1898 William McKinley - Battle of Manila Bay, Spanish American War

During the Cuban revolt with Spain, President McKinley ordered the U.S. battleship Main to the Havana harbor to prove America's friendly intentions to Spain.  But, at 9:40 on the evening of February 15, 1898, the USS Maine sank in Havana Harbor after suffering a massive explosion. While McKinley urged patience, the news of the explosion and the deaths of 266 out of 355 sailors on board stirred popular American opinion into demanding a swift belligerent response. McKinley asked Congress to appropriate $50 million for defense, and Congress unanimously obliged.

In his 1898 address to congress, McKinley expresses the sentiment of America at the time, and it's call to action.

"Our country thus, after an interval of half a century of peace with all nations, found itself engaged in deadly conflict with a foreign enemy. Every nerve was strained to meet the emergency. The response to the initial call for 125,000 volunteers was instant and complete, as was also the result of the second call, of May 25, for 75,000 additional volunteers. The ranks of the Regular Army were increased to the limits provided by the act of April 26, 1898."

On April 25, 1898  America officially declared war on Spain.  McKinley sent forth U.S. Commodore George Dewey to command the seven-warship U.S. Asiatic Squadron.   Leaving from Hong Kong, he was ordered to "capture or destroy" the Spanish Pacific fleet.    On April 30, under the cover of darkness the squadron slipped into Manila Bay.   As morning light shone, the Americans located the Spanish fleet of 10 outdated warships that were no match for the well armed and well staffed Asiatic squadron.   At 5:41 a.m. Commodore Dewey uttered a few simple words to the captain of his flagship, "You may fire when ready, Gridley".  President McKinley was happy to announce to congress that "after a few hours' engagement, they effected the total destruction of the Spanish fleet".   The result was that the Spanish naval power in the Pacific Ocean was over, and America completely controlled the bay of Manila, "with the ability to take the city at will". 

McKinley described the engagement as a "memorable epoch in maritime warfare",

"The next engagement was destined to mark a memorable epoch in maritime warfare. The Pacific fleet, under Commodore George Dewey, had lain for some weeks at Hongkong. Upon the colonial proclamation of neutrality being issued and the customary twenty-four hours' notice being given, it repaired to Mirs Bay, near Hongkong, whence it proceeded to the Philippine Islands under telegraphed orders to capture or destroy the formidable Spanish fleet then assembled at Manila. At daybreak on the 1st of May the American force entered Manila Bay, and after a few hours' engagement effected the total destruction of the Spanish fleet, consisting of ten war ships and a transport, besides capturing the naval station and forts at Cavite, thus annihilating the Spanish naval power in the Pacific Ocean and completely controlling the bay of Manila, with the ability to take the city at will. Not a life was lost on our ships, the wounded only numbering seven, while not a vessel was materially injured. For this gallant achievement the Congress, upon my recommendation, fitly bestowed upon the actors preferment and substantial reward.

The effect of this remarkable victory upon the spirit of our people and upon the fortunes of the war was instant. A prestige of invincibility thereby attached to our arms which continued throughout the struggle. Reenforcements were hurried to Manila under the command of Major-General Merritt and firmly established within sight of the capital, which lay helpless before our guns.."

Dewey’s decisive victory cleared the way for the U.S. occupation of Manila in August and the eventual transfer of the Philippines from Spanish to American control. In Cuba, Spanish forces likewise crumbled in the face of superior U.S. forces, and on August 12 an armistice was signed between Spain and the United States. In December, the Treaty of Paris officially ended the brief Spanish-American War. The once-proud Spanish empire was virtually dissolved, and the United States gained its first overseas empire. Puerto Rico and Guam were ceded to the United States, the Philippines were bought for $20 million, and Cuba became a U.S. protectorate.
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In the end, McKinley reminded congress and Americans to remain humble and give glory to our Divine Master, "In tracing these events we are constantly reminded of our obligations to the Divine Master for His watchful care over us and His safe guidance, for which the nation makes reverent acknowledgment and offers humble prayer for the continuance of His favor."

Theodore Roosevelt

Theodore Roosevelt actually deserves some of the credit for the decisive victory.   As assistant secretary of Navy, he was in charge and immediately began to issue fleet orders to all ships, stations and fleet commanders ordering to have their ships fueled and ready to go.  And it was Theodore Roosevelt who gave Dewey the orders to begin offensive operations in the Philippine Islands.

References

Presidency.ucsb.edu. (2018). William McKinley: Second Annual Message. [online] Available at: http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=29539 [Accessed 27 Feb. 2018].

Bay, T. (2018). The Battle of Manila Bay - May 01, 1898 - HISTORY.com. [online] HISTORY.com. Available at: http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/the-battle-of-manila-bay [Accessed 27 Feb. 2018].

En.wikipedia.org. (2018). Spanish–American War. [online] Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish%E2%80%93American_War [Accessed 27 Feb. 2018].

HistoryNet. (2018). Spanish-American War: Battle of Manila Bay -- Commodore Dewey's Victory | HistoryNet. [online] Available at: http://www.historynet.com/spanish-american-war-battle-of-manila-bay-commodore-deweys-victory.htm [Accessed 27 Feb. 2018].


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