OUR DEWEY, AS VIEWED BY AN ENGLISH OFFICER.

I

A Man to be Ranked with the Greatest in War, and the
Best in Peace.

BY CAPTAIN EDWARD FRASER,

(Of Her Majesty's Imperial Forces.)

N the first week of our arrival at Manila, on the "Empress of India," I was introduced to Admiral Dewey by the British Consul, and had the honor of dining with him on board the "Olympia" at the customary Saturday evening banquet.

It was a unique affair. Adıniral Dewey occupied the seat of honor, but, despite his efforts at cheerfulness, he appeared to be like a man on whom a deadly lethargy had fallen. His face was ashen and his skin seemed to be drawn over it like wrinkled parchment. His hair was white as snow, and was thin and straggling, particularly over the forehead. As he nervously handled his wineglass, the contents of which, I noticed, he scarcely touched, I could not help observing that his hand was thin and claw-like, the skin presenting the same unhealthy appearance as that upon the face.

An officer sitting next to me said that the admiral had changed terribly in a few brief months and had lost nearly twenty pounds in weight. This same officer said that Dewey was about sixty years old. I thought I was looking at a man past threescore and ten. Of course, when I saw him then it was after a fatiguing day's work in a broiling sun, and this may have accounted for his almost entire lack of energy and apparent indifference to the gay scene around him.

Effects of Work and Anxiety on the Admiral.

An officer on the right of the admiral, whose name I forget, took the part of chairman, and the usual toasts were right merrily made. The banquet broke up at an early hour, and we all, including the admiral, retired to the smoking-room. It was while in this room that I had my chat with the great naval officer.

He asked me a few questions about myself, and I hazarded some questions in return as to his health, the prospects of the close of the war, and its ultimate result. He said that his health was none too robust, but that when at work he scarcely noticed his indisposition. Climatic influences, he observed, were against his noble boys. "It makes my heart bleed," he said, "when I see my men dying like dogs while waiting for some decisive action which I am sure will end this war as we would wish." This was during the period of uncertainty at Washington. When I intimated, as delicately as I could, that possibly it would not be unwise on his part to take a rest for a month or two in some less dangerous climate, he replied almost roughly:

"Tut, tut, Captain; my work is not finished here yet. It's at a stage when I believe no other inan can handle it. If I thought otherwise I should perhaps feel prompted to take a rest."

What Admiral Dewey told me in private conversation in regard to the prospects of a close of the war I do not feel justified in divulging.

Worn Down, but
Will Not Ask for
Vacation.

For a few brief minutes he talked animatedly on military life in India as I had experienced it, but collapsed like a man of straw just before the time of breaking up. A respectful, and, it seemed to me, almost pitying silence fell on the long room as he slowly rose, and, bidding all a courteous and quiet good-night, left accompanied by his aide. Turning to an officer-I believe he was Lieutenant Smithson, of San Francisco-I remarked on the admiral's enfeebled condition. He said, "Yes, we have all noticed it, more particularly during the past month. Some of the boys say he never sleeps, and I verily believe it. I hope to God that the war will soon end, or that it will, at least, get in such shape as to permit Admiral Dewey to take a rest. In his resting moments he appears to me like a man not long for this world."

During my stay at Manila, I learned much about this remarkable man, whose never-ceasing activity is a marvel even to officers who have been with him for years. I was told that he rose with the sun, and after a cold bath, waded through piles of correspondence with his secretary. This strain was usually kept up till 8 a. m., when he took a light breakfast. At 9 a. m. he usually held an hour's consultation with his chief officers, and then came the terrible strain of the day. The "Olympia's" largest steam launch was ordered out, and, accompanied by a few officers, his tour of the fleet and harbor was made under the then broiling rays of the sun. This tour generally lasted till noon, when the return was made to the flagship for lunch. A rest of two hours followed, although the officers say the admiral never availed himself of this, but worked over plans in his private cabin. At 2.30 his first visit was made to the shore, where unceasing work followed until dusk. Sometimes the admiral was induced to take a hand at whist, when his return to the ship was made in the evening, but latterly he refused to join even in this recreation, and generally closeted himself with his privats secretary until late at night. Six hours' hard work in a tropical climate is considered a good day's work. I was told on the best authority that Admiral Dewey works sixteen hours a day; during the anticipated trouble with Germany he never slept for two days and two nights. Everything, I was told, down to the minutest detail that went on in the fleet, was personally supervised by Admiral Dewey. In the first big battle his foresight was simply marvelous. His thoroughness has resulted in wonderful success. As a naval strategist I, as a military man, can only class him with timehonored heroes like Nelson and Drake.

Dewey exercises a wonderful influence over every one with whom he comes in contact. He is fairly worshiped by the army and navy alike, and his appearance on shore always gives rise to an ovation.

