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Naval History and Heritage Command

Naval History and Heritage Command

Commodore George Dewey, Commander, Asiatic Station, to Secretary of the Navy John D. Long

From COM’D’R’-IN-CHIEF

To Secretary of the Navy.

Hongkong.

Date February 27, 1898.

Subject Acknowledging orders

Scarcity of coal, etc

Orders have been received.

Cannot understand 9th and 19th words.1

please repeat.

Will carry out instructions.2

Great scarcity of coal within the limits of the station.

It is suggested that coal and ammunition should be sent from San Francisco without delay.3

Source Note: Cy, DLC-MSS, PGD.

Footnote 1: The previous message was sent by Asst. Sec. of the Navy Theodore Roosevelt to Dewey on 26 February and was sent in code. The 9th and 19th words in that message were “to” and “declaration.” See: Roosevelt to Dewey, 26 February 1898.

Footnote 2: Dewey’s instructions were to keep full of coal, assemble all ship of the Asiatic Squadron at Hong Kong (except the Monocacy), and to keep the Olympia with the Squadron. See: Roosevelt to Dewey, 26 February 1898.

Footnote 3: In response to Dewey’s request for coal and ammunition the Department of the Navy approved Dewey’s purchase of two colliers, the Nanshan and Zafiro, and their loads of coal and dispatched the Mohican from San Francisco to Honolulu to supply ammunition and coal to the Baltimore. The Baltimore’s orders were to ferry the ammunition and coal to the Asiatic Squadron and then join the Squadron. See: Long to RAdm. William A. Kirkland, 4 March 1898; Long to Dewey, 4 March 1898; Dewey to Long, 11 March 1898; Commo. Arent S. Crowninshield to Long, 11 March 1898; Book to Long, 19 March 1898; Long to Dewey, 21 March 1898; Dewey to Long, 21 March 1898; RAdm. Joseph N. Miller to Long, 24 March 1898; Long to Dewey, 4 April 1898; Dewey to Long, 4 April 1898; Long to Dewey, 5 April 1898; Long to Dewey, 6 April 1898; Dewey to Long, 6 April 1898; Dewey to Long, 9 April 1898; and Dewey to Long, 18 April 1898.

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