The United Service Magazine for September contains an , excellent budget
of anecdotes illustrating the fitchting temper of the American sailor. The keynote of Admiral Dewey's- character "is found in his battle-signal, Keep cool and obey orders.'" He is described as of "the quiet, deadly order, the- well-bred gentleman fighter who looks upon the excitement and enthusiasm of others with an amused smile, and kills his man or destroys his fleet with kid gloves on his hands and, his glass in his eye." Commodore Schley, on the other hand, is a brilliant, dashing sailor, with little regard for red-tape or etiquette. Of this type also is Captain Robley Evans, who is credited with the saying that "a Spanish. gunner could hit nothing but the ocean, and only that because it was the biggest thing on earth." He is also alleged to have introduced the German Emperor to American cocktail at Kiel. Of all the acts of heroism recorded in the article, none is more striking than that of Ensign Gillis, who swam out to meet a stray torpedo that was coming straight against an anchored torpedo-boat, turned its nose away, and screwed up the firing-pin tightly so that it would not work. "Then treading water, he saluted Lieutenant Fremont, and reported, Sir, I have to report I have captured a torpedo.' —' Bring it aboard, Sir,' replied Fremont ; and Gillis actually did so, swimming with it tc the ship and fastening tackles to it." The American Navy has clearly no lack of Dundonalds among its officers.
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