Evening star., 1917-01-17

FarraRuC QO! In tle course VI SPo
rations for Manila bay I often asked
myself this question, and I confess
was thinking of him the night we
entered the bay and with the convlc.
| tion that I was doing precisely what
he would have done"
Native Of Vermont.
George Dewey was born in the shad-
ow Of vermont's state capitol. at Mont
pelier, on the day following Christmas
in 1887. At the age Of seventeen ne
reached the crossroads of his career:
one road led to West Point, the other
to Annapolis. Young Dewey favored
the former, but
There was no vacancy Tor west @
Point from Vermont" explains1a .1., the
admiral, in reviewing his life. "Other-
wise I might have gone into Mania
bay on an army transport instead OF
on the Olympia. But 1t happened tnat
there was vacancy at Annapolis, SO 1
entered the navy.
At the outbreak of the civil war Dew
ey was twenty-three years old. he
was commissioned lieutenant. ana
guided the Mississippi as it's executive
New Orleans and its forts. He was not
SO successful at Port Hudson. Farra-
gut won through, but Dewey and the
Mississippi ran aground under the guns
OF the 1Ort. Inc snip was set diii O. ahu
during the tranfer of the crew under
FIRE, the young officer 'lived five yea1
in an hour"
Served In Many Capacities.
From the close of the civil war until
the opening of the Spanish-American
war the life Of the American naval
officer was made up of routine duty at
sea and ashore? During this period the
future admiral cruised. taught class
at Annapolis. surveyed Lower Califor-
MIA and part of the west coast of Mexi-
co, carried supplies to the survivors or
the siege of Paris, performed duty at
Boston navy yard and the naval torpedo
station at Newport, inspected hight
houses 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 or the bureau
of equipment and at the age OF nIty
nine was serving as president OF the
board of inspection and survey with the
rank of commodore. 1t was In this Inn
portant naval Office that he presided at
the trials of all the battleships, except
the Oregon, which were to demollsn the
Spanish squadron at Santiago
Shortly after his return from MAMMA
bay Admiral Dewey found himself IN
the fire of popular criticism over ,ti, the
gift house incident" American clIi-
scription as a testimonial to the hero
of Manila. and they presented him
with a house in Washington. Dewey,
who had been widower since lS1z,
had just married Mrs. Mildred Mclean
Hazen of Washington. and he 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 seriously
talked of as a candidate for the repub-
lican nomination as President. but the
admiral preferred to remain IN the ma
val ranks rather than to seek such
venture in craftsmanship. His admir-
ers have since often spoken of him as
the man who could have been Presf-
dent If he had wished.
Criticised German Admiral.
Early in 1914 Admiral Dewey again
became conspicuous in the current
news by revival of the long standing
controversy with Admiral Won Diede-
richs of the German navy regarding
the conduct of the German squadron
during the blockade of Manila bay, six
raphy Admiral Dewey criticised Won
Diederichs for failing to observe the
neutrality laws and told how a shot
was fired across the bows of one of the
German ships to impress 1T with the
fact that the American navy had es-
tablished a blockade and would coun-
tenance no undue activity on the part
of the German ships, suspected at the
time as friendly to Spain
"a difference of opinion about inter-
NATIONAL law had been adjusted" said
Dewey, without adding to the sum of
President McKinley's worries"
Dewey was always great student of
history; he knew every naval campaign
that had been waged from the days Of
ancient Greece and Rome, had analyzed
them and knew why defeat or victory
had come from certain movements and
this without doubt was one Of the fac
tors that contributed to his own sue
cess in warfare.
One of the finest estimates of Ad-
miral 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
ribbeap while Dewey was lying in
Manila bay, resting on the 1aurels he
had won in the famous battle of the
LIST of May. Sampson said:
THE service knows Dewey as an
ideal head of a fleet. Perfectly cour-
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 the country is richer in another
brilliant page Of history and another
heroic 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
"a national hero"