Battle of Manila Bay

Uncommon card · No. 161756

The Battle of Manila Bay, also known as the Battle of Cavite, took place on May 1, 1898, during the Spanish–American War. The United States Navy's Asiatic Squadron under Commodore George Dewey engaged and destroyed the Spanish Navy's Pacific Squadron under Counter-admiral Patricio Montojo y Pasarón. 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. Tensions between Spain and the United States worsened over the Spanish conduct during their efforts to quell the Cuban War of Independence, with many Americans being agitated by largely exaggerated reports of Spanish atrocities against Cubans. In January 1898, fearing the fate of American interests in Cuba due to the war, the cruiser USS Maine was dispatched to protect them. Less than a month later, the warship exploded while lying at anchor...

Read on Wikipedia · Image James Gale Tyler (1855–1931), Public domain