The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1918-05-02
BATTLE OF MANILA BAY
DEWEY AND DE|TR|CHs
HOW GREAT ADMIRAL BLOCKED
oERMANY's PLAN TO GRAB
THE PHILIPPINES.

Twenty years ago yesterday, May l.
Admiral Dewey consummated the task
assigned him by President Mckinley
ito seek the enemy fleet and destroy
it." Before that historic event. all
the world had been spelling 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 it had been in error
and that the people of this country
took great delight in declaring that
Dewey knocked L out of Manila"
Many thought at the time, and per-
haps still think, that after Dewey had
accomplished the task assigned, he
should have sailed away, leaving the
Philippines to their fate. and avoid l.
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 de-
monstrated his wisdom as a states
man as well as his courage and skill
as a first class fighting man.
German Fleet Arrives.
II will be remembered that soon af-
ter Dewey took possession of Manila
bay, a German fleet came quietly in
a fleet superior in strength to that
which Dewey commanded. 1t was
under the command of Admiral Won
Diedrichs. Dewey made a courteous
inquiry as to the reason why a 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 cour-
tesy, Dewey informed Won Diedrichs
that if Germany was seeking war,
she could have it.
In accordance with his rights under
international law, and in order to pro-
tect the interests of the United States,
Dewey established certain port regula-
tons, particularly with a view to en-
forcing the blockade. He assigned
each visiting ship to a particular an
chorage. One of Won Diedrich's sub
ordinates was careless or insolent in
observing the reglations and was no.
titled by Dewey that he would have
to fire upon the first vessel of what
ever nationality that disobeyed the
rules. He did, in fact, fire across the
bow of ship moving into forbidden
waters. There was no further trouble
and as soon as he could do so without
seeming to have been driven out, Won
piedrichs steamed away.
Real German Design.
There has been an important dis
closure since that time, in connection
with the visit of the German fleet 1t
seems that Germany had long coveted
the Philippines, and, when war broke
out between Spain and the United
States, closed a bargain for the pur-
chase of the Islands, having first con-
WINGED Spain that she would probably
lose them anyway. Won Diedrich's
mission was to take possession and
assume the position Of governor-ge gen
eral. Having a superior naval force
and armed with paper title to the
Islands, the German admiral would
very likely have secured possession OF
the whole Philippine archipelago il he
had been dealing with man Of pro-
crastinating or pacifist inclinations
Dewey did no watchful waiting mol
was he too proud to fight. He prompt
ly sent an ultimatum, and as con-
sequence had no fighting to do. Vor
Diedrichs knew his man.
Importance Of Dewey's Work.
At this distance of time and under
present circumstances, We can more
fully appreciate the value of Dewey's
services in sticking to the Philippines
after he captured them, and in stand
ing by his rights in Manila bay. Hat
the Philippines been German pos
session from 1898 to 1914, German!
would have developed in that period
a naval force sufficient to operate from
Manila bay as rendezvous. TIT
story of the present war. prolonged
as it has been in the face Of man!
advantages against Germany, Nigh
have been ended in Germany's favor
A perspective Of 20 years gives t
the figure of Admiral Dewey large
and more conspicuous place In tn
panorama of American history.