The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1917-01-20

1897 the question arose of successor
to acting Rear Admiral McNair of the
Asiatic squadron.
Dewey. on October q, 1897, received
an order detaching him from duty as
president of the board of inspection
and survey and instructing him to re-
port to Acting Rear Admiral McNair,
in the far East as his relief.
~ want you to co." said Theodore
Roosevelt. "You are the man who will
be equal to the emergency If one
arises"
In the harbor of Nagasaki, Japan,
on January 8, 1893. Dewey took over
the command Of the Asiatic squadron
from Acting Rear Admiral McNair.
Dewey, though commander In chief,
was compelled to hoist the pennant Of
a commodore over the flagship. the
Olympia. The captain Of the Olympia
was young man named Gridley.
A cablegram, delivered to Dewey on
board the Olympia at HongKong on
February II, 1898, read:
dewey, Hong kOEg.
"Maine destroyed at Havana Febru-
airy Is by accidents The president d.
reefs all colors to be half-masted until
further orders. Inform vessels under
your command by telegraph.
LONG"
Eight days later another cablegram
came. 1t read:
"Order the squadron except the
Monocacy to Hongkong. Keep full of
coal. In the event Of war with Spain,
your duty will be to see that the Span
ish squadron does not leave the Asiatic
coast, and then offensive operations in
the Philippine islands.
"ROOSEvELT."
On April 25 at 1915 Dewey re-
ceived this cablegram from Secretary
of the Navy Lang:
"War has commenced between the
United States and Spain. Proceed at
once to the Philippine islands. Com
mence operations particularly against
the Spanish fleet. You must capture
vessels or destroy. Use the utmost
endeavor."
With a smooth sea and favoring
skies the squadron set its course for
the entrance Of Manila bay, 800 miles
away. The squadron had been aug
mented and consisted of the Olympia,
Raleigh, Baltimore, Boston, Concord,
Petrol, McCulloch and the collier Nam
All $3.50 O'Clock al May I. 1888. III
the misty haze of tropical dawn
Dewey said:
'.You may fire when you are ready
Gridley."
Wipes Out Spanish Fleet.
Seven hours later, at 1890 noon,
white flag was hoisted on the gov
eminent buildings of Manila. The
Spanish squadron had been wiped out
and the land batteries silencedH Dewey
had not lost a man. He cabled home
the news of the surrender and then
cut the cable.
The number of Dewey's ships In
the action was six and of the Spanish
seven, under command of Rear Adj
miral Don Patricio Montojo Pas
lseron. The displacement of Dewey's
squadron was 19,098 tons, that of
Montojo 11,69S tons. Neither side had
any armored ships and both fought
with brown powder.
On May ID, American troops occu-
pied Manila and the Stars and Stripes
were flung to the breeze over the para.
pets Of the citadel.
Admiral Dewey-the promotion was
made on May 4-remained at Manila
ten months and then returned to the
United States by way of New York. He
received welcome home never accord.
ed another man.
Dewey Made Admiral.
On March 8, 1899, congress author
lied the president to appoint by Sc
lection and promotion an admiral of
the navy, who shall not be placed upon
the retired list except by his own APP
plication; and whenever such office
shall be vacated by death or otherwise,
the office shall cease to exist"
Dewey was named.
The title, admiral of the Navy"
was especially created for Dewey,
who is the only American on whom II
ever was conferred, though Porter and
Farragut had been made full admirals.
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 citizens had raised $4,000
by public subscription as testimonial