Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-05-01
.D|SCLA|MS VICTORY
He WON AT MANILA
Dewey Declares Higher Power
Than Navy Fought Fight
Fifteen Years Ago Today.
GIVES THAT AS REASON
FOR NO CASUALTIES
Discusses Battle and the Banquet to
Be Held Tonight by Officers
Who Were Present.

FILLED with the thought that Il higher
power than that of the American squad
ron under his command fought and won
the battle of Manila bay fifteen years
ago today, Admiral George Dewey. presi-
dent of the general and joint boards of
the navy, was busiy engaged this morn
ing and this afternoon at his offices i'm
the Mills building receiving the congratu-
lations OF the surviving officers who were
with him during his decisive action with
the Spanish fleet in the Philippines.
Admiral Dewey expressed his thought
| today, departing from his custom not to
discuss the battle for publication. in the
course of an interview with a Star re-
porter. declaring that the idea was the
first that occurred to him fifteen years
ago when the battle had ended and the
fleet captains came aboard the flagship
Olympia to make their reports
He received today from Edward c. Cur
ran of Philadelphia a poem entitled
Lest We Forget written in celebra ton
of the anniversary Of the battle, the last
stanza of which deals particularly with
the fact that there was not a single
casualty on the American warshlps while
hundreds OF the enemy were killed and
wounded.
A Small Family" Party.
Il am going TO read this poem tonight"
| Admiral Dewey said, TO the twenty-five
members of the Society of Manila Bay
with whom 1 shall gather at the banuue;
TO be held at the Willard Hotel We
shall be just small family party, so
to speak, without guests meeting to talk
over old times and 'brag' if we want to
in the family circle.
This poem will have particular inter-
est for us. because 1t sets forth why the
battle OF Manila bay was remarkable
one. 1t was that, indeed, although of
course, nothing like Togos great modern
| naval victory in che Sea of Japan. i shall
| never forget toda& fifteen years ago,
when the battle was over, and the six
captains of the squadron came aboard
the Olympia. one by one. j said to them:
| Well. how about it? How about your
men? Are you hurt? Did won come
| through 1t all right? And when they
| answered Not a hurt: Not a wound
and son on. l just couldn't believe it, at
| first. Finally, | came to the conclusion,
| and / said:
We'll. gentlemen higher power than
We fought this battle today
A Remarkable Battle.
And so 1t was a remarka BILE battle,
| for the Spaniards fired twice the number
! of shots that we did, and we killed and
| wounded hundreds of the enemy's men,
! but they did US no damage, except on the
cruiser Baltimore: where six men were
| injured by the explosion of one OF that
| ships shells And even at that, all six
| of those men We're right back on duty
| almost Immediately"
Admiral Dewey declares that the an
| niversary Of the battle is the one night.
with the exception of dinners to the Sec
-nf.n of fta 10. brA, H., III
| rule not to go to banquets-a rule which,
| he maintains, coupled with taking exer-
else, is the secret of long and healthy
| life. He said today, with considerable
| ciety's banquet is the only occasion on
| which he permits himself to climb down
off the water wagon for the sake of TAX
| ing a glass of champagne"
Most Survivors From Concord.
| Admiral Dewey called attention TO the
curious fact that of all the surviving
officers of his squadron those that were
on the Concord are greatest in number
There are six Concord officers surviving.
Rear Admiral Walker. retired: Rear Ad-
miral Colvocoresses, retired; Capt Houri-
gan, retired; Capt. Mccormick, retired:
Admiral Howard still on the active list.
\ OF surviving officers who were on the
\ flagship Olympia there are but four
Because of their absence at sea sew
| eral members of the society, which is
composed only of officers who We're at
tached to the squadron at the time of
| battle, will be unable to be present at
| the banquet at the Willard tonight
Expected to Be Present.
| Those who are expected to be present
are: Admiral George Dewey, Rear Ad-
miral Asa Walker. Medical Director John
C. Wise. Rear Admiral Frank H. Bailey
Lieut.. Commander Henry V. Butler, Rear
Admiral George p. Colvocoresses. Rear
| Admiral Hutch i. Cone, Rear Admiral
Bradley A. Fiske, Rear Admiral John D.
Ford Pay Director William w. Gait
| Cant. Reynold r. Hall, Edward W. Har-
| den of New York, Capt. Patrick W.
| Hourigan, Rear Admiral Thomas B. How
ard, Capt. Gustav kaemmering Capt
| Charles NJ Mccormick, John +. Marshall
1 of Norfolk. Va; Surgeon Emlyn III. Mar
| steller. Pay Director John r. Martin
i Commander Samuel 5. Robson. Pay In
| spector Eugene u. Ryan, Lieut. Com
| mander William Il. Scott and Comman-
i der Montgomery NJ. Taylor
/ John Fl. Barker of Brunswick Nd, en-
ployed by the Baltimore and Ohio Rail-
i road Company died suddenly Tuoeday