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The Spanish Admiral Montojo tried； though ineffectually； to come to close quarters； for his guns were of smaller caliber than those of the American ships； but he was forced to keep his vessels for the most part in line between the Americans and the shore。 Commodore Dewey sailed back and forth five times； raking the Spanish ships and the shore batteries with his fire。 Having guns of longer range than those of the Spaniards； he could have kept out of their fire and slowly hammered them to pieces； but he preferred a closer position where he could use more guns and therefore do quicker work。 How well he was justified in taking this risk is shown by the fact that no man was killed on the American fleet that day and only a few were wounded。 After a few hours' fighting； with a curious interval when the Americans withdrew and breakfasted； Dewey completed the destruction or capture of the Spanish fleet； and found himself the victor with his own ships uninjured and in full fighting trim。 By the 3d of May； the naval station at Cavite and the batteries at the entrance of Manila Bay were in the hands of Commodore Dewey； and the Asiatic squadron had wrested a safe and commodious harbor from the enemy。
Secure for the moment and free； Dewey found himself in as precarious a strategic position as has ever confronted a naval officer。 With his six war vessels and 1707 men； he was unsupported and at least a month's voyage from America。 It was two months； indeed； before any American troops or additional ships reached him。 Meanwhile the Spaniards held Manila； and a Spanish fleet； formidable under the circumstances； began to sail for the Philippines。 Nevertheless Dewey proceeded to blockade Manila； which was besieged on the land side by the Filipino insurgents under Aguinaldo。 This siege was indeed an advantage to the Americans as it distressed the enemy and gave an opportunity to obtain supplies from the mainland。 Dewey； however； placed no confidence in Aguinaldo； and further was instructed by Secretary Long on the 26th of May as follows： 〃It is desirable； as far as possible； and consistent for your success and safety； not to have political alliances with the insurgents or any faction in the islands that would incur liability to maintain their cause in the future。〃 Meanwhile foreign nations were rushing vessels to this critical spot in the Pacific。 On the 17th of June； Dewey sent a cable； which had to be relayed to Hongkong by boat； reporting that there were collected； in Manila Bay； a French and a Japanese warship； two British； and three German。 Another German man…of…war was expected； which would make the German squadron as strong as the American。
The presence of so large a German force； it was felt； could hardly fail to have definite significance； and therefore caused an anxiety at home which would； indeed； have been all the keener had Admiral Dewey not kept many of his troubles to himself。 European sympathy was almost wholly with Spain。 The French； for instance； had invested heavily in Spanish bonds； many of which were secured on the Cuban revenues。 There was also perhaps some sense of solidarity among the Latin races in Europe and a feeling that the United States was a colossus willfully exerting itself against a weak antagonist。 It was not likely that this feeling was strong enough to lead to action； but at least during that summer of 1898 it was somewhat unpleasant for American tourists in Paris； and an untoward episode might easily have brought unfriendly sentiment to a dangerous head。 Austria had never been very friendly to the United States； particularly since the execution of the Emperor Maximilian in Mexico； which his brother Francis Joseph believed the United States could have prevented； and was tied to Spain by the fact that the Queen Regent was an Austrian Hapsburg。
It was evident； moreover； that in Europe there was a vague but nevertheless real dread of the economic potentialities of the United Statesa fear which led； in the next few years； to the suggestion that the American invasion of trade should be resisted by a general European economic organization which would even overrule the natural tendency of powers to group themselves into hostile camps。 In 1898 it seemed possible that the United States was consciously planning to become a world military power also； and a feeling； not exactly like Blaine's 〃America for the Americans〃 but rather of 〃the world for Europeans；〃 gathered force to meet any attempt at American expansion。
Even before war had broken out between Spain and the United States； this sentiment had sufficiently crystallized to result in a not quite usual diplomatic action。 On April 6； 1898； the representatives of Great Britain； Germany； France； Austro…Hungary； Russia； and Italy； presented a note to the Government of the United States making 〃a pressing appeal to the feelings of humanity and moderation of the President and of the American people in their differences with Spain。 They earnestly hope that further negotiations will lead to an agreement which； while securing the maintenance of peace； will afford all necessary guarantees for the reestablishment of order in Cuba。〃
Of all the European powers none was more interested than Germany in the situation in the Western Hemisphere。 There seems to be no doubt that the Kaiser made the remark to an Englishman with reference to the Spanish American War： 〃If I had had a larger fleet I would have taken Uncle Sam by the scruff of his neck。〃 Though the reason for Germany's attitude has never been proven by documents； circumstantial evidence points convincingly to the explanation。 The quest for a colonial empire； upon which Bismarck had embarked rather reluctantly and late； had been taken up with feverish zeal by William II； his successor in the direction of German policy。 Not content with the commercial conquests which German trade was making in all countries of the earth； the Kaiser wanted a place in the sun exclusively his own。 The world seemed； however； as firmly closed to the late…comer in search of colonies as it was open to him as the bearer of cheap and useful goods。 Such remnants of territory as lay on the counter he quickly seized； but they hardly made an empire。
It is not； therefore； a daring conjecture that the Kaiser was as carefully watching the decrepit empire of Spain as he was the traditional sick man of Europe； the empire of Turkey。 In 1898 revolutions were sapping both the extremities of the Spanish dominions。 The Kaiser； while he doubtless realized that Cuba would not fall to him； in all probability expected that he would be able to get the Philippines。 Certain it is that at the close of the Spanish American War he bought all the remaining Spanish possessions in the Pacific。 If such had been his expectations with regard to the Philippines； the news of Dewey's victory must have brought him a bitter disappointment； while at the same time the careless and indiscreet remark of an American official to certain Germans〃We don't want the Philippines； why don't you take them？〃may well have given him a feeling that perhaps the question was still open。
Under such circumstances； with Europe none too well…disposed and the Kaiser watching events with a jealous eye； it was very important to the United States not to be without a friend。 In England sympathy for America ran strong and deep。 The British Government was somewhat in alarm over the political solitude in which Great Britain found herself； even though its head； Lord Salisbury； described the position as one of 〃splendid isolation。〃 The unexpected reaction of friendliness on the part of Great Britain which had followed the Venezuela affair continued to augment； and relations between the two countries were kept smooth by the new American Ambassador； John Hay； whom Queen Victoria described as 〃the most interesting of all the ambassadors I have known。〃 More important still； in Great Britain alone was there a public who appreciated the real sentiment of humanity underlying the entrance of the United States into the war with Spain； and this public actually had some weight in politics。 The people of both Great Britain and the United States were easily moved to respond with money and personal service to the cry of suffering anywhere in the world。 Just before the Spanish American War； Gladstone had made his last great campaign protesting against the new massacres in Armenia； and in the United States the Republican platform of 1896 had declared that 〃the massacres in Armenia have aroused the deep sympathy and just indignation of the American people； and we believe that the United States should exercise all the influence it can properly exert to bring these atrocities to an end。〃
John Hay wrote to Henry Cabot Lodge； of the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs； April 5； 1898； as follows： 〃For the first time in my life I find the drawing…room sentiment altogether with us。 If we wanted itwhich； of course； we do notwe could have the practical assistance of the British Navyon the do ut des principle； naturally。〃 On the 25th of May he added： 〃It is a moment of immense importance； not only for the present； but for all the future。 It is hardly too much to say the interests of civilization are bound up in the direction the rela