“Manila Bay”
Description
"You have heard about he battle over in Manila Bay, How the Yankees met the Spaniards, fought them on the first of May. Our commander's name was Dewey...." Dewey is praised and Spanish boasting ridiculed
Notes
This has more than the usual amount of American bluster. It is certainly true that Dewey won a decisive victory and did it at the cost of only eight minor injuries to his men (the Spaniards suffered nearly 400 casualties and lost their entire fleet). However, the Spanish knew the American fleet was much superior -- hence their desperate but unsuccessful efforts to prevent war. - RBW
Historical references
- 1895 - Cubans rebel against Spain
- Feb 15, 1898 - Explosion of the battleship "Maine" in Havana harbor
- May 1, 1898 - Battle of Manila Bay. Dewey's fleet destroys the entire Spanish fleet in the Philippines
Cross references
- cf. "My Sweetheart Went Down with the Maine" (theme) and references there
References
- BrownII 238, "Manila Bay" (1 text)
- Roud #6623
- BI, BrII238