Part 49 (1/2)
”Manila, Feb. 24.--To Secretary of Navy, Was.h.i.+ngton: For political reasons the Oregon should be sent here at once.
_Dewey_.”
It was not a secret, however, in Manila Bay in August that Admiral Dewey wanted two battles.h.i.+ps, just as he wanted and had needed two monitors, and that he then preferred the Oregon and the Iowa. He has deemed it of the utmost importance that he should have a force at Manila Bay superior to that of any other power. The German fleet had for a considerable part of the time since the destruction of the Spanish squadron been in a menacing att.i.tude. The Germans were ostentatious in discourtesy during Admiral Diedrich's personal presence.
The Congress of the United States that was so divided and distracted about the Philippine question was unanimous as to the pre-eminent merits as a naval commander of George Dewey, though he was the embodiment of all the anti-Americans railed at. This is the official paper that proclaims Dewey's promotion:
”_President_ of the United States of America.
”To All Who Shall See These Presents: Greeting:
”Know ye, that, reposing special trust and confidence in the patriotism, valor and fidelity and abilities of
”_George Dewey_.
I have nominated, and by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, do appoint him Admiral of the Navy from the second day of March, 1899, in the service of the United States.
”He is, therefore, carefully and diligently to discharge the duties of Admiral by doing and performing all manner of duties thereto belonging.
”And I do strictly charge and require all officers, seamen and marines under his command to be obedient to his orders as Admiral.
”And he is to observe and follow such orders and directions from time to time as he shall receive from me or the future President of the United States of America.
”Given under my hand at Was.h.i.+ngton the second day of March, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and ninety-nine, and in the one hundred and twenty-third year of the independence of the United States.
”By the President:
_William M'Kinley_.
”_John D. Long_, Secretary of the Navy.”
The Admiral personally responded, cabling to the Secretary of the Navy:
”Manila, March 4.--Please accept for yourself, the President and Congress and my countrymen my heartfelt thanks for the great honor which has been conferred upon me.
_Dewey_.”
He will draw from the Government $14,700 a year, including allowances, and is ent.i.tled to a larger staff. His direct pay is $13,000 per annum, a rise of $7,000. He outranks any officer in the United States army, the fact being that Rear Admirals rank with the Major-Generals, who are the highest officers at present in the army, and Dewey is a full Admiral. This is the result of not being afraid of torpedoes or to risk s.h.i.+ps in front of sh.o.r.e batteries. On the 3rd of March the President nominated Brigadier-General Elwell S. Otis, U.S.A., to be Major-General by brevet, to rank from February 4, 1899, for military skill and most distinguished service in the Philippine Islands. The nomination was confirmed by the Senate. Secretary Alger sent the following congratulatory message to General Otis:
”You have been nominated and confirmed a Major-General by brevet in the Regular Army. The President wishes this message of congratulations sent you, in which I cordially join.”
The Spanish way of dealing with unfortunate officers appears in this:
”Madrid, Friday.--Admiral Montojo, who was in command of the Spanish squadron destroyed by Admiral Dewey in the battle of Manila Bay, and the commander of the Cavite a.r.s.enal were this evening incarcerated in the military prison pending trial for their conduct at Manila. Admiral Cervera has also been imprisoned, along with General Linares, the two men in the Spanish service who gave the Americans trouble.
The Colon Gazette on the 23d of February publishes extracts from a private letter dated Iloilo, January 12, that prior to the conclusion of peace Lieutenant Brandeis, formerly of the Twenty-first Baden Dragoons, with 800 Spanish troops, held the town against 20,000 to 30,000 Filipinos, who were monkeying about and a.s.suming to be conducting a siege, just as the Aguinaldo crowd was doing at Manila when General Merritt arrived. When peace was declared the Iloilo Spaniards presently surrendered and the Filipinos rushed in as conquering heroes. The pacific policy of the President prevented the United States troops from taking the place from the swarm of islanders until the outbreak in front of Manila, when our strict defensive was unavailable and General Miller quietly occupied and possessed Iloilo, the important sugar-exporting town of the Philippines.
The natives of the Island of Negros sent a delegation to General Miller, after he had captured Iloilo, to offer their allegiance to the United States, and the General holds Jaro and Molo, where there has been skirmis.h.i.+ng recently. The insurgents have 2,000 men at Santa Barbara.
The governor of Camarines, in the interior of Luzon, has issued a proclamation declaring that the Americans intend to make the Filipinos slaves.