THE MISSION OF THE SQUADRON
Striker was right; the war vessels approaching were the Asiatic
Squadron of the United States Navy, and while the vessels are drawing
closer to Larry and the Yankee tar, we will take a brief look at the
noble craft which were so soon to engage in a battle to become world
famous in history.
The fighting ships were seven in number, consisting of four cruisers,
the _Olympia_, _Baltimore_, _Boston_, and _Raleigh_, and three
gunboats, the _Concord_, _Petrel_, and _McCulloch_. Added to these were
two large vessels, the _Nanshan_ and the _Zafiro_, carrying between
them 10,000 tons of coal for the fleet’s use.
The largest of the ships was the _Olympia_, which was also the
flagship. She was a fine specimen of the protected cruiser, of 5800
tons, and carrying twenty-eight guns of good size. Her commander was
Captain C. V. Gridley, and her executive officer Lieutenant C. P.
Rees. It may be worth remembering that the _Olympia_ was the only ship
which was protected by armor, and that armor was merely a band of
four-inch steel around her turret guns――quite in contrast to numerous
other armored vessels that carry steel plates about them from twelve to
twenty inches thick.
Next in size to the flagship came the cruiser _Baltimore_, of 4400
tons, and carrying fourteen guns. She was commanded by Captain M. N.
Dyer, with Lieutenant-Commander J. B. Biggs as executive officer.
The third on the list of cruisers was the long and low-lying _Boston_,
of 3000 tons, and ready to fight with ten splendid guns. Captain Frank
Wildes was her commander, and Lieutenant J. A. Norris her executive
officer.
The quartette of cruisers came to an end with the _Raleigh_, of about
the same tonnage as the _Boston_, and mounting eleven guns, only one of
large size. The _Raleigh_ had just come all the way from New York to
join the squadron, and was commanded by Captain J. B. Coughlan, with
Lieutenant Frederic Singer as executive officer.
Of the gunboats, the _Concord_ took the lead. She was a stanch
three-master of 1700 tons, carrying eight guns and rifles, and was
commanded by Captain Asa Walker.
Next to the _Concord_ came the tiny but sprightly _Petrel_, of only
900 tons, and carrying but four guns. Her commander was Captain E. P.
Wood. The _Petrel_ looked almost too small to take part in a great
battle, yet later on we will see her giving the best possible account
of herself.
The last on the list of the fleet was the gunboat _McCulloch_, which
was not, strictly speaking, a fighting craft, but a revenue cutter,
used for carrying despatches from one boat to another and to shore. The
_McCulloch_ carried four light pieces, principally for defence, and was
commanded by Captain Hobson, of the Revenue Marine Service.
And now what had brought this squadron out in the middle of the
South China Sea, to the great wonder and astonishment――not to say
thankfulness――of Larry and his down-east friend? In order to answer
that question we shall have to take a dip into history――a brief dip,
and one that I trust will not tire even such of my boy readers as
desire a story to move along “lively like.”
We have already learned how the battleship _Maine_ was blown up in the
harbor of Havana, Cuba, and also something of the condition of affairs
in that ill-fated isle at that time: how the Spanish authorities had
tried in vain for three years to put down the rebellion which was
raging in every quarter, and how many American citizens were suffering
because of this conflict. American capital amounting to millions of
dollars was invested in Cuba, and this was rapidly being lost through
the confiscation and destruction of property.
Yet the American nation could stand the loss of property without waging
war, hopeful that in the end Spain would make matters right. What
worried the people was the cruelty practised by the Spanish authorities
against the insurgents, and when in the halls of Congress it was openly
declared that through Spanish misrule tens of thousands of Cuban
men, women, and children were actually starving to death, the people
everywhere cried out that this must stop, and if no other civilized
nation would take a hand, the United States must step in alone and do
the work.
The climax of resentment against Spain came when the _Maine_ went
down carrying two hundred and fifty-three of our gallant officers and
sailors with her. The harbor of Havana was still supposed to be a
friendly one, yet the vessel had gone to her total destruction there,
although Spain denied that she was in any way to blame. I may as well
add here that the _Maine_ and her equipment cost the nation four
millions of dollars.
The cry for war against Spain came from every quarter, yet the wiser
heads said that we must go slowly, must be perfectly sure of what we
were doing, so that other nations might have no cause to find fault
with us when the opening blow was struck. A court of inquiry was
organized to learn the absolute truth concerning the _Maine_, and at
the same time Congress took up the question of assisting the Cubans by
sending them relief ships loaded with food and clothing.
While Larry was sailing the dreary wastes of the mighty Pacific, the
climax was reached. The court of inquiry found that the _Maine_ had
been blown up from the outside, probably by some sunken mine, fired by
electricity. As the battleship had been given her place in the harbor
by the Spanish harbor-master, the fact was evident that this official
had placed her directly over the mine in question; so that Spain was
responsible for the loss of our ship and our sailors, no matter if the
mine had been fired without direct orders from headquarters.
