ven o'clock, the American fleet was
seen again approaching, and a few minutes later, that terrible storm of
fire recommenced. There was practically no reply. Three of the Spanish
ships were on fire, and their magazines exploded one after another with
a mighty roar; a broadside from the Baltimore sank a fourth; a shell
from the Raleigh exploded the magazine of a fifth, and so, one by one,
the Spanish ships were blown to pieces, until not one remained. An hour
later, the shore batteries had been silenced, and Dewey hoisted the
signal, "Cease firing."

So ended the greatest naval battle since Trafalgar--a battle which
riveted the attention of the world, and brought home to Europe a
realization of the fact that here was a new world-power to be reckoned
with. With six ships, carrying 1,668 men and fifty-three guns, Dewey had
destroyed the Spanish squadron of nine ships, carrying 1,875 men and
forty-two guns; not an American had been killed, and only six wounded,
while the Spanish loss was 618 killed and wounded; and not an American
vessel had been injured. And, in addition to destroying the Spanish
fleet, a series of powerful shore batteries had been silenced, and the
way prepared for the American occupation of the Philippines. Dewey's
place as one of the great commanders of history was secure.

News of the victory created the wildest excitement and enthusiasm in the
United States. Dewey became a popular hero, and when he returned from
the Philippines, was welcomed with triumphal honors, which recalled the
great days of the Roman empire. He was commissioned admiral of the
navy, a rank which had been created for Farragut, and which has been
held by only two men besides him.

Another great American naval victory marked the brief war with
Spain--the destruction of Admiral Cervera's powerful fleet as it tried
to escape from the harbor of Santiago, Cuba, on the third day of July,
1898--a victory which made the Independence Day which followed one long
to be remembered in the United States. There, as at Manila, the entire
Spanish fleet was destroyed, without a single American vessel being
seriously injured, and with a loss of only one killed and one wounded on
the American side. But the victory at Santiago was the victory of no one
man. The ranking officer, William Thomas Sampson, was miles away when
the engagement began. The next in rank, Winfield Scott Schley, so
conducted himself that he was brought before a court of inquiry.