Manila and Santiago; The New Steel Navy in the Spanish-American War
Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press, 2009. First Printing [Stated]. Hardcover. xi, [1], 190, [6] pages. Illustrations. Author's Note. Appendix A: Comparative Squadron Strength, Manila Bay. Appendix B. Comparative Squadron Strength, Santiago de Cuba. Notes. Bibliography. Index. The U.S. Navy's first two-ocean war was the Spanish-American War of 1898: a war that was global in scope, with the decisive naval battles at Manila Bay and Santiago de Cuba separated by more than two thousand miles. During these battles in this quick, modern war, America's "New Steel Navy" came of age. While the American commanders sailed to war with a technologically advanced fleet, it was the lessons they had learned from Adm. David Farragut in the Civil War that prepared them for victory over the Spanish. The first major study of the Spanish-American war to be published in many years, this book takes a journalistic approach to the subject, making the conflict and the people involved relevant to today's readers. This work details a war in which victory was determined as much by leadership as by the technology of the American Steel Navy. Jim Leeke was born and grew up in the Midwest. After serving in the U.S. Navy, he attended journalism school at the Ohio State University on the GI Bill. Jim began his writing career in daily newspapers as a reporter, columnist and sportswriter. He now works in communications and advertising with clients across North America and worldwide. The author or editor of several books. The U.S. Navy's first two-ocean war was the Spanish-American War of 1898. A war that was global in scope, with the decisive naval battles of war at Manila Bay and Santiago de Cuba separated by two months and over ten thousand miles. During these battles in this quick, modern war, America s New Steel Navy came of age. While the American commanders sailed to war with a technologically advanced fleet, it was the lessons they had learned from Adm. David Farragut in the Civil War that prepared them for victory over the Spaniards. This history of the U.S. Navy s operations in the war provides some memorable portraits of the colorful officers who decided the outcome of these battles: Shang Dewey in the Philippines and Fighting Bob Evans off southern Cuba; Jack Philip conning the Texas and Constructor Hobson scuttling the Merrimac; Clark of the Oregon pushing his battleship around South America; and Adm. William Sampson and Commodore Scott Schley ending their careers in controversy. These officers sailed into battle with a navy of middle-aged lieutenants and overworked bluejackets, along with green naval militiamen. They were accompanied by numerous onboard correspondents, who documented the war. In addition to descriptions of the men who fought or witnessed the pivotal battles on the American side, the book offers sympathetic portraits of several Spanish officers, the Dons for whom American sailors held little personal enmity. Admirals Patricio Montojo and Pasqual Cervera, doomed to sacrifice their forces for the pride of a dying empire, receive particular attention.
The Battle of Santiago de Cuba was a naval battle that occurred on July 3, 1898, in which the United States Navy decisively defeated Spanish forces, sealing American victory in the Spanish–American War and achieving nominal independence for Cuba from Spanish rule. The battle was not much of a contest. The outgunned Spanish steaming directly into a waiting superior force and were slaughtered. The waters were full of hulks and wounded men until the scene turned into a rescue operation parallel to that of a natural disaster. The Americans pulled men from the water and out of small boats with inches of blood in the bottoms, treating them, feeding them, and clothing them with their own garments, until the number of rescued exceeded the crews of the rescuers. The prisoners were treated with respect and humanity. The fleet commander, on parole at Annapolis, became a celebrity. Amidst the general feeling on both sides that the animosity had gone too far, the Spanish withdrew from the Caribbean. Pro-American sentiment among the natives ran high, higher than it was to be in the entire succeeding 20th century.
The Battle of Manila Bay, also known as the Battle of Cavite, took place on 1 May 1898, during the Spanish–American War. The American Asiatic Squadron under Commodore George Dewey engaged and destroyed the Spanish Pacific Squadron under Contraalmirante (Rear admiral) Patricio Montojo. The battle took place in Manila Bay in the Philippines, and was the first major engagement of the Spanish–American War. The battle was one of the most decisive naval battles in history and marked the end of the Spanish colonial period in Philippine history. Condition: Very good / Very good.
Keywords: U.S. Navy History, Spanish American War, Naval Operations, Philippines, Steel Warships, US Maine, Fort Fisher, Manila Bay, Santiago de Cuba, Blockade, Battle of Cavite, Asiatic Squadron, George Dewey, Bob Evans, Jack Philip, William Sampson, Scott S
ISBN: 9781591144649
[Book #79592]
Price: $35.00