The Washington herald., 1914-03-08
by FREDERIC PALMER.

by FREDERIC PALMER.
Certain persons in Germany have
been writing and talking. but Ad-
miral Dewey has kept silent. His
autobiography stated the truth Of his
tory. Apparently he has nothing to
SGd to II. TIE admiral of the navy
remains as good master OF silence
as he was in the days when all the
Imagination of our country responded
do his brilliant dash into Manila Bay.
without knowing that after the vic
tory he faced a crisis more trying
than that when, he steamed abreast
the Spanish squadron on Cavite Tor
battle.
There is no record in the Navy De-
partment of Dewey's difficulties with
the Germans; no word Of any o1!-
cial complaint by him that Admiral
Won Diederichs, with 3 German
squadron superior to his own, was
strangely active in the bay, while
Camara's squadron. also superior to
Dewey's, had left Suez on its way to
attack him.
Took Worries to Himself.
Dewey was never given to detailed
ton. When, on his return home,
President Mckinley asked about the
reported friction with Won Diederichs,
he said:
"As / was on the spot and familiar
with the situation from day to day, 1t
seemed best that 1 look after 1t my
self at a time when you had worries
enough of your own"
Dewey knew that Mckinley could
not help him; that he must depend
upon himself; and day by day, under
the broiling sun of Manila Bay. he
was equal to that situation. His an
swer to the President deserves as
much fame as his you may fire when
you are ready, Gridley."
Whenever i think of the many Of
ficers of our own and foreign services
whom / have met, my memory always
settles on George Dewey. in his SIM
plicity, straight forwardness, self re-
lance, and preparedness for any emer-
gency, as best exemplifying the quail
ties which we should admire in an
American naval officer: and his con-
duct from the day that war with
Spain was declared until the peace
protocol was signed. with its combina-
tion of courage and wisdom. is an in
SplTlHB SAdnplS lOf all commanders
to come.
Germans Only NioIators.
Naturally. one o: Dewey's first acts
was to establish a blockade of the port
of Manila. The rules of blockade,
which he applied. and which the Ger
mans broke. were those admitted by
all international authorities, includ-
ing the German.
His squadron represented the force in
command of the bay and at war, with
the forces on shore. A blackade means
that there can be no communication
with the shore by any neutral ships
without the consent of the blockading
power, and its authority must be au-
thorized by all neutral ships.
All the foreign squadrons, including
the japanese. sent ships of observa-
ton TO Manila Bay. With the excep-
ton of the German ships, all reported
to Admiral Dewey and asked where
they should anchor. None attempted
communication with the shore.
Although the British interests on
shore were greater than those of all
the other foreign powers together, the
largest number of ships they ever had
in the bay was three. AS for the Ger
mans, let the facts speak.
The Irene, entering the harbor,
steamed past the Olympia without
stopping and dropped anchor where
she chose. The second German ship,
the Cormoran. appeared at o'clock
in the morning three days later,
though ii is unusual for a foreign
ship to enter blockaded harbor in
the night.
Shot Across Her Rows
Numerous Spanish gunboats had not
vet been captured. and Admiral
Dewey had heard rumors Of a plan to
send improvised Spanish torpedo
boats in an attack under cover of
darkness. 1t seemed not only a rea-
enable. but a probable undertaking.
II Germans or Americans had been
In the place of the Spanish. do you
think they would have allowed an
enemy's squadron to lie at anchor
within reach for months without some
such attempt
Therefore, the sharpest watch was
kept on board the American squad
ron with decks cleared for action.
Either the Admiral or one of his staff
was always awake. The Cormoran
paid no attention to the launch's hail.
Then the Raleigh fired a shot across
the Cormoran's bows, which is also
according to custom, under the cir
cumstances. When the Cormoran
hove to, the American officer who
boarded her explained the situation.
Late in May. Admiral Dewey had
word that CamaTa's squadron prob
ably would start from Spain. Early
in June the Germans had five ships