The Story of American History Part 33

The first day of May saw one of the greatest naval victories in the history of the world. Our government had telegraphed orders to Commodore George Dewey, then at Hong Kong, China, in command of our Asiatic squadron, to sail at once to the Philippine Islands and "capture or destroy" the Spanish s.h.i.+ps.

Dewey had taken part in important naval battles in our Civil War, and was an experienced and skillful officer. In antic.i.p.ation of war, his fleet was ready for action on an hour's notice.

After his instructions arrived from Was.h.i.+ngton, Dewey promptly sailed for Manila with six wars.h.i.+ps and two tenders. He delayed outside the harbor till the moon had set, and then steamed silently through the three-mile-wide channel. He was entering in the dark a bay he had never seen. He knew it was planted with torpedoes, and that he was going to attack a Spanish fleet of ten s.h.i.+ps, besides large forts with heavy guns.

A wonderful task! but Dewey was a wonderful man. He understood his business. He had been trained under the eye of the great Admiral Farragut and had fought long and hard in the war for the Union.

=354. The Remarkable Naval Victory at Manila.=--Dewey's fleet arrived before sunrise in front of the forts and the line of Spanish s.h.i.+ps. The battle at once began. Our vessels kept moving on the curve of a long ellipse or flattened circle, and every time each came around it poured a series of rapid and accurate shots directly into the enemy. They answered furiously, but not deliberately. Round and round wheeled our s.h.i.+ps in a slow and deadly circle. Our men could see the walls of the forts crumbling, some s.h.i.+ps all ablaze, and others shattered and sinking.

After two hours of these tremendous circuits Dewey stopped firing and moved his s.h.i.+ps about three miles out of range to rest his men, give them breakfast, and look after his ammunition. The men, in fine spirits, ate their morning meal, and rested. It was a stoker on the flags.h.i.+p Olympia who said that below "the temperature is nearly up to two hundred degrees, and so hot that our hair is singed."

Before noon Dewey returned, circled nearer still, and fought even more fiercely. In an hour and a half more the work was finished. One s.h.i.+p was riddled, then reeled and sank; then another; one was broken midway and went down; now one was in flames, then a second, and so on till the entire Spanish fleet, besides gunboats and transports, were sunk or burned up or shot to pieces!

[Ill.u.s.tration: BATTLE OF MANILA.]

How did our s.h.i.+ps stand the contest? Only two or three were hit at all, and none seriously injured. Our six had destroyed thirteen Spanish vessels and silenced their forts. The Spaniards had lost six hundred and thirty-four men, killed and wounded. We had only one man killed and seven slightly wounded.

=355. The Nation's Grateful Appreciation of Dewey's Victory.=--Thus was fought, on May Day, 1898, at Manila, perhaps the most surprising naval conflict the world had ever seen. In three and a quarter hours the naval power of Spain went down in the blue waters of the bay, and the splendid fame of George Dewey echoed round the globe. Congress gave him a vote of thanks and a gold medal; and he was made Admiral, the highest officer in the American navy.

Many years ago Admiral Farragut said to the father of the hero of Manila, "Doctor Dewey, your son George is a worthy and brave officer. He has an honorable record, and some day he will make his mark."

Never before in the history of our country was there projected a series of patriotic demonstrations grander in their purpose or finer in their execution than those which greeted Admiral Dewey on his return to this country, in the fall of 1899, from the scene of his famous victory.

When Dewey sank the Spanish fleet in Manila Bay, he opened a new era in the history of our country. From that day the United States received more distinct recognition among the nations responsible for the political affairs of the world.

=356. Preparations to meet the Spanish Fleet.=--Now let us return to the scene of war in our own country. On the last day of April the Spanish fleet, under Admiral Cervera, left the Cape Verde Islands, sailing west; there were four armed cruisers and three torpedo-boat destroyers; all good new s.h.i.+ps and in prime condition. The alarming question was, Where will they strike? The good people of our great eastern cities began to imagine what would happen if these powerful wars.h.i.+ps should come sailing into our harbors.

Every effort was promptly and vigorously made to defend exposed points with forts and torpedoes. Events proved that it was needless. No s.h.i.+p of that Spanish fleet came within five hundred miles of any American city.

Yet it was evident that Cervera's fleet must be captured or destroyed before our coast could be safe, or military operations could be prudently begun in Cuba.

