Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1917-01-19
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 Hong-Kong on
February IL, 1898, read:
dewey, Hong-KOng:
maine destroyed at Havana Febru-
airy Is by accident. 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. It 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 % at 1915 Dewey re
ceived this cablegram from Secretary
Of the Navy Lang:
s'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 it's course for
the entrance of Manila bay, 600 miles
away. The squadron had been aug
mented and consisted of the Olympia,
Raleigh, Baltimore, Boston, Concord,
Petrol, McCulloch and the collier Nam
shan.
At 5 80 o'clock on May 1, 1898, in
the misty haze of a tropical dawn
Dewey said:
''You may fire when you are ready
Gridley."
Wipes Out Spanish Fleet.
Seven hours later, at 1890 noon,
a white flag was hoisted on the gov
eminent buildings of Manila The
Spanish squadron had n wiped out
and the land batteries silenced. Dewey
had not lost 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 Ad-
miral Don Patricio Montojo Y Pas
seron. The displacement of Dewey's
squadron was 19.O98 tons, that of
Montojo 1858 tons. Neither side had
any armored ships and both fought
with brown powder.
On May Ii, 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 Remained at Manila
ten months and then returned to the
United States by way of New York. He
received a welcome home never accord
ed another man.
DGWCy MdOG FAOniiTats
On March 3, 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 ap-
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 it
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 a testimonial
to the hero of Manila, and they pre-
sented him with a house in Washing
ton. Dewey, who had been widower
since 1872, had just married Mrs. Mil
dred 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 serious
~ talked of as a candidate for the Re-
publican nomination as president, but
the admiral preferred to remain in the
navy. His admirers have since often
spoken of him as the man who could
have been a president if he wished.
n0EI FAMINE IT'D tn n G