Show DEWEYS TRIUMPH RECALLED few persons recall may day in 1898 when commodore george dewey and his little fleet dared the mined channels leading into manila bay to sink the spanish fleet nearly all americans have forgotten the incident except a dwindling group if spanish american war veterans early on that fateful morning Io kowens little armada of nine vessels steamed past the threatening gune ot of corregidor and entered the bay the battle began almost at once and five hours later the spanish fleet of some thirteen or more vessels had been sunk or were afire despite the inaccuracy of spanish gunfire each of the american ships was hit one or more times but the casualties were few ew and only two officers and eight enlisted men were wounded while not a man was killed hilled it was a complete triumph tor for the american navy all but one of deweys deleys vessels carried U S marines two days after the battle a marine officer and a detachment of sea soldiers landed at cavite and after restoring order in the town hoisted the stars and stripes tor for the first time in the philippines the submarine cable connecting I 1 manila with hongtong Hong kong had been cut so it was nearly a week before america heard of the victory mid wild rejoicing A cable from washington to hongtong Hong kong on may ath which reached dewey on the alth congratulated him on his victory and appointed him rear admiral later lie ho beame an admiral of the navy the historic flag hoisted by the U S marine marines s at cavite is 1 preserved among otho othe relics a ai the naval academy at annapolis while the flagship still a rather trim lookin looking 0 g cratt craft despite her forty ivo five years swings idly at her dock at philadelphia reminiscent ot of i may day thirty nine years ago when dewoy dewey gave his famous battle order you may fire when ready gridley worldley Orl dley |