Extraordinary efforts were made to ascertain the exact location of the hostile squadron.

Finally it was found that it had slipped on May 19 into the bay of Santiago. Our fleet at once gathered around to blockade the entrance, to make it impossible for any vessel to pa.s.s in, and to attack Cervera's s.h.i.+ps should they attempt to come out. Among our blockaders were the splendid s.h.i.+ps New York, Ma.s.sachusetts, Brooklyn, Texas, Iowa, Indiana, and the Oregon that had sailed around Cape Horn from San Francisco, fourteen thousand miles in sixty-seven days.

[Ill.u.s.tration: RESCUE OF HOBSON BY THE SPANISH ADMIRAL.]

=357. Hobson's Brilliant Exploit.=--Admiral Sampson did not deem it advisable to steam in and attack Cervera, as the channel was thickly planted with mines. So our semicircle of s.h.i.+ps watched and waited. At night our strong search-lights blazed into the mouth of the harbor and lighted it with a fiery glare.

If the narrow neck of the harbor could only be somehow obstructed, so that Cervera's s.h.i.+ps would either be completely "bottled up," or would have to creep out to sea by daylight, the naval power of Spain would be crippled. So thought Admiral Sampson, and he selected Lieutenant Hobson for this daring deed. It meant going right into the midst of the enemy's batteries and torpedoes.

A large steamer, the Merrimac, was taken and loaded down with coal; and a crew of seven men were selected to go with Hobson. Strange fascination of mingled courage and patriotism! Hundreds of sailors begged the chance to go!

It was all carefully planned; and about two hours before dawn, on June 3, they started. As they drew near, the Spanish made the water boil and hiss with their shots. But on they went to the chosen spot, b.a.l.l.s and sh.e.l.ls striking all about, howling and shrieking in their ears and tearing their s.h.i.+p.

Coolly but quickly they sank the Merrimac, sprang to the raft they had prepared, and were clinging to it when the firing ceased and a little steam launch came up with Cervera in it! The Spanish admiral reached out and helped lift in Hobson and his seven comrades! He took them ash.o.r.e, praised them for their daring, gave them dry clothing, fed them, and soon after exchanged them for some Spanish officers who had been captured by our men. =358. The Army does Brilliant Service at Santiago.=--It was plain that the Spanish s.h.i.+ps would never come out until they were driven out. So during the last week in June an army of about twenty-five thousand men, under General Shafter, landed a few miles east of Santiago to cooperate with our fleet in capturing the city. Our forces, losing no time, moved on through tropical jungles, exposed to the enemy's sharpshooting from trees. It was a deadly advance towards log forts on the steep heights, impeded by the annoying tangle of barbed-wire fences.

On the first and second days of July our gallant troops captured the two forts, El Caney and San Juan, which overlooked Santiago, and drove the enemy in hot haste into the city.

=359. The Remarkable Naval Victory at Santiago.=--Then Cervera's hour had come! On July 3, a beautiful Sunday morning, the eyes that for more than a month had watched with sleepless vigilance that narrow opening between the rocks, saw at last the bow of a Spanish wars.h.i.+p. It slipped out and turned sharply to the west; then came another, and a third, and so on till all six had pa.s.sed. They at once opened a fierce but ill-directed fire upon our fleet.

The men on our vessels were mustering for Sunday morning inspection when the enemy was seen. "The enemy is coming out!" was signalled from s.h.i.+p to s.h.i.+p, and on each deck rang out the command, "All hands clear s.h.i.+p for action!"

Every man was ready to do his duty. Every s.h.i.+p was stripped for action.

Instantly our s.h.i.+ps were after the Spanish squadron, firing as they followed. What a sight was that! There was never before one like it! Two lines of hostile s.h.i.+ps rus.h.i.+ng along the coast, tearing the ocean to foam, each a volcano pouring out smoke, and more than a hundred big guns hurling sh.e.l.ls and shot which strike with awful crash upon the iron walls of the enemy's s.h.i.+ps!

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

On they dashed, mile after mile. One of our huge sh.e.l.ls fell midway of the Pluton, which at once went down with an awful plunge. The Furor, riddled with shot, fled to the sh.o.r.e and broke in pieces on the rocks.

