The Washington herald., 1909-05-02
HEROES OF MANILA
CELEBRATE VICTORY
Admiral Dewey Is Heartily
Cheered at Banquet.
REVIVE MEMORIES OF FIGHT
Officers Who Served in Famous Bat
tie of Eleven Years Ago Recount
Drunk 20 Deparfed-AdmiraI Makes
ImprOmptu speeeh-Wear Medals.

Reviving memories Of the battle Of Ma
Mia Bay. and kindling that spirit that
helped stir the victors 10 conquer Admiral
Montejo's armada on May !, 1895, Admiral
Dewey and twenty-eight Of the officers
who were with him in that fight reunited
last night about the banquet table al
the Raleigh
1t was a feeling Of patriotic tranqutl-
ity that these men. who so loudly cheered
eleven years ago. laid aside ali cares TO
enjoy an evening OF "reminiscences ThsE
acclaim Of popular approval that uads
each officer a hero a decade ago and
stirred the country was missing. and,
unmindful Of the essential TO a momen-
some narrative of the engagement.
Apparently not year older than he was
on the day he stood on the bridge Of The
Olympia and directed the movement OF
the American squadron. Admiral Dewey
sat at the head Of the festive board and
later joined with the others in predicting
a bright future for the American navy.
l.
AS he arose to speak the assemblags
also stood and drowned his opening re-
marks in cheers. IN harmony with the
informal gathering, the admiral made an
impromptu speech. expressing his grati-
tude at the officers OF the Manila Bay So
ciety for keeping fresh the friendship
welded in time OF war.
Not only did the senior officer ot the
American navy commend the commanding
officers for their conduct in the famous
battle, but he paid a fitting tribute 10 the
men who, unknown TO the world. achieved
a record behind the guns
In keeping with the reunion. the guests
bowed as attention was called to the miss
ing faces that had once shared in the
recognition from the American people
Fourteen Of the men VINO commanded
the ships have died since the battle, no
table among them Capt Gridley and
Rear Admiral C0ghlan. whose death oc-
CURED recently
4 silent toast was drunk 70 the heroes
who have passed beyond and revereatiy
the guest Of honor paid tribute 20 their
memory.
Officers Wear Honor Medals.
Each Of the officers wore the medal
given him by Congress. and this outward
mark of distinction was al that served
10 distinguish the sea warriors Gazing
down the table. one saw gray-haIred vet
Grams chatting with young HeutenanIs
who az the tine OF the Manila Bay en-
gagement were mere boys Just out Of the
Naval Academy and pressed into active
service
IN the gathering were several who held
soEanissioners ir 1898 ard EhO have since
resigned NJ Orb Knepper and NJ. J.
F Marshall. T.. have entered private
life. and they. with John T. McCutcheon.
who served on the Mccullough as news
paper correspondent. were the only Ct
villains az the feast
Informal "a a degree OF plsasantnsss
and not unlike officers mess. the ban
quet was pronounced the best vet b
Admiral Dewey as he left the hall III
improuptu speeches teemed with term
distinctly nautical and were devote
mainly 10 Manila Bay and the episode
that stin Iinger in the minds q the III
tors.
RecOuntS lfaReuFers Of Fleet.
with unmistakable pride. Rear Admir-
Asa Walker recoUnted the maueuvers e
the flagship and its following levtthiar
as they entered the harbor az dawn ar
awaited the signal 10 open fire H
calm recital Of the movements n.
finally ended IN the destruction OF L
Spanish feet kept the listeners excite
and at the conclusion Of his remsr
they applauded without restraint
u
others We'd with admiral Walker in na
rating incidents that made the batr
notable. and with precision they told hc
each ship edged closer 70 the enemy a.
steamed in and out OF the linz O. battle
Prepare 10 hoist anCher. Hoist a
chor Follow the motions OF the f1s
ship This was the command that open
the battle. and eagerly the men obey
il said Rear Admiral Ford 'FIll
with the spirit that OverJhrew Britt
oppression, the feet and its men we
manfully 10 the task. and emerged Sc
eral hours later triumphant
Tribute 10 Blind Admiral
Rear Admiral Benjamin P. Lambert,
one OF the notable figures at the banqa
was accorded q ringing tribute as he n
70 respond 10 a toast The gTizzled
eran was stricken blind BY the explosi
Of shell several years ago.
Among those present were Rear
miral y. NJ Dyer. Rear Admiral
Walker, Rear Admiral 3. P. Lambert
Rear Admiral John .. Ford. Rear
miTal George 3. Colvocoresses. Medi
Director John G Wise Medical Dlrec
Abel F Price. Pay Director W ". G.
Capt George 3. Ransom. Capt. Ben
min Tappan, Capt Frank H Bail
Capt. Thomas 3. Howard. Rear Admi-
Richard Inch. Lieut.. A Lee. Lie
Comd-. i. Y. Butler. Lieut. COmdr. II
" B. Price. Lieut.. COmdT. Hutch / Co
Surgeon D. y. Carpenter. Comdr. g
.ave kaemu'erling. Lieut. COndr. Art
3. Ksvanagh. Lieut.. COmdr. J. P Bra
lieut.. Corndr. John s DnddrLdEa