I believe that Admiral Dewey can thank his exceeding temperate habits for the fact that he is now alive. He smokes very little, drinks hardly anything and eats sparingly, his diet being chiefly fruits. In manner he appeared to me quiet, unassuming and always courteous. The terrible strain imposed on him

Extremely Courteous Manners of the Admiral.

makes him appear absorbed, but that he is not without

humor may be judged from several anecdotes I heard in regard to him. About the end of January he was shown a copy of the Manila Times with the following extract translated from the Republica Filipina : "A splendid demonstration of the Cavite women, without distinction of class or age, unanimously requested with enthusiasm to be permitted to take the place of the men if the men perish in the struggle against the Americans for the defence of the independence of the Philippines. They say that, irrespective of the weakness of their sex, love of their country will make them strong and will animate them to keen combat against the Americans."

Admiral Dewey laughed heartily when he read it and exclaimed to the officers around him: "Boys, I will have to send all the single men on the fleet ashore to marry these women or we are undone." Then, turning to the chief officer of the "Olympia," "Kindly call for volunteers."

Shortly after it was announced that Hobson would join the forces at Manila, the boast previously mentioned was made that the Cavite wonen would fight with the insurgents against the Americans. After reading the communication Admiral Dewey handed it to one of his officers, with the dry remark, "You won't have to leave here yet awhile; we'll put Hobson on shore duty at Cavite."

Admiral Dewey, I was told, has been very kind to newspaper men. A fresh young reporter on the Manila Times insisted on an interview with him in regard to the reported threatened attack by Aguinaldo. The admiral was very busy and returned the interviewer's card. "Must see you or I'll lose my job," came back the reply on a card. "Confound the man for his persistency," said Dewey, but granted the scribe a two-minute interview.

On the occasion of one of the skirmishes, the soldiers in Manila who wished to get to the outskirts forcibly impressed carriages on the streets to get there speedily. The matter was reported to Admiral Dewey. He thought a short time, then said: "Most of the boys must have been educated to cab driving. I don't care to interfere with early training when it has been good. In fact, I won't."

An amusing incident was related to me by an officer who stood beside Admiral Dewey when it occurred. During the fight, when the insurgents were being mowed down after a particularly villainous attack on the Americans, Aguinaldo sent out a flag of truce. It was not a particularly clean flag, but a keen-sighted man might have perceived that it was white or had been. Dewey's attention was drawn to it. Shading his eyes with his hand he looked at it long and earnestly, and then turning to an officer said : "I am told that I am getting old. I must be, as I can see no white flag." The fight went on and resulted in the utter rout of the insurgents, who, without a moment's warning, had commenced it.

If Admiral Dewey ever reaches America's shores a live man I will never again say anything against hero worship.

AN INTERRUPTED ΒΑΤΗ.

A Startling Incident of the Landing of Our Regulars at Guantanamo.

W

HEN Rudyard Kipling, in the early days of his war correspondence for the Calcutta Gazette, wrote his amusing tale of the capture of the fanciful stronghold of Lung-Tung-Pen by a detach

ment of naked British soldiers, led by a naked "orfcer boy," no one dreamed that this piece of strange fiction would be converted into stranger truth by the first body of regular United States troops landing at Guantanamo Bay, near Santiago de Cuba. Yet such was the case. One of the New York marines, in his first letter home, writes :

"We had raised the Stars and Stripes and pitched our tents, and we were mighty glad to get a chance to wash off in the surf. Everybody was in the best of spirits, and glad to rest from the work of hauling timber up 'Chilcoot Pass,' as we called the blazing hot trail over which we had to lug our supplies up to the camp. Suddenly, at half-past four in the afternoon, just as the boys were splashing about and squirting water all over each other, there came the ping, ping, ping of rifle-shots from the foot-hills, and a number of Spaniards appeared in the underbrush at the head of the lagoon.

"The bullets whistled through the air, and for the moment startled the guards. It was only for an instant, however. Almost instantly they returned the fire with rapid volleys. As soon as the shots were heard the men came running from the camp ground and the shore to the aid of their comrades. Many of us who had been swimming did not have a shred of clothing on, but this made no difference. We dashed from the water, seizing our cartridge-belts and rifles as we ran, and made for the camp.

"There was no undue excitement or panicky feeling, so far as I could see, however, nor did any of the men fire without orders, though it was awkward, of course, to push through the underbrush with bare skin. We know now what fighting in the Cuban jungle means. When the skirmishers returned from the woods they were simply black with the mosquitoes that covered them, and their legs, arms and bodies were jabbed with burrs and cactus needles."

SECRETS OF SPAIN'S RED BOOK.

A Summary of the Diplomatic Correspondence Not Intended for Public Eyes, but Which are Revelations of Surpassing Interest Concerning Spanish Conduct of the War.

It has long been a custom of Spain, as it is of some other countries, to print the diplomatic correspondence that passes between its representatives and other governments on matters of vital importance to the nation, for submission to the Cortes. The book is strictly a secret one, and re-publication of any part of it in the kingdom is prohibited under severe penalties. A copy of this exclusive publication, which has just been issued in two volumes of two hundred pages each, reached the United States through a secret channel, and a summary is here printed, which embraces the archives of the Spanish Department of State in reference to the Spanish spy system in America, the cutting of cables and the peace negotiations. In all these reports there is a plain tone of hopelessness and even despair.