Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1909-09-07
A FRIEND TO AMERICA.
Admiral Seymour, Who Backed Dewey
at Manila.

Admiral seymour, VINO Backed OeWey
at Manila.
Dispatches from London, says the
New York Sun, announce that Admiral
Sir Edward Hobart Seymour has been
appointed to command the British
squadron which will attend the Hud-
SON. Fulton celebration. Everywhere
the choice Is considered a most happy
one. Ever since Admiral Seymour
stood so nobly at Dewey's back at
Manila, Americans have had an ex-
ceptionally warm place in their hearts
for him. Later when he commanded
the allied forces in gallant but un-
successful attempt to relieve Pekin In
1900, he again endeared himself to all
who read the reports concerning the
expedition.
At the time of the Boxer uprising,
when Seymour and his men were lost
to sight in the country between Tien-
Tsin and Pekin, the London Mail
printed the following extract from Ad-
miral Deweys Chicago speech Of May
1, 1900:
my dear old friend, Sir Edward
Seymour, is more than a brother to
me- will remember his friendship to
the end. In Manila bay, when / was
In a most trying position, this English
commander stood loyalty at my back.
If it had not been for his moral sup
port I cannot say what might have
happened"
At that time Admiral Seymour WIS
in command Of the China station. He
was already an old friend Of Admiral
during hostilities it was undoubtedly
because of his general orders that the
English ships backed Dewey so well.
After the battle of Manila, in which
Dewey wiped out the Spanish fleet,
the Germans mobilized at Manila a
stronger fleet than that under the
American commanders command.
Their officers and men displayed SYM
pathy for the Spaniards and showed
disregard for the blockade established.
Serious friction which might have led
to open rupture followed. On one oc-
casion when Dewey learned that a
cruiser from the Germans had landed
provisions at Manila, the American
admiral sent his flag lieutenant to
Rear Admiral Won Diederich to inform
him Of this extraordinary disregard
Of the usual courtesies Of naval inter-
course" and to say that IF he wants
a fight he can have it right now"
This notification was followed by
disavowal of the action Of the cruiser
When the joint army and navy OPP
erations against Manila began on Au-
gust 13, 1898, the German and French
men of-war occupied position north
west Of the city, from which they
command the American station. The
English and japanese lay off Cavite
near the Americans.
The Americans feared that the Ger
mans might fire on them during the
bombardment Of the city. This fear
was quieted when Capt. Chichester,
senior British naval officer, placed his
ships between the German admiral
and Dewey. Capt. Chichester un-
doubtedly acted under general in
structions from Admiral Seymour.
Later Capt. Chichester in telling Of his
relations with Admiral Won Diederich
said:
when the German admiral sent me
word that he was coming aboard my
ship to get me to join in protest
against Dewey's action, looked up
International law and spread the books
out on my cabin table with the pages
open and marked-all in a row-and
when he came, said, What can do?
This American admiral is so deadly
right in all he has done and all he pro-
poses to do that If we protest we will
merely show that we do not under
stand the law OF course, there was
nothing to be done and 1 did it."
It may be said that during the en-
tire war with Spain, Admiral Seymour
and the men under him acted as Sec
onds for Dewey and his sailors. They
offered moral aid when Germany and
France were making things a trifle
uncomfortable for the Americans.
In Tien-Tsin in June, 1900, when the
Boxers had closed in on Pekin, Admir-
al Seymour, then in full command of
the British Asiatic fleet, was by agree
ment made leader of the British,
American, Japanese, Austrian, Rus
sian, Italian, German and French sail
ors and marines who sought to raise
the siege of the capital city. There
were 2,O66 officers and men in ALL
The expedition reached Lang-fang
forty miles from Pekin, with little
trouble. Railroad connections and all
communications ahead and behind the
force were cut by the Boxers, now re-
enforced by the imperial troops. There
were 264 wounded men in the column,
and a council of war decided that 1t
was useless to advance. A retreat was
begun. 1t was literally fight to cut
a way out, and for two weeks the men
were in almost constant conflict with
the enemy. This gallant but unsuc-
cessful attempt to relieve Pekin re-
ceived the liberal praise it deserved.
Sir Edward Seymour is now one Of
the dozen members Of the Order Of
Merit founded by King Edward. He
shares this honor with, Gems. Lords
Roberts, Wolseley and Kitchener and
Admiral Sir John Fisher.
On the right breast Of Admiral Sey-