DEWEY AT MANILA.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16208, 10 May 1918, Page 6

DEWEY AT MANILA.

Regarding a reference in "The Press" 6f Tuesdffy td the death of Adiriiiyii von Diedericiis. the commander of the German squadron at Manila when tho American squadron, under Admiral Dewey, cdpt tired the city, tho Rfev. E. Eliot Chambers, of Ly'ttclton, points oUt a slight inaccuracy. t "Sir Edward Chichester," he says, "was not an admiral, which might convey the idea of n British bfing presentj but was captain of ii.M.S. Bonaventure, a seconu-class cruiser, and the st-dfy as told to mo by a former officer of the ship in question is as follows: —t should say that the'harbour of Manila is very mtich like Akarca, aiid Admiral Dewey wis lying witll his fleet to the eftst of the entrimee, when up cuine ths North Pacific .Squadron of the Germans, and without 'by ybttr leave' or 'with yblii' leave,' were goiiig to outer and get alongside tho Spanish Fleet inside. At that time Sir E. Chichester was a_ visitor o& board tho American flagship, and rt'hen the Germaii cruiser Irene attetnnted to pass in. Admiral Dewey said to Sir JCdward. 'What would you do?' The Englishman, in his blunt wav, said. 'Fir 0 a shot across hits bow.' Whiz! Bang! it went, and soon a steam pinnace tins seen coming from the German flagship, and on arrival at tho Olympic, the American flagshipj her occupants were to be seen jn a treat state, with all their feathers ruffled. 'Do you know,' said the furious Gtrflrian officer, 'that this action of votirs mnv ohtai] war with the great German Eilipire?' 'I a m perfectlv aware ot tho fact.' said Ddwev, and ho invited them to have a cocktail 0 r a mint julep. They had neither. "Admiral J>ewr-y said that if it had not b;>en for that little British cruis?r at his bark he would hot linvo taken tin risk. When the diiy at-rived for tho bombardment of Manila, and foreign fleets were ordered out. to the surprise of all, tho Bonaventure ranged up alongside the American fleet, aiid tho cheers that went up were 'some.' Sir E. Chichester was made rear-admiral irt 1902, and retired shortly afterwards."