The Ontario Argus. (Ontario, Or.) 1???-1947, 1918-05-02
BATTLE OF MANILA
BAY 20 YEARS AGO

event. ali lne WOTlu nhu DctH bBtliiub
the name Of the principal port in the
Philippines Manila" As soon as
official reports of the battle had been
published, the world learned that II
had been In error, and the people of
this country took delight in declaring
that Dewey knocked Il out of Man
iia."
Many thot at the time. and perhaps
still think that after Dewey had ac-
complished the task assigned, he
should have sailed away, leaving the
Philippines to their fate, and avoid
ing what later came to be known as
"the white mans burden" But
Dewey didn't. He wasn't the sail
away" kind. He stuck around that
vicinity, and subsequent events have
fully demonstrated his wisdom as q
first class fighting man.
II will be remembered that soon
after Dewey took possession Of Manila
Bay. a German fleet came quietly in
"a fleet superior in strength to that
which Dewey commanded. II was
under the command of Admiral Won
Dledrlchs. Dewey made a courteous
inquiry as to the reason why fleet
superior to his own had come upon
the scene. and the German admiral
replied that he was there "by order
OF the Kaiser" with continued
courtesy. Dewey informed Won Died.
richs that n Germany was seeking
war. she could have Il.
In accordance with his rights un-
der international law. and In order
20 protect the interests OF the United
States, Dewey established certain
port regulations. particularly with a
view to enforcing the blockade. lie
assigned each visiting ship TO a parti-
cular anchorage. One OF Won Died
richs subordinates was careless or
innocent In observing tho regulations
and was notified by Dewey that he
would fire upon the first vessel OF
whatever nationality tha disobeyed
the rules. lie did. In fact. fire
across the bow OF ship moving into
forbidden waters. There was M
further trouble and as soon as he
could do so without seeming to have
been driven out. Won oiedr!chs steam.
ed away,
One OF the histroic Incidents OF that
meeting betyeen Dewey and Won
Diedrichs was the action OF Admiral
Chichester OF the Brlthish navy. who
when the Germans asked him what
his attitude would be In case OF host
illties. gave answer by placing h!'
flagship between Won Diedrichs and
the Olympia. Deyy's flagship. The
kaiser's representative appreciated
the fact that TO fire az the Stars and
Stripes. across the Union Jack menl
fight from both. and Germany was mol
neady then. Der Tag" had not yet
arrived.
In his report 10 the Navy Depart
ment concerning all that happened al
Manila, Admiral Dewey related q
boast made by a German captain
that twenty years from then German,
would begin a world war. II was IN
fact just ls years less one month
from the date OF that prophecy that
the United States entered the con,
fleet thus foretold.
There has been an important dis.
closure since that time. In connection
with the visit OF the German fleet
IL seems that Germany had long COW
eted the Philippines. and. when wal
broke out between Spain and the
! United States, closed bargain for tie
purchase of the Islands, having first
convinced Spain that she would pro-
badly lose them anyway. Won Died.
riehs' mission was to take possession
and assume the potion OF Governor,
General, Having a superior naval
force and armed with paper title "a
the Islands, the German admiral
would very likely have secured pos
session OF the whole Philippine arch.
apelage OF he had been dealing with
a man OF procrastination or pacifist
inelinations. Dewey did no watch,
ful waiting nor was he too proud IL
fight. He promptly sent an u.ti.
matum, and as consequence had nu
fighting to do. Won Diedrichs knew
his man.
AT this distranee of time aud under
present circumstances. we can more
fully appreciate the value OF Dewey I
services In sticking 10 the Philippines
after he had captured them. and 10
standing by his rights in Manila Bay
Had the Philippines been German
possession from 1888 20 1914. Gee
many would have developed In thai
IN