Furious was the chase for the other four; nearer and nearer, till our s.h.i.+ps came up. Then the Maria Teresa, the flags.h.i.+p, with huge holes torn in her, and set on fire by our exploding sh.e.l.ls, escaped to the beach, a sinking, burning wreck. Next the Oquendo, half her men killed, and her sides all split open, also fell helpless on the beach. In forty minutes these four s.h.i.+ps had gone to their doom.

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

Still beyond was the famous Vizcaya, doing her best to escape. But the Brooklyn, Commodore Schley's flags.h.i.+p, gained on her and poured sh.e.l.ls into her, so that with the Oregon now rus.h.i.+ng up in a burst of speed which astonished all who saw her, her race was soon run, and she, too, went to her grave on the strand, a shattered, blazing hulk.

Yet one more, the Colon, newest, fastest, and best of the squadron, was now about four miles ahead; but our s.h.i.+ps gained steadily upon her, and in less than two hours she hauled down her flag and ran ash.o.r.e forty-five miles from Santiago.

=360. After the Battle at Santiago.=--The sun that shone in the morning upon six of Spain's finest s.h.i.+ps looked down at noon upon a row of half-sunken wrecks along the coast.

At the risk of their lives our men rescued their foes from the mangled hulks, the burning decks, and the surging water.

"Don't cheer, boys," cried one gallant captain, "the poor fellows are dying."

Another captain said in his report, "So long as the enemy showed his flag, our men fought like American seamen; but when the flag came down, they were as gentle and tender as American women."

The Spanish loss, according to their own accounts, was three hundred and fifty killed or drowned, and about one hundred officers and one thousand six hundred and seventy-five men prisoners, including the brave Admiral Cervera. Their loss in value was over twelve million dollars. Upon our side only one man was killed, and three were wounded, all on the Brooklyn. Not one of our s.h.i.+ps was badly injured. Evidently the Spanish gunners could not shoot straight!

So ended this famous naval engagement. Never, perhaps, has the world seen two such instances of the utter destruction of an enemy's naval force as in the battles of Manila and Santiago.

=361. The Campaign in Porto Rico.=--The surrender of all Cuba soon followed. Then General Miles was sent with nine thousand troops to Porto Rico, the only remaining island on this side belonging to Spain. He landed near Ponce, on the southern coast. The city surrendered without a shot and welcomed our army. The Spanish troops fled on the approach of our soldiers.

General Miles in a proclamation a.s.sured the inhabitants that they should enjoy the rights and immunities of American citizens. As he moved inwards, other cities along his line of march surrendered, and the Spanish forces made only occasional resistance to our progress. Just before an expected battle news of peace came from Was.h.i.+ngton. All fighting ceased, and this fertile island came into our hands with little bloodshed.

=362. End of the War.=--Meanwhile our government was making energetic preparations to send a powerful fleet under Commodore Watson across the Atlantic and to carry the war to the Spanish coast. We may be sure that Spain, and even some of her neighbors, did not like the prospect. There had been enough of rapid, crus.h.i.+ng, and unbroken defeats to satisfy even the Castilian point of honor.

When it became evident that Watson's fleet would be ready in a few days to carry the war to the very doors of Spain, the representatives of the great nations of Europe said things had gone far enough. Diplomatic pressure was applied to poor Spain. She was politely but firmly told that she must make peace at once, and on any terms.

The French Minister at Was.h.i.+ngton was authorized by Spain to sign a preliminary doc.u.ment, or _protocol_, embodying in precise language the conditions on which our government would negotiate peace. This doc.u.ment was signed at Was.h.i.+ngton on August 12, and hostilities ceased.

The formal treaty of peace was signed in Paris December 10, 1898. By the terms of this treaty Spain agreed to give up its sovereignty in Cuba, to cede to the United States Porto Rico, a few small West India islands, and one of the Ladrone group; also to cede to this country the Philippines, after payment by us of twenty millions of dollars as "reimburs.e.m.e.nt for insular expenses."

=363. Our Nation's Future.=--The immediate results of this short-lived Spanish war were full of deep meaning to our nation. No one now can safely say what the distant outcome will be. It is certain to be far-reaching and momentous.

Our country has rapidly advanced to its position as one of the foremost nations of the world in wealth and in power. Let us trust it may also lead in good government, in national honor and righteousness. Let us earnestly hope that in the long years before us our sacred Union shall still be preserved, unbroken,--forever one great Union of prosperous and happy states.

APPENDIX.