The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-01-17

can, the life Of the American naval
officer was made up Of routine duty
at sea and ashore. During the period,
the future admiral cruised: taught a
class at Annapolis; surveyed lower
California and part of the west coast
or Mexico; carried supplies to the
survivors Of the siege Of Paris: per-
FORMED duty at Boston Navy Yard
and the naval torpedo station at New
port; inspected lighthouses and
served as naval secretary on the
Lighthouse Board, spent two years
travelling on a sick leave in search of
health; four years as chief of the
Bureau OF Equipment; and at the age
or 90 was serving as president of the
board of inspection and survey with
the rank Of commodore. 1t was in
this important Office that he presided
at the trials of all battleships, except
the oregon, which were to demolish
the Spanish squadron at Santiago.
shortly after his return from Ma
Mia Bay Admiral Dewey found him.
self in the fire of popular criticism
over the gift house incident" Amer
lean citizens had raised $4,000 by
puol1c subscription as a testimonial to
the hero Of Manila and then presented
him with house in Washington.
Dewey who had been a widower since
1872, had just married Mrs. Mildred
turned over the gift house to her.
Shortly afterward the admiral and
Mrs. Dewey left the gift house and
lived in the wife's former home.
In 1900 Admiral Dewey was seri-
ously talked of as a candidate for the
republican nomination as president.
but the admiral preferred to remain
in the naval ranks rather than to
seek such a venture in statesman
snip. His admirers have since often
spoken OF him as the man who could
have been a president if he had
wished. &. z.Ea a---.ss tt..49- {. =
Early in 1914 Admiral Dewey again
became conspicuous in the current
news by revival Of the long standing
controversy with Admiral Won Died
erichs of the German navy regarding
the conduct of the German squadron
during the blockade OF Manila, bay. 16
years before. In his autobiography,
Admiral Dewey criticised Won Dieder-
richs for failing to observe the neu-
trality laws and told how a shot was
nred across the bows of one of the
German ships to impress it with the
fact that the American navy had es-
tablished blockade and would coun-
tenance no undue activity on the part
of the German ships, suspected at the
time as friendly to Spain, . .'l:.
"A difference OF opinion about in
ternational law had been adjusted, -
said Dewey, without adding to the
sum of President McKinley's wor-
ries."
Dewey was always a great student
OF history; he knew every naval cam
paign that had been waged from the
days of ancient Greece and Rome,
had analysed them and knew why
defeat or victory had come from cer-
tain movements and this without
doubt was one of the factors that con-
trlbuted to his own success in war
fare.
One of the finest estimates of Ad-
miral Dewey's character is contained
in tribute rendered to him by his
old-time shipmate, Admiral Sampson,
who was fighting the Spaniards in the
Caribbean while Dewey was lying in
Manila Bay. resting on the laurels he
first of May. Sampson said:
THE service knows Dewey as an
ideal head OF q fleet. Perfectly cour-
ageous, of thoroughly balanced judg-
ment, and quick of decision, he has
the qualities which carry one to fame
If opportunity be given. The man and
the hour fortunately came together
and country is richer in another bril-
liant page OF history and another he
rcic figure. His career has given a
lofty impetus to the young which will
bear fruit in nobler aspirations. He
has become one of the most valued
possessions which a nation can have
Ia national hero"