The National tribune., 1908-05-07

THE NATIONAL TRIBU
command of Commodore (now Ad.
miraD Dewey to leave that port. The
squadron consisted of the flagship
Olympia "a first-class protected cruis.
err, the cruisers Baltimore. Raleigh
! and Boston, the gunboats Petrol and
! Concord. the dispatch boat McCullocf
and two colliers.
Dewey sailed from Hongkong or
April 25, 1898, with orders to engage
and. if possible, destroy the Spanish
fleet under Admiral Patricio Montojo y
Pasaron, which was lying in Manila
Harbor.
The American squadron came In
sight of the Spanish ships off Cavite
at daybreak on May /. and was fired
upon by the shore batteries. Dewey
moved on, throwing a few shells into
the batteries as he passed, quite regard
less of the submarine mines, two OF
which exploded directly in front of his
ships He arranged his vessels>so that
they could pass in line by the Spanish
performing an elliptical manuver and
shelling the enemy each time the shir
passed. How well he accomplished his
work is matter Of history
Aside from the skilful leadership the
victory was due to the superiority OF
the American gunners. The Spaniards
at times, displayed almost fanatical dis
regard of danger, but it was a battle
of bravery alone matched against
bravery and skill combined
The Spanish lost between 900 and
400 killed and twice as many wounded,
while Commodore Dewey lost not a
single man, and but few were wound
ed. Nine Spanish warships, TRANSPORT
and the water battery at Cavite were
destroyed. The American vessels were
practically uninjured.
Secretary of War Taft left Washing
ton last week for Charleston, S. c., on
his trip to Panama He was accom-
panied by Wendell W. Michler. his con-
fdential secretary, and Richard Reed
rogers, general counsel of the Isthmian
Canal Commission.
Upon arrival in Charleston the party
Immediately boarded the United States
cruiser Prairie
During his visit to the Isthmus Taft
will make an inspection of the progress
of the canal work, endeavor to arrange
a settlement of the boundary dispute
between Panama and Colombia, and
also to settle many affairs pending be-
tween the zone Government and the
Republic of Panama.
He will be out OF the United States
until May 20, when he will reach Pen
sacola, Fla. on his return trip. He will
then go to Nashville to make a political
speech.
He is expected back in Washington
about May 25.
This is the official statement concern
ing Secretary Tafts trip.
Two battleshfps this year and two
next year: that is what the President
got out of Congress on his four-battIe-
ships proposition. The President is sat-
isfied, and so are we.
Maj. Harold C. Megrew. Past Com
mander-in-Chief of the Spanish War
Veterans, died in Indianapolis last
week. Maj. Megrew was man of ster-
ling qualities, whom everybody liked.
Maj. Megrew was born in Indianapo-
lis in 1857. He came to Washington
when young, and was educated in the
public schools of this city At the be-
ginning of the Spanish-American War
he was appointed Major of the 160th
Ind.
Maj. Megrew was President of the
Board of Public Works of INDIANAPOLIS.
and Past Commander-in-Chief of the
Spanish War Veterans He leaves a
widow and three children
He was the son of the late Can't. Me-
grew, long connected with the War De-
partment here.
President Roosevelt has received al
Turkish rug. the gift of the
Sultan of Turkey, from the Turkish
Minister. Mehmed Ali Bey. The pre-
sentation took place at the White
House
The rug, said to be of exclusive de-
sign, is from the Sultans private fac
tory and Its worth is said to be fabu-
lous.
A strong recommendation for the
appointment ef an officer to be known
as Chief of Cavalry, has been made
by committee of cavalry officers at
tached to the Amy STAFF College. It is
argued that the Chief should be mem Il
ber of the General Staff. and head ofI
the committee considering questions re-
lating to the cavalry, having power tol
inspect that branch OF the service forl
the purpose of ascertaining and of de-
termining where the standards of eff
cheney recommended may be main
tanned.
The committee says that nearly every
civilized Nation has a cavalry officialI
with powers and duties similar to thosei
outlined, and expresses the belief thatl
the practice of those Nations is amplel
warrant for the establishment of al
similar Office in the American Army.
The War Department has been in
formed that Daniel C. O,Neil. the first
man of the allied troops to scale the
wallis of Picking during the Boxer up
rising, famous as swimmer and for
his great strength, died at his home In |
East Cambridge, Mass. last week, aged
36. He had been sick about two weeks.
AT the time of the Boxer uprising
ONeil was a member of the 9th u. s.,
then in the Philippines In advance of
the regimental officers he scaled thei
walls of the city, and his escape from
death was miraculous.
He Joined the Brookline Swimming
Club on his return, and soon becamel
one of its best swimmers He was al
member OF the relay team which wonl
the National championship few years
ago.
Fourth Assistant acknowledgement
P. v. DeGraw has issued statement
that the Post Office Department hasl
not approved any special device for re-
ceiving loose change In the mail boxes
on rural delivery routes.
Some time ago the Department called
attention to practice of patrons placing
money loosely in the boxes IN payment
of postage, which Is permitted in lieu
OF stamps when same are not obtain
fAH hot Al4