The way was now clear for what was to follow. Directly after the
findings of the court of inquiry had been made public, President
McKinley sent an address to Congress citing the condition of affairs in
Cuba, adding that Spain had lost control, and that not even the ships
of a friendly nation were safe in her harbors, and recommending that
immediate action be taken.
Action was taken by our Congress declaring that the people of Cuba
were, and of a right ought to be, free and independent, and Spain was
given a certain length of time in which to withdraw all her military
and other forces from the island. At the same time it was avowed that
the United States had no thought of taking Cuba for her own, but
that she would protect the Cubans until they were capable of doing
for themselves. Spain was given a set time in which to answer our
ultimatum, as it was called, but instead of sending an answer she gave
to our minister his passport, a virtual order to leave her domains, and
this was equivalent to a declaration of war.
In the mean time, in anticipation of a conflict, the navy had been
active, adding a number of vessels to the list, and getting everything
in readiness for a struggle, which people felt must take place largely
upon the water. On April 21, when negotiations were broken off,
the first of our fleets sailed for Cuba, and Havana was blockaded,
the first aggressive movement of the war. Following this came the
President’s call for 125,000 men to serve as volunteers in the United
States Army, and later still, another call for 75,000 additional
soldiers. All became bustle and excitement at once, and from every
city, town, and village the brave soldier lads marched away, to gather
at their respective State camps until mustered into the regular service
of Uncle Sam.
When the news of the destruction of the _Maine_ was flashed around the
world by cable and telegraph, Commodore George Dewey, commanding the
Asiatic Squadron, felt that war was close at hand, and to be prepared
for whatever might come he began to gather around him in the bay of
Hong Kong all his available vessels, and have them put in proper
fighting trim. The men under him numbered not quite 1700, all brave and
hardy to the core, as representative a lot of fighting seamen as could
be found anywhere, as later events proved.
Immediately after the war broke out the squadron was asked to leave
Hong Kong, that being a neutral port, and took its way to Mirs
Bay, some thirty miles away. At this place word was received by
the commodore that he must find a Spanish fleet which was located
somewhere in the Philippines and engage it. This meant a big battle,
providing the Spanish ships could be found, not an easy task when it is
considered that the islands number over a thousand, and that sheltered
harbors are even more numerous. To find the fleet, and to be fully
prepared to give it battle wherever and whenever found, was a task
requiring a large amount of sagacity and wisdom.
The ships left Mirs Bay on the afternoon of Wednesday, the 27th day of
April, the _Olympia_ leading the van, with Commodore Dewey and Captain
Gridley upon the bridge, the former viewing with a pleased eye his
small but solid-looking squadron, every vessel of which shone forth
stern and threatening in her war-paint of dark color.
“They ought to win out in a battle, captain,” remarked the commodore,
quietly. He was not a man of many words.
“They will win out, commodore,” answered the captain of the _Olympia_,
emphatically, “if only we can catch sight of Admiral Montojo and his
ships. It’s my opinion the Spaniards will keep out of sight if it’s
possible for them to do so. Montojo will live in hope that matters will
be squared up at home before we have a chance to smash him.”
“Don’t be too sure of it, Gridley; Montojo is as honest a fighter as
the Spanish navy possesses. If we do come to an engagement, make up
your mind that he will fight to the last deck.”
The destination of the fleet was the island of Luzon, that being the
most important of the Spanish holdings in the Philippines. It was the
commodore’s determination to search all the bays and harbors of this
island first, and if the Spanish warships were not found, to then
proceed to the next territory.
Once out into the China Sea, the squadron proceeded slowly; for while
the larger ships could breast the waves with impunity, the tiny
_Petrel_ was nearly engulfed, and the two coal-boats labored along
under a strain that was actually perilous.
Ever since the ships had been called together, gun and other drills had
kept the men in perfect condition, but now, on the first night out, the
commodore resolved to put his command to another test. The majority of
the hands had retired for the night when the flagship signalled forth
the command, “Prepare for action!”
What a hurry and bustle ensued! Men came rolling from their hammocks
and ran, but partly dressed, to their stations, bugles sounded over
the waters, there came the rattle of chains and the rumble of heavy
machinery, and in two minutes could be seen the dancing red and white
light signals from this and that boat: “We are ready for action.”
“That is as it should be,” said the commodore. He was greatly pleased,
and felt more confident than ever of the men under him.
It was on the day following that the lookout in the foretop announced a
strange object in sight.
“It looks like an upturned boat with two men clinging to it,” he called
down to the officer of the deck. “It’s almost dead ahead.”
Powerful glasses were turned upon the object, and Larry and Striker
were made out long before they themselves knew that they were seen.
As the _Olympia_ was steaming for the unfortunates there was no need to
give directions to change her course. When it was seen that they were
waving frantically with their hands and with a jacket, the commodore
turned to the captain and ordered that a small gun be fired, “Just to
let the poor chaps know we intend to pick them up,” he said.
And that is how Larry Russell chanced to fall in with the Asiatic
Squadron of the United States Navy, just previous to the wonderful
engagement of which I am about to relate.