DEWEY DAY

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1440, 5 October 1899, Page 43

DEWEY DAY

CELEBRATION IN NEW YORK. NEW YORK, Sunday. . Admiral Dewey was present at a naval .demonstration on the Hudson river yesterday. ':_...■..... -;,/•_-.,. -i. '■■;.: A tremendous ovation was accorded to the hero of Manila Bay by the spectators and tnose who took part in the turn-out. There was a procession of warships, lesser naval craft and private vessels, from below Jersey City to a point opposite General Grant's tomb at Riverside, overlooking the Hudson. [By the action at Manila on the Ist of May, 1898, Admiral (then Commodore) Dewey obtained absolute command of the. sea at the Philippines, full control over the large inland waters of Manila Bay and a firm footing on shore at Cavite. The town of Manila lay under the menace of bombardment, and the newlycreated Admiral reported that it could "be taken at any time when a sufficient number of troops were on hand to hold it." Eleven Spanish ships were burned or sunk, .and two "tugs, with some small launches 5 were captured. Admiral Montojo, or the Spanish fleet (who was the other day; retired) reported 381 men killed and wounded, afloat and ashore. The American squadron had four men slightly wounded, and the ships suffered no damage. The action was purely an artillery duel, in which modern armaments, handled by well-trained men, were opposed to guns, many of old type, in incapable hands. In such conditions (the quotation is from Brassey*s "Naval Annual"), the great gallantry and endurance shown by the Spaniards could avail nothing.]