The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1917-02-01
HOW DEWEY GOT HIS CHANCE
He Was Sent 10 the Asiatic Squadron
by 0flicialdom TO Shelye Him

Tribune of Jan. 30th, says;
"When, after long absence in tn
consular service, | came home on
| visit in 1898, the Spanish-America
| War was in progress. Being out 0
touch with events ! was interested i
getting all the inside information
could. So, about two months after tn
battle Of Manila Bay, where in al
hour Admiral Dewey had won position
and was acclaimed the hero of ou
people, in conversation with the lat,
Colonel Daniel S. Lamont, he asked
Did you ever hear why Dewey hap
pened to be near Manila when the wal
came ? ! replied that | had had nc
means Of knowing anything about the
undorcmrents Of affairs, so he said:
In March, 1897, when the McKin-
Icy Administration came into power
and it was clear that a war with Spain
could not be much longer averted,
George Dewey had been for several
years at the head Of one Of the prin-
cipal bureaus Of the Navy Depart
ment. He was then in his sixtieth
year, with two or three years more to
Serve before retirement.
"His service had been conspicuous,
He had instructed a good many Secre-
taries Of the Navy Of both parties, and
had saved most Of them from serious
trouble and complications. | need
scarcely insist how thoroughly he was
aquiped by character, education, train
ing and experience; but it soon became
evident that he was not to be in favor
with the new regime. Under all the
ordinary rules governing promotion he
was entitled to the prize command of
the navy-the North Atlantic Squad
ron. But, as he was not over amen
able to control or suggestion, this was
thought by the politicians as well rs
ambitious rivals in the department to
be too near home and too prominent,
50 this recognition was denied him.
cit then occurred to some wise
lcres that the Asiatic Squadron was
1t was remote and, though
,reditabe to its head, it was Insisted
hat nothing ever happened there,
which made it very good place fer
shelving an officer either obnoxious or
90 capable-in other words, letting
Inn down easy. AS a result, Dewey
vas assigned to the command Of this
squadron and sent to the Far East.
apparently nobody thought about
my clouds forming on the horizon in
he Far East, and, so far as the Phil
ipine Islands were concerned, even
heir existence was unsupported or dis
ounted. 1t was felt that if there was
o be any naval contest at all it would
G in the waters around Cuba or else
there in the Atlantic.
dewey had scarcely reached his
tation when the sinking of the Maine
recipitated the war earlier than had
cen expected even by those elements
nd forces that were attempting to
ush our people into the contest. The
ateful first day Of May came with
gorge Dewey in command of his !
luadron. He was on the ground and
le rest is known. He was ready for
le Job. and when it was finished there
ere no more real naval honors to be
ad out of the Spanish War; hence the
larrel that followed about the little j
ft-over things. 1t has seemed to me
lat fate played tricks with good :
any people, but with none more than :
ith the politicians and the over
mart schemers Of the navy who gave .
Gorge Dewey the chance to become
national hero in spite Of himself and
S friends-indeed, while denying his .
st claims TO recognition and promo =
81. It has always struck me as one 7
the odd, unforeseen lrcvenges that =
ne has a way Of bringing in o
u noted these sayings at the tima 9
ii, row that the admiral has passed q
ar, it seems to me that the informa- Z
N and conclusions Of an acute and
serving mind, with unsurpassed fa-
tiles for knowing, may not be with p
{ public interest or value" -