The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1918-05-03
FIRST OF MAY RECALLS
BATTLE OF MANILA BAY
Recent Disclosures Indicate that Ger
many Had Bargained With Spain
for PHILIPPINE Islands.

(From our Special Washington Corr
Washington, D. c., May Twenty
years ago today Admiral Dewey con-
sumated the task assigned to him by
Theodore Roosevelt, "to seek the en-
emy fleet and distroy it." Before
that historic event, all the world had
been spelling the name of the princi-
pal 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
the people of this country took great
delight in declaring that dewey
knocked IL out of Manila"
Many thought at the time, and per-
haps still think that after Dewey had
accomplished the task assigned, he
should have what later came to be
known as 'the white mans burden"
But Dewey didn't. He wasn't the
"sail away" kind. He stuck arc
that vicinity, and subsequent eve
have fully demonstrated his wis io
as a statesman as well as his cours
and skill as first class fighting MAJ
1t will be remembered that soon af-
ter Dewey took possession in Manila
Bay, German fleet came quietly in
fleet superior in strength to that
which Dewey commanded. 1t was
under the command of Admiral Won
Diedrichs. Dewey made 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 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 regu-
lations, particularly with a view to
enforcing the blockade. He assign
ed each visiting ship to a particular
anchorage One of ven Diedrichs,
subordinates was careless or insolent
in observing the regulations and was
notified by Dewey that he would fire
upon the first vessel of whatever
nationality that disobeyed the ruls. 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 SEEM
ing to have been driven out, Won Died
steamed away.
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 bargain for the
purchase of the Islands, having first
convinced Spain that she would pro
badly lose them anyway. Won Died
richs, mission was to take possession
andassume the position of Governor
General, Having a superior naval
force and armed with a paper title to
the islands, the German admiral
wouldvery likely have secured pos
session of the whole Philippine ar
chipelago. Dewey did no watchful
waiting nor was he too proud to
fight. He promptly sent an ulti-
matum, and as a consequence had no
fighting to do. Won Diedrichs knew
bis man.
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, aDd in stand
ing by his rights in Manila Bay Had
the Philippines been a German posses
sion from 1892 to 1914, Germany
would have developed in that period
naval force sufficient to operate
from Manila Bay as a rendezvous. The
story of the present war, prolonged
as it has been in the face of many
advantages against Germany, might
have been ended in Germany's favor.
A perspective of 20 years gives to
the figure of Admiral Dewey la
and more conspicuous place in
panorama of American history.