United States Consul at Manila Oscar F. Williams to Commodore George Dewey, Commander, Asiatic Station
From Consul Williams, Manila
To Commander in Chief.
through Consul Hongkong.1
Date Manila, April 16, 1898.
Subject Coming Manila, etc.
Received Hongkong April 17, 10:30 a.m.
When do you come here?
Am I safe on British ship in Bay?
How shall I advise our shipmasters and citizens?
Am I needed at Hongkong?
Can’t start till Wednesday.
Spains warships scattering.2
Prompt surrender likely.
Reply.3
Source Note: Cy, DLC-MSS, PGD.
Footnote 1: United States Consul at Hong Kong Rounsevelle Wildman.
Footnote 2: This was not an accurate representation of the Spanish Navy’s behavior as of this date. The Spanish Admiral Patricio Montojo wrote in his after action report that at this point he was amassing his squadron at Manila with the intention of leading them to the more defensible Subic Bay, which he did on 25 April 1898. See: Patricio Montojo, 1 May 1898.
Footnote 3: Dewey replied to Williams requesting that he join the fleet at Mirs Bay, China, where he could provide intelligence on Spanish defenses at Manila. See: Dewey to Long, 23 April 1898.
