The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-07-25

talk; it is not my intention to embarraSS
the administration by doing So" said
Admiral Dewey, as he laid aside his va
cation novel. The Breath of the Gods,
japanese story, and settled himself
genially for the inquisitor, who was a
reporter on the Washington Post.
The little orchestra playing in the
open air across from the hotel at Rich
field Springs. where the admiral Is rest
ing, tunefully inspired the occasion with
suitable selection of Spanish airs,
while the hush of a tropical evening
brought back suggestions of Manila.
OF course, that Manila incident has
faded in the shrinkage of mightier bat
ties in the Pacific since-but Admiral
Dewey's private valuation of that event
is not it's heroic phase, which was thrust
upon him, but certain features that have
noI been published, and will never be,
until after he is gone
His official memoirs are written, IN
Guiding all the documents and official
correspondence during his station on the
Pacific. They are locked in a safe de-
post vault, he told me, and no one shall
see them during his lifetime. One may
draw ones own differences from this
fact, and how much they reflect upon
the true history of naval officer whose
distinction IS that he established inter-
national respect for the United States
navy in the Pacific, remains to be seen
by those who survive the many comfort
able years the admiral intends spending
in the service.
Admiral Dewey. in the midst of his
worldwide fame in active service, never
quite reliShed the glory in which he was
wrapped by an enthusiastic nation.
If he could have stayed the clamor
with which he was received on his re-
turn from Manila long enough to tell OF
the first dispatch he sent to Washington,
which was never published, he would
have preferred to rest on its reputation,
for it foretold what he afterward did,
thereby removing the element of chance
which seemed too heroic a test in the
victory.
Dewey's Unpublished Dispatch.
The dispatch merely informed the
powers at Washington that the Span
ism fleet at Manila would be destroyed
twenty-four hours after the attack, but
the infor nation that 1t had been sunk
in less than half that time reached the
president before the first one. Admiral
Dewey may feel that there was more
official wisdom in that first dispatch,
because it demonstrated his executive
precautions, while it's fulfllment later
merely sustained them-in duty bound.
There as very little about the intrigue
that hovers like an evil spirit over the |
commercial significance of the great |
Pacific that the admiral doesn't know, |
and when I asked him Iiatly if he didn't |
think that the next great war would |
rise from Inc conflict in business of the |
merchant marine, on the Pacific, he con- |
trolled his feeling about II in a snort, |
desperate silence, and then admitted 1t |
and repeated the admission with Ill !
suppressed certainty of opinion.
"Of course it will, of course it will,
he reiterated; but mustn't talk; the |
president doesn't wish me to. What I |
say now is, let us have peace" and the !
little purring band in the gardens
seemed to tantalize the admiraPs
diplomacy with its inSistent sly tar |
antella"-its pressure upon the fight
ing spirit that is alive in him from his
head to his boots.
He has a most deceptive smile. has
this hero of Manila. 1t lulls you into
the most genial and gracious frame of |
mind. 1t disarms caution.
1t is the smile of peace in the Pa
cif1c, in which the world is INDUCING
its ideals. and-it was notfceably most /
beatific when the admiral heard the
Spanish music of the little orchestra
grow faster and gayer.l
"Let Them See Our Police"
He brought his two hands together
at the finger tips, and while measur-
ing with all the secret medium of in
formation that he preserved the
future entanglements on the Pacific,
he murmured caution peace"
good WILL in the tone of bureaucratic
schemery.
Yes, it was to be hoped the presi-
dent would not delay in sending the
feet to the Pacific; it was not good to
wait too long; it would be better if it
went at once.
I'VE don't need it here-we are at
peace with every one. the whole
world on this side-why not let them
see our national police on the Pa
cifc?' he said. amiably, but while he
seemed to smile, his eyes were danger
ously keen. :
Had 1 read 1.-The Breath of the {
Gods" No? I must read it, The
Japanese were a wonderful people, !
and it was worth while to know them
we'll
How does the japanese navy {
rank?'' 1 asked.
81 think Brassey, who is the naval
ranks them as the fourth
naval power of the world
And the United States -
Second-England being first
In that far-off liability of any
unpleasantness with them, then, we
could hold our own?'
The admiraPs reply to this was not
made for publication. but according to
another source subsequently obtained. |
It transDires that the president has
been informed that if the fleet is given s
4 notice of ninety days to make the s
trip from the Atlantic to the Pacific !
the rest is easy.
Let us hope they finish the canal !
before any trouble comes out there"
unused the admiral. ,
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