Page:Great Men and Famous Women Volume 2.djvu/273

 GEORGE DEWEY 405 evolutions. Dewey would be ready when action should become necessary. On April 24th the British authorities notified the American commander that he must quit Hong Kong within twenty-four hours. Dewey moved his squadron to Mirs Bay immediately. At six o'clock on the evening of April 25th, he re- ceived the following despatch : " WASiiiNGTON, April 24, 1898. "Dewey, Hong Kong: " War has commenced between the United States and Spain. Proceed at once to the Philippine Islands. Commence operations at once, particularly against the Spanish fleet. You must capture vessels or destroy. Use utmost endeavors. Long." These orders were all sufficient for Dewey. Even without them he had no alternative. Obliged to leave British, he would soon be debarred from Chinese, waters; he was nearly 8,000 miles from a home-port, and Honolulu, his nearest coaling station, was 6,000 miles away. The following day was spent in consultation with his commanders in final preparation for his campaign, and waiting for the arrival from Manila of Will- iams, the American Consul, until the evening of the 27th, when at two o'clock he sailed out of Mirs Bay to find the fleet of Spain. Proceeding across the China Sea, the squadron sighted Cape Bolinas one hundred and fifteen miles north of the entrance to Manila Bay, at 3.30 a.m., on Saturday, April 30th. About thirty miles north of the entrance, a conference of commanders was held. Dewey an- nounced his plans. Rumors of mines and torpedoes had no terrors for Dewey, and, steaming slowly into Manila Bay, his squadron passed between Corregidor and Caballos about midnight. They arrived opposite Cavite about five o'clock, and, as daylight increased, the Spanish fleet could be seen in the harbor. This fleet, under Admiral Mon- tejo, comprised ten vessels, viz. : The Reina Maria Cristina, a protected cruiser of 3,520 tons ; the Castilla, a wooden cruiser of 3,340 tons ; the Don Antonio de Ulloa, Don Juan de Austria, and Velasco, steel cruisers of 1,152 tons each ; the Isla de Luzon and Isla de Cuba, gun-boats of 1,040 tons each ; the General Lezo and El Correo, gun vessels of 524 tons each ; and the Marques del Duero, despatch-boat of 500 tons ; besides tugs, transports, and launches, the latter used as torpedo-boats. There was no armored vessel in this fleet. Though counting more fighting vessels, the Spanish fleet was inferior to the American squadron in size and armament. The Spanish vessels mounted 116 guns, the American 135. But the Spanish fleet was protected by land batteries and forts armed with modern guns. The Spaniards were, therefore, much su- perior to the Americans in force and armament. At ten minutes past five the battle began, the Spaniards opening fire from ships and forts, at a distance of more than four miles. Two great mines were e.xploded in the path of the Olympia, but too far away to cause damage. At twenty-three minutes past five Dewey said to Captain Gridley : " You may fire when ready." Almost instantly an eight-inch gun roared out Amer-