by a shot across her
bows. Dewey's firmness in this affair was exemplary.

[Illustration]
General Merritt and General Greene taking a
look at a Spanish field-gun on the Malate Fort.

On June 30th the advance portion of General Merritt's troops arrived and
supplanted the insurgents in beleaguering Manila. The war was now
closing. Manila capitulated August 13th. The peace protocol was signed
August 12th. The Treaty of Paris was signed December 10th. Spain
evacuated Cuba and ceded to the United States Porto Rico, at the same
time selling us the Philippine Archipelago for $20,000,000.

CHAPTER XIII.

"CUBA LIBRE"

[1898-1902]

As if Santiago had not afforded "glory enough for all," some disparaged
Admiral Sampson's part in the battle, others Admiral Schley's. As
commander of the fleet, whose routine and emergency procedure he had
sagaciously prescribed, Sampson, though on duty out of sight of the
action at its beginning, was entitled to utmost credit for the brilliant
outcome. The day added his name to the list of history's great sea
captains.

[Illustration: Portrait.]
Admiral William T. Sampson.

Schley had the fortune to be senior officer during his chief's temporary
absence. He fought his ship, the Brooklyn, to perfection, and, while it
was not of record that he issued any orders to other commanders, his
prestige and well-known battle frenzy inspired all, contributing much to
the victory. The early accounts deeply impressed the public, and they
made Schley the central figure of the battle. Unfortunately Sampson's
first report did not even mention him. Personal and political partisans
took up the strife, giving each phase the angriest possible look.
Admiral Schley at length sought and obtained a court of inquiry.

[Illustration: Portrait.]
Admiral W. S. Schley

The court found Schley's conduct in the part of the campaign prior to
June 1, 1898 (which our last chapter had not space to detail),
vacillating, dilatory, and lacking enterprise. It maintained, however,
that during the battle itself, despite the Brooklyn's famous "loop,"
which it seemed to condemn, his conduct was self-possessed, and that he
inspired his officers and men to courageous fighting. Admiral Dewey,
president of the court, held in part a dissenting opinion, which carried
great weight with the country. He considered Schley the actual fleet
commander in the battle, thus giving him the main credit for the
victory.

Legally