Life and Glorious Deeds of Admiral Dewey, Including a Thrilling Account of ...

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Preface

In the first week of May, 1898, while the people of the United States were eagerly watching events in Cuba, while the attention of all was turned toward the island that promised to be the focal point in the pending Spanish-American war, this message flashed across the sea from the distant islands of the Western Pacific:

"Not one Spanish flag flies in Manila Bay to-day. Not one Spanish warship floats, except as our prize."

The brilliant victory that Admiral Dewey won over the Spanish fleet in the Philippines aroused the United States to the highest pitch of enthnsiasm. For the moment Onba was forgotten, and all public interest was directed toward this distant fighting center. Patriotism ran high. The "stars and stripes" and Admiral Dewey's picture were everywhere displayed. Praise of the man was heard on all sides. No snch deed of valor and skilled manoenvering bad been known since the days of Farragut, and for a time it was thought that the battle of Manila Bay would end the war.

To-day the war is ended. Messages telling of brilliant and surprising victories are no longer sent from south and east; bulletins are no longer posted in the streets; bnt, while the American nation is bravely asmiming the '^White Man's Burden," the result of its great conquest, it becomes the part of History to commemorate the events of the war, of which the first and most decisive took place on that pleasant May morning when the people of Manila and Cavite awoke to find the American squadron at their doors.

It has seemed to me desirable, in this recital of the heroic deeds of a

10 PBKFACE.

man like Dewey, to begin with a narration of that one of the incidents in his career that will be longest remembered, one that will be inseparably linked with not only the story of his life bat with the history of hia conntry. I make no apology, therefore, for allowing the early events in Admiral Dewey's life to be placed after the great victory that has made him famous throughout the world.

I have heard it called strange that no one who knew Dewey prior to the battle of Manila Bay had any presentiment that he would develop into one of the extraordinary naval commanders of modem times. There is a trite but, nevertheless, probably tme saying that "the world knows nothing of its greatest men.** Admiral Dewey is not an accident; he is the natural product of his own strong individuality and the system by which the oflScers of the navy of the United States are trained. He has passed through a school in which the necessity to act upon the inspiration of an instant is combined with the knowledge of how to wait with infinite patience ^ *• the arrival of the right time to act.

It is altogether probable that, if there had been no war with Spain, Admiral Dewey would have reached the retiring age next December without having done anything that would have made his countrymen remember him with greater interest or gratitude than they would have felt for any one of a dozen other navy officers of his time. But all his life had been a preparation for just the opportunity that came to him. When other officers of his grade were suggested for the command of the Asiatic station in the latter part of 1897, no one cared to have it. It was offered to Dewey and be accepted it — not because he foresaw an opportunity to win fame, but because he believed an officer should always be reiady for any duty that might be required of him.

When at last the time for action drew near, he prepared for it in such a thorough manner that nothing was left to chance. Having completed every preparation that forethought, skill and experience could suggest, Dewey's one object was to get within reach of the enemy at the earliest possible moment. There was where the spirit of the natural sea-fighter came out and compelled success. It is true that his squadron

PREFACE. 13

was maeh stronger than that of the Spaniards; but the difference in their merely material force cut no figure in the result. It is no exaggeration to say that if Montojo had had Dewey's fleet and if Dewey had had Montojo's, it would still have been the colors of the United States that would haY~ been the only ensign afloat in Manila Bay at the close of the action.

It is because Admiral Dewey is a type of the American who compels and deserves the admiration of not only his own countrymen but of the people of every nation who hold dear courage and capacity, delicacy and strengi:h, that his name will go down to posterity as one of the noblest. of this century.

Chica^, April, 1899.

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THE GIFT OF A NATION.

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GENERAL THOMAS ANDERSON