Page:Famous Living Americans, with Portraits.djvu/175

 166 FAMOUS LIVING AMERICANS Up to this time there had been only a few rumors that there might be trouble in the Philippines, and little attention had been given to these by the government. The new commander of the Asiatic Squadron was sensitive to the situation in the East. One of his first acts was to renew the custom, which had come to be disregarded, that each new commander of the Asiatic Squadron should ask for an audience with the Em- peror of Japan. The audience was granted and pleasant re- lations between the court and officials of Japan and the Asiatic Squadron of the United States were established. Then came the news of the Maine disaster on February 15th. There was still hope that war with Spain could be averted, but the European, South Atlantic and Asiatic Squadrons received orders to assemble at expedient points. As the rumors of trouble in the Philippines increased in number, Conmiodore Dewey began making such preparation as was necessary be- fore war should be declared. Anmaunition and coal were cabled for and two vessels, which could be used as supply ships, were bought from China. A base of supplies was estab- lished at one of the Chinese ports, China then being the only nearby country which would be unable to keep a strict neu- traUty. The McCullochj a revenue cutter, and the Baltimore^ bring- ing a supply of ammunition, were added to the squadron about the middle of April. All of the ships of the squadron were painted war color and cleared for action, though war had not as yet been declared. On the 24th and 25th of April the squad- ron left the harbor at Hong Kong and proceeded to Mirs Bay. At noon of the 25th word came from Secretary Long that war had been declared and the Asiatic Squadron was ordered to commence operations against the Spanish fleet. Two days later, April 27, the squadron started for Manila Bay, six hun- dred miles away. Word had been received that the entrance to the bay had been mined but Commodore Dewey reasoned that if the mines were contact or electrical mines they would soon become in- effective in the tropical waters. Also the depth of the water made the planting of mines, except by an expert, most difficult