vided for; all the vessels were in complete fighting
trim.

Because of the neutrality laws, of which I have told you, after war
was declared Dewey's ships could not stay at Hong Kong more than
twenty-four hours, so he moved them to Mirs Bay, a Chinese port, and
from there set out to find the Spanish fleet.

A naval officer, now retired from the service, told me not long ago,
the words "capture or destroy" have been used in instructions to naval
officers for three hundred years. He also spoke of his acquaintance
with Dewey during the Civil War, and upon long cruises when they were
shipmates; and particularly dwelt upon the ability and good judgment
that characterized him as a naval officer.

When Dewey received his orders to "capture or destroy" the Spanish
fleet, he is said to have remarked: "Thank the Lord! at last I've got
the chance, and I'll wipe them off the Pacific Ocean." He did not know
what he was to meet in the way of resistance, but there was not a man
in the fleet that doubted the outcome of the encounter. He found the
Spanish fleet, fought it until not a ship was left to fly the flag of
Spain, and then sent word to the Spanish Governor-general that if
another shot was fired at his ships he would lay the city of Manila in
ashes.

[Illustration: Admiral George Dewey.]

The Island of Corregidor guards the entrance to Manila Bay, but it
seemed to be asleep as Dewey's gray ships stole silently by. Once a
shell screamed over the Raleigh, followed by another; but the Raleigh,
the Concord and the Boston answered the challenge and soon all was
silent. At daybreak the fleet was about five miles from Manila, the
American flag flying from each ship.

[Illustration: Church of the Friars, Manila.]

Day breaks quickly in the tropics, and as the sun flashed his beams
above the horizon, a beautiful picture revealed itself to the men of
Dewey's fleet. Before them lay the metropolis of the Philippines,
walled in part like a mediaeval town; the jangle of church bells came
from lofty towers. To the right, and below the city, lay the Spanish
fleet for which they had been searching.

[Illustration: Dewey on the Bridge.]

The Spaniards fired the first gun from a powerful battery in front of
the city, and the Concord sent two shells in reply, as the American
fleet swept grandly past. Before them were the Spanish ships-of-war
and the fortifications at Cavite; between, were shallow waters where
they dared not go. Still th