later the second one was fished l LID and chopped in two.