Re: Someone please forward to Dr. Norman G. Owen, Ph.D., retired historian somewhere in NC-USA [Re: Setting the record straight]

On Dec 2, 10:37 pm, Dirty Sick Pig <drtysicpig@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
wrote:
Pietro E Reyes, III wrote:



*Setting the record straight*
By GEMMA CRUZ ARANETA
Manila Bulletin
29NOV2007

IF you are ever in St. Paul, Minnesota, make it a point to visit the
State Capitol and look for two commemorative plaques at the Capitol
Rotunda. The first plaque of 1948 vintage glorifies the Minnesota 13th
Volunteer Regiment for its valiant role in the Spanish-American War.
"They served the cause of humanity and freed the oppressed people of the
Philippine Islands from the despotic rule of Spain ...", proclaims the
first plaque. The second plaque corrects the distortions contained in
the first one. That there is a second plaque is in itself historical.

The "tribute" in the first plaque makes reference to ..." the Philippine
Insurrection under Chief Aguinaldo..." and lists all the battles
gloriously won by the Volunteer Regiment. To those totally ignorant of
Philippine history (as most Americans are) the military feats of
Minnesota's 13th Volunteer Regiment sound most impressive, but, the
truth is the only battle fought by the Minnesota Volunteers against the
"despotic rule of Spain" was that mock naval skirmish, on 13 August
1898, glowingly called "Battle of Manila Bay."

===========================================================================
Dr. Owen disputes this battle being a mock skirmish, along with my
assertion that Admiral Dewey's quip, "You May Fire When Ready, Gridley,"
being an impossibility because such order was against naval practice and
traditions, and would have been a slap on the face of the flagship's
(USS Olympia) own captain.

Firing Even When Not Ready Pig

See Admiral Dewey's account, requoted at http://www.wtj.com/archives/dewey2.htm

At 5.40 when we were within a distance of 5,000 yards (two and one-
half miles) ,
I turned to Captain Gridley and said:
"You may fire when you are ready, Gridley."

Capt. Charles Vernon "Steve" Gridley was the captain of USS Olympia
(C-6/CA-15/CL-15/IX-40).

.