1901

“Almost better,” chided Dewey. “It will take a while to get her in fighting trim. Thus we will go for now with what we have. I will be dividing our fleet into unequal parts while still maintaining overall control. We will also be addressing the officer shortage problem in much the same manner as the army: by recalling ex-officers, promoting underclassmen at the academy, and, if necessary, promoting some enlisted men.

“First, our main battle fleet will stay where it is and continue to maneuver and gain skills. On occasion we will send all or part of it south to make the Germans react by sending their fleet out to intercept. For the time being at least, we will decline combat unless they too divide their own fleet and offer a portion of it to us as a gift. All we wish to do is wear out the Germans and make them complacent as well as fatigued. Charles Clark, currently of the Oregon , will be promoted to command the battleships. You recall Clark, do you not? His was the epic journey from the Pacific to Cuba in time for the battle. Although we were afraid his lonely ship might run into Cervera’s squadron, he was actually hoping for it and had a plan to destroy them single-handedly. He likely would have done it. He is a fighter!

“I also propose to develop two cruiser squadrons. Please recall the analogy about the seas being highways. Well, right now those highways are running from Germany to the United States. I propose to cut them. The cruisers will be able to locate and attack the German transports. Here, look at the map. Ships leaving British or American ports can do so from scores of places and arrive at hundreds-thousands-of destinations. But look at Germany. There is only a handful of ports, and all on the Baltic: Hamburg, Bremerhaven, Stettin, and others as well as her main naval facilities at Kiel and Wilhelmshaven. Their points of departure are limited even if they do utilize the Kiel Canal to bypass sailing around Denmark.”

Dewey looked and saw he had the men’s rapt attention. “At that point, they can either go through the English Channel or around Scotland. Most will choose the shorter and safer Channel route. When they do make the Atlantic, the highway widens but not impossibly so. Unless a ship takes a huge, expensive, and time-consuming detour, there are only so many ways to get from the English Channel to New York. Even there, the highway narrows, like a funnel, down to a predictable area outside the harbor. My first squadron, under Robley Evans, who will leave the Alabama, will consist of a dozen fast cruisers that will patrol the Channel and other areas off Europe. The second squadron of six cruisers and an equal number of gunboats will be commanded by George Remey, and they will attack the German convoys off New York. Evans was scheduled for such a squadron against the Spanish, but the war ended so quickly he never got it. Remey is a solid and progressive man who won’t make mistakes so near the main German fleet and homeland.”

Longstreet was puzzled. “What about Sampson? Schley?”

Dewey replied sadly. “Admiral Winfield Schley no longer has our confidence. Although he considers himself the victor at Santiago, he made key mistakes that could have been disastrous had the enemy been other than the incompetent Spanish. I am afraid he is our equivalent of the army’s Nelson Miles. Far too many of our officers consider him old-fashioned, a laughingstock. We no longer find him fit for command.”

“But what about Sampson? He is considered a great leader with a great mind.”

Dewey shook his head, his face downcast. “Gentlemen, this should not leave this room. Admiral William Sampson is ill, very ill. You referred to a great mind. Well, he has an illness that is slowly depriving him of his ability to reason. He remembers little and does not even recognize friends. It saddens me deeply.”

The group took in the reality that one of the great leaders to emerge from the recent war was nothing more than a living shell, senile before his time.

“A pity,” said Longstreet.

“Indeed,” added Dewey. “But, back to my stratagems, I do have one other small plan I wish to implement. I have directed Captain Hobson to assemble a number of torpedo boat destroyers and attack German shipping in New York harbor. Just how and when I leave to his fertile imagination.”

This brought smiles all about. At age thirty, Richmond Hobson was the youngest captain in the navy. He had gained his rank by inspired, perhaps insane, daring against Spain. It was an intriguing selection.

“I have also given him our lone submarine, the Holland, and have directed him to use it.”

Longstreet mulled over what he had heard from Dewey and liked it. He did, however, have some thoughts. “Admiral, may I assume that, with all the naval construction going on and the number of ships authorized but not yet built, you might have some big guns lying about without ships to put them on?”