Changes

The Spanish fleet in Manila Bay consisted of seven old undergunned warships. Dewey had six six modern warships; they had no armor. The entrance to the bay was guarded by three islands fortified with 17 rifled guns. The two channels were reported to be mined. Even if Dewey's squadron managed to get past the island forts and mines, the Spanish ships inside the huge bay, which is 30 miles across. were backed up by 37 shore batteries with heavy guns. When foreign naval officers in Hong Kong learned about Dewey's new mission, they thought he was headed for certain destruction and drank farewell toasts to the doomed Americans. Dewey's fleet had 53 guns larger than 4-inchers; Montojo had only 31. More important, Dewey had ten 8-inch guns while Montojo had none. The difference in range and destructive power gave Dewey an overwhelming advantage.  

The Spanish fleet in Manila Bay consisted of seven old undergunned warships. Dewey had six six modern warships; they had no armor. The entrance to the bay was guarded by three islands fortified with 17 rifled guns. The two channels were reported to be mined. Even if Dewey's squadron managed to get past the island forts and mines, the Spanish ships inside the huge bay, which is 30 miles across. were backed up by 37 shore batteries with heavy guns. When foreign naval officers in Hong Kong learned about Dewey's new mission, they thought he was headed for certain destruction and drank farewell toasts to the doomed Americans. Dewey's fleet had 53 guns larger than 4-inchers; Montojo had only 31. More important, Dewey had ten 8-inch guns while Montojo had none. The difference in range and destructive power gave Dewey an overwhelming advantage.  

[[Image:MANILA-BAY-1898-2.JPG|thumb|550px|Dewey enters Manila Bay]] Dewey passed the islands in the dark; the Spanish gunners were asleep and got off only a few shots, all wide of the mark.  Dewey sailed boldly into Manila Bay, ignoring the mines. Dewey figured correctly that in the tropical waters the mines had deteriorated and that their number was probably exaggerated. "I have waited 60 years for this opportunity," said Dewey. "Mines or no mines, I am leading the squadron in myself."   

Dewey passed the islands in the dark; the Spanish gunners were asleep and got off only a few shots, all wide of the mark.  Dewey sailed boldly into Manila Bay, ignoring the mines. Dewey figured correctly that in the tropical waters the mines had deteriorated and that their number was probably exaggerated. "I have waited 60 years for this opportunity," said Dewey. "Mines or no mines, I am leading the squadron in myself."   

Dewey's aggressiveness dismayed Admiral Patricio Montojo's Far Eastern fleet at anchor off Cavite, south of Manila. He and his men knew the island defenses and mine ruse had failed and that their weak guns were useless. Montojo later claimed he went there because the waters off Cavite were so shallow (7 to 26 feet) that if his ships were sunk, his men could save themselves by swimming ashore. Cavite had shore batteries, but fewer guns with shorter ranges than at Manila, and the gunnery was poor. Dewey had 1,743 sailors men to Montojo's 1,130. [[Image:Manila-bay-1898.jpg|thumb|250px]] In his flagship ''Olympia,'' at dawn on May 1, Dewey led his line of six  cruisers in attack on an elliptical course that paralleled the enemy at varying ranges.  He closed to 5,500 yards, the effective range for his 8-inch guns. At 5:40 A.M. as the Olympia steamed broadside to the first Spanish ship, Dewey told the ''Olympia'''s captain, "You may fire when you are ready, Gridley."  Dewey's nonchalance and confidence made him a celebrity. Dewey broke for resupply (and breakfast) at 7:30 then resumed the attack. All the Spanish ships were destroyed, while not one American sailor was killed, and only eight slightly injured. The ''Olympia'' was hulled five times and her rigging cut, the ''Baltimore'' was hit five times, and the ''Boston'' and the ''Petrel'' received some unimportant hits. The Spaniards had 167 sailors killed and 214 wounded. Dewey's fleet now commanded the harbor, and he told a German fleet to stay back. The Spanish army with 15,000 was trapped as Dewey set up a blockade.

Dewey's aggressiveness dismayed Admiral Patricio Montojo's Far Eastern fleet at anchor off Cavite, south of Manila. He and his men knew the island defenses and mine ruse had failed and that their weak guns were useless. Montojo later claimed he went there because the waters off Cavite were so shallow (7 to 26 feet) that if his ships were sunk, his men could save themselves by swimming ashore. Cavite had shore batteries, but fewer guns with shorter ranges than at Manila, and the gunnery was poor. Dewey had 1,743 sailors men to Montojo's 1,130. In his flagship ''Olympia,'' at dawn on May 1, Dewey led his line of six  cruisers in attack on an elliptical course that paralleled the enemy at varying ranges.  He closed to 5,500 yards, the effective range for his 8-inch guns. At 5:40 A.M. as the Olympia steamed broadside to the first Spanish ship, Dewey told the ''Olympia'''s captain, "You may fire when you are ready, Gridley."  Dewey's nonchalance and confidence made him a celebrity. Dewey broke for resupply (and breakfast) at 7:30 then resumed the attack. All the Spanish ships were destroyed, while not one American sailor was killed, and only eight slightly injured. The ''Olympia'' was hulled five times and her rigging cut, the ''Baltimore'' was hit five times, and the ''Boston'' and the ''Petrel'' received some unimportant hits. The Spaniards had 167 sailors killed and 214 wounded. Dewey's fleet now commanded the harbor, and he told a German fleet to stay back. The Spanish army with 15,000 was trapped as Dewey set up a blockade.

On August 13, 1898, Dewey collaborated with Gen. Wesley Merritt in an amphibious landing and  capture of the city of Manila. He remained in the Philippines for a year, cooperating with the army in efforts to suppress Filipino uprisings.

On August 13, 1898, Dewey collaborated with Gen. Wesley Merritt in an amphibious landing and  capture of the city of Manila. He remained in the Philippines for a year, cooperating with the army in efforts to suppress Filipino uprisings.