El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1917-01-17

and all the land batteries without the
loss of a man on the American side
Upon his triumphant return 10 the
United States he was feted by the ma
ton His admirers presented MIN win
q beautiful home in the national CAPT
tai. Congress gave him an engraved
sword and raised him from the rank
of commodore TO rear admiral and then
10 the full rank OF admiral of the navy
Followed FarraGut's distractions
Admiral Dewey was the third Amer
lean to reach that pinnacle OF naval
rank. FarraEut was the first and Por-
ter the second. 1t was under Farra gut
that Dewey received his first baptism
valuable as the training Of Annap-
oils was. it was poor schooling beside
that of serving under Farragut in time
of war" admiral Dewey once said
Whenever 1 have been in difucult
situation OF in the midst OF such con-
fusion Of details that the simple and
right thing to do seemed hay, l have
often asked myself, what would Far
ragut do? In the course Of prepara-
tons for Manila bay. often asked my
self this question and confess was
thinking of him the night We entered
the bay and with the conviction that
was doing precisely what he would
have done"
Might Have Been in Army.
George Dewey was born in the shsd-
ow of Vermont'S state capitol at Mont
peIier. on the day following Christmas
in 1887 At the age OF u ne reache9
the crossroads Of his career one road
led to West Point, the other 10 Annap-
oils Young Dewey favored the former,
but
There was no vacancy for West
Point from Vermont" explained the ad-
mirai in reviewing his life. Otherwise
! might have gone into Manila bay on
an army transport instead Of the Olym-
pia.-
At the outbreak of the civil wa.
Dewey was IS years old He was com
missioned a lieutenant and guided the :
Mississippi as its executive officer in
Farragut's historic dash past New Or
leans and its forts. He was not so D.
successful at Port Hudson Farragut
won through. out Dewey and the Mis-
sissippi ran aground under the guns OF
the forts The ship was set afire and
during the transfer OF the crew under Z
fire, the young officer lived five years |
In an hour"
Surveyed Lower California.
From the close Of the civil war until !.
the opening OF the Spanish-American .
war. the life Of the American naval Of /
ficer was made up OF routine duty a. !
sea and ashore. During this period. the
future admiral cruised; taught class /
al Annapolis: surveyed Lower CalifoT- !
I
leo, and carried supplies TO the sur |
vivors of the siege of Paris
Gift House Incident.
Shortly after his return from Ma
Mia bay. admiral Dewey found him
self in the fire OF popular criticism over /
the gift house Incident" American T,
had raised $4,000 by public !
as a testimonial 70 the |
hero of Manila and they presented him |
with a house in Washington. Dewey.
who had been widower since 1877,
had Just married Mrs. Mildred Mclean
Hazen. of Washington. and he turned :
over the gift house TO her. Shortly az /
terward the admiral and Mrs Dewey !
left the gift house and lived IN the !
Wife's former home.
Controversy with German Admiral.
Early in 1914. admiral Dewey became |
conspicuous in the current news by re !
vivai Of the long standing controversy /
with admiral Won Diederichs. of the
the German squadron during the block !
ade of Manila bay, Is years before In .
his autobiography. admiral Dewey crit I
icised Won Diederichs for failing to oh !
serve the neutrality laws and told how
q shot was fired across the bows Of one
the fact that the American navy had !
a blockade and would J
no undue activity or the I
part OF the German ships. suspected at !
the time as friendly to Spain
Ideal Head OF Fleet
One of the first estimates OF admiral |
Dewey's character is contained in a |
tribute rendered to him by his old
time shipmate. admiral Sampson, who |
was fighting the Spaniards in the Ca !
while Dewey was a victor in |
Manila bay. Sampson said:
The service knows Dewey as an
ideal head of fleet Perfectly cOura- I
geous, Of thoroughly balanced Judg
ment and quick Of decision. he has the
qualities which carry one to fame II
be given The man and
the hour fortunately came together and
the country is richer in another bril-
liant page of history and another he
roic figure. His career has given 4
lofty impetus 10 the young which viii
bear fruit in noblsr aspirations He
has become one of the most valued pos
which a nation can have ,