Part 20 (1/2)

Their only appeal came from their sad eyes.

”The government of Spain has not and will not give a dollar to save these people. They are being helped by the charity of the United States.

Think of it! We are feeding these citizens of Spain; we are nursing their sick; and yet there are people who say that it is right to send food, but that we must keep hands off. I say that the time has come when muskets should go with the food.”

Most of the members of Congress agreed with Senator Thurston. On the 19th of April, 1898, they pa.s.sed a resolution authorizing President McKinley to use the army and navy of the United States to force Spain to abandon all claim to the island of Cuba.

Spain was not willing to give up her control of the Cubans, and therefore war was formally declared. It was only a few days until actual hostilities began.

It is the purpose of the following chapters to relate the story of the short but decisive struggle which followed. In that struggle the navy of the United States bore by far the largest share, and it is therefore of the navy and of the brave officers who commanded it that we shall have the most to say.

THE STORY OF ADMIRAL DEWEY AND THE NAVY OF 1898.

I.--THE BATTLE OF MANILA.

On the morning of May 1, 1898, in the harbor of Manila, one of the most remarkable naval victories in the history of the world was won by the United States. The Spanish fleet, though superior in both men and guns, was entirely destroyed, and hundreds of officers and men were made prisoners. All this was accomplished by an American squadron under Commodore George Dewey, without the loss of a s.h.i.+p or a man. The way in which it all came about was as follows:

When war was declared between the United States and Spain, Commodore George Dewey was at Hong Kong, China, with that part of our navy which was known as the Asiatic squadron. He was at once ordered to sail to the Philippines, and capture or destroy the Spanish fleet there. These Philippine Islands are about six hundred miles southeast of Hong Kong.

Their capital and largest city is Manila, on the island of Luzon.

As Commodore Dewey sailed out of the bay at Hong Kong, he signaled to his fleet: ”Keep cool and obey orders.”

[Ill.u.s.tration: MAP OF MANILA BAY.]

At a little before midnight, on the 30th of April, the American vessels in single file, led by the flags.h.i.+p _Olympia_, steamed between the forts which guarded the entrance to the bay of Manila.

In order not to be seen from these forts, all the lights on the vessels were hidden. Silently and steadily the vessels moved on, unseen by the Spaniards.

All of the fleet except the _Boston_ and _McCulloch_ had pa.s.sed in safety, when the soot in the smokestack of the _McCulloch_ caught fire.

Instantly the guns of one of the Spanish batteries were turned upon the fleet. The _Boston_ and _McCulloch_ returned the fire, but kept on their way and were soon out of range, having received no injury.

[Ill.u.s.tration: ADMIRAL MONTOJO.]

When day broke, Commodore Dewey found the entire Spanish fleet drawn up under the protection of the batteries of the Cavite naval station about nine miles from the city of Manila. It was commanded by Admiral Patricio Montojo, one of the ablest officers in the Spanish service.

At about five o'clock, with the flags.h.i.+p leading, the Americans bore down upon the Spanish. Suddenly there was a m.u.f.fled roar, and a submarine mine exploded. But, in the excitement, the Spaniards had fired it too soon, and no damage was done.

This was soon followed by the explosion of another mine, but again the Spaniards had been in too great haste, and the _Olympia_ escaped uninjured.

Although Commodore Dewey did not know but that many other torpedoes might be in his path, he never hesitated. He had been in the battle of Mobile Bay with Farragut, when that brave commander had sailed boldly over a line of torpedoes.

Soon the guns of the batteries and Spanish fleet began to pour a storm of shot and sh.e.l.l at the American squadron. But, as yet, Commodore Dewey had not fired a gun.

The American sailors were wild with excitement. They had been by the guns all night, and were eager to begin the fray. Finally Commodore Dewey said quietly to the captain of the _Olympia_: ”You may fire when ready, Gridley.”

The flags.h.i.+p was now within range, and suddenly one of the great guns sent an answering shot. As its echoes went rolling across the waters, every man in the American fleet joined in the shout, ”Remember the _Maine_!” These words were the battle cry at Manila Bay.

Slowly the American vessels steamed by the Spanish squadron in single file, pouring in deadly broadsides as they pa.s.sed. Then turning, they retraced their course, drawing a little nearer to the sh.o.r.e. This maneuver was repeated five times. The marksmans.h.i.+p of the Americans was wonderful, and at the end of two hours nearly every s.h.i.+p in the Spanish fleet had either been sunk or was on fire.