DEWEY AN! VICTORY 28l real truth became known there was a strong reaction against the Government,and order was only secured by a prompt declaration of the state of siege. The full details of the battle did not reach the United States for a week, not,indeed,until the despatch-boat McCullocb arrived at Hong Kong with a message from Dewey. Meanwhile there was some anxiety as to the Commodore's position at Manila. As a fact,it was not without its difficulties. He had ■ved the Spanish fleet, but he had only a couple of thousand men on board his ships, boarda ship. When he sailed into Manila Bay Deweyhad two hundred projectiles for each of his big guns. At seven o'clock on the day of the battlehe had fired away so many that there were only thirty-seven left for eachgun. Many of these were expended in the second stage ot the fight, and when it ended, the American fleet was almost disarmed. Until he received ammunition from America he wasinno position even to bombard Manila, and unless an armswas sent to his help he could not attempt the capture of the city-. Steps were taken to assist THE SPANISH PROTECTED CRUISES, "ISLA DS LUZON."

and, after sending a small landing party to secure the fort of Cavite, he had no force available to attack a city defended bythousands of Spanish regulars and volunteers.

The rebels, from whom much had been ex-;, showed at first little sign of activity in the neighbourhood of the capital. General Augustin, when summoned to surrender, sent back a defiant reply. He was threatened with bombardment . but he knew fairly well that it wasan empty menace. The very weight of the shells firec] from modern naval guns makes it able to carry a large number of them on him in both these points, and his success was recognised by his promotion to the rank of Admiral.

Alter making all due allowance for the weakness and want of preparation of the SpLinish fleet, h Tilliant exploit. It- first effect was to inspire the officers of the Atlantic squadron with an eager desire to do something more than capture peaceful traders. " When ; at Puerto Rico you won't talk so much about Dewey and Manila." said an officer of Sampson's fleet to one of the -Lleiits, when the rumour spiead that the Admiral had orders to attack San Juan.