Editing George Dewey (section)

===Commander of Asiatic Squadron===

In 1896, Dewey applied for a sea posting as commander of the Asiatic Squadron. Although Dewey was a long shot for the position, his friend [[Theodore Roosevelt]] arranged for President [[William McKinley]] to select Dewey over a more senior officer.<ref name="jones" />{{rp|40–41}} The Commodore hoisted his pennant on board {{USS|Olympia|C-6|6}} at [[Nagasaki]] in January 1898, and departed for Hong Kong in February to inspect the U.S. warships lying in Hong Kong harbour.<ref name="WqqEj" /> Upon arrival, he learned that {{USS|Maine|ACR-1|2}} had blown up in Havana Harbor.<ref name="kXmIM" /> Dewey was skeptical that the country would go to war, writing, "I don't see what we have to gain in a war with Spain."<ref name="JyM2h" /> However, he was confident of victory, writing, "I expect to capture the Spanish ships and reduce the defenses of Manila in one day."<ref name="OU0wY" />

As the war clouds loomed, Dewey assembled his squadron at Hong Kong and made preparations. The cruiser {{USS|Baltimore|C-3|6}} was dispatched to Hong Kong via the [[Republic of Hawaii]]. Dewey purchased the merchant colliers {{USS|Nanshan|AG-3|2}} and {{USS|Zafiro|1884|2}}, retaining their crews. The warships were repainted from white to gray. Upon the outbreak of war between the United States and Spain, the [[United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland|United Kingdom]] declared its [[Neutral country|neutrality]] and Dewey was ordered by [[Wilsone Black]] to leave British waters. The Asiatic Squadron moved to the Chinese waters of [[Mirs Bay]].