The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1917-01-19
RODERlCK 0. MATHESON. EDITOR |
De,Dev
-INHE death Of Admiral George Dewey remove!

TINE death Of Admiral George Dewey removes
from sphere Of activity one whose name in
American naval annals VIII Stahd AZ second only
to that of Farragut alone, and one 81 whom a fam
Gus historian has written mo man since the Civil
War has added SO much to the honor and renown
of the nation or has deserved so well of it."
Admiral Dewey figured most conspicuously in
all the international crisis of this country since the
Civil War, during the trying days of which he
won his spurs. When war with Chile ithtsatened
it was Dewey who seized the coal destined for the
Chilean feet and in gripping possible enemy
strengthened himself. When war with Spain was
declared il was Dewey who dared the mines and
the forts and struck the blow that made victory in
the Orient certain When Germany threatened
the integrity Of Venezuela it was Dewey who so
disposed the American feet in the Caribbean as to
blanket the ships of the Kaiser and give point to
the quiet, verbal ultimatum of Roosevelt. During
the past several years, when those words had to
be spoken that would arouse the American nation
al conscience to the sense Of the national inse-
curity no voice has been heard with more effect
than that Of Dewey. ,s...ss'.
Admiral Dewey made many errors of Judgement
but always shore. When in his natural ele-
ment the blue sea, his judgements were never
questioned, either at the time nor in subsequent
reviews, Few statesmen or diplomats ever faced
so delicate situation as that faced by Dewey in
Manila Bay, and none could have handled the stua-
ton better than he accepting the blows from the
Spanish guns and the bluff of Won Diedrich with
equal calmness, responding to the one with vigor-
Gus counterbows, to the other with that assurance
OF right being might that at that time was Amer
lean. @:.. . .,. 49,. 49, ....
A tribute to Admiral Dewey and to his conduct
at the battle Of Manila Bay written sixteen years
ago by Theodore Roosevelt, is as apropos today
as it was then. Mr. Roosevelt, then Governor
Roosevelt, wrote: ... ......
Admiral Dewey performed Of the great feats
of all time. At the very outset of the Spanish
he struck of the two decisive blows which brought
the conclusion, and his the first fight,
his success exercised incalcuable effect upon the
whole conflict. He set the note of the He had
carefully prepared for action during the months he
was on the Asiatc coast He had his plans thorough
ly matured, and he struck the instant that was
declared. There was no delay no hesitation. As
steamers turned their bows toward Manila Bay There
was nothing to show whether not Spanish mines
and forts would be efficient; but Dewey, cautious
he at the right time, had not particle of fear
Of taking risks when the need arose In the tropic
mine. 70 wsss ne ys.se a On vemS tne
Of guns and weight Of metal thrown at single dis.
charge and in the number and aggregate tonnage of
the ships the Spanish squadron about equaled his,
and what material inferiorty there the Spanish
side more than made up by the forts and mines.
The overwhelming difference moral, not material
1t was the difference in the two commanders in the
officers and of the two fleets, and in the naval
service, afoat and ashore, Of the two nations. On
the one side there had been thorough preparation;
ON the other, none that adequate. 1t would be
idle to recapitulate the results. Steaming in with
cool steadiness, Deweys feet cut the Spaniards to
pieces while the Americans were practically unhurt.
Then Dewey drew of to breakfast, satisfied himself
that he had enough ammunition, and returned to
stamp out what embers of resistance still feeby
smpldering. ~ r1-. .'-f'tH'
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