Life and glorious deeds of Admiral Dewey, including a thrilling account of our conflicts with the Spaniards and the Filipinos in the Orient, and the complete story of the Philippine Islands, historical and descriptive

Front matter

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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 victoiy that Admiral Dewej- won over the Spanish fleet in the Philippines aroused the United States to the highest pitch of enthusiasm. For the moment Cuba 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 everyvrhere displayed. Praise of the man was heard on all sides. No such deed of valor and skilled manoeuvering had 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; but, while the American nation is bravely assuming the "White Man's Burden," the result of its great conquest, it becomes the part of History to commemorate the events of ;he 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

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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 but with the history of his country. I make no apology, therefore, for allowing the early events in Admiral Dewey's life to be placed after the great victoiy 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 modern times. There is a trite but, nevertheless, probably true saying that "the wox'ld 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 officers of the navy of the United States are trained. He has passed through a school in which the necessitj^ to act upon the inspiration of an instant is combined with the knowledge of how to wait with infinite patience i t- 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 an^-thing that would have made his countrymen remember him with greater interest or gratitude than they would have felt for an}- 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 he accepted it — not because he foresaw an opportunity to win fame, but because he believed an officer should always be ready 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 canu- out and compelled success. It is true that his squadron

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AOriNALUO, the IimnrKent leader of the Filipinos.

To hiH Moplr he rnnks as a Ilolivar. a Tous«ainl LOuvi-rture or a Washington. History mint dcCKlc whrrt he i« lo he placeil This work iucludes a sketch of his life and per- (onality, with au cstiiiiule ol his character.

PREFACE.

was much 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 lia^-' 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 vrho 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 strength, that his name will go down to posterity as one of the noblest of this century.

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Chicago, April, 1899.

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Mide bjr T\S*nf Ic Co., New York.

THE GIFT OF A NATION.

Tb« abov* picture It ■ pbologriph of the sword and belt ordered by Congress to be given Admiral token of tfa* cttloD'i gratitude. It U rlcblr embellished with precious stones.

GENERAL THOMAS ANDERSON

Table Of Contents

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FROM HONG KONG TO MANILA.

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