Chapter 13: Port of Manila
The size of these giant steel warships alone would be enough to strike fear into the enemies of the United States. The mercantile ships moored around them appeared like small fishing boats. The Diligencia would look like a toy ship in comparison.
But those who had knowledge of the armaments on these ships would be even more terrified. USS Olympia had enough firepower to pulverize a coastal town with its batteries, but another ship, USS Monterey, could wipe that town off the face of the earth with its array of 12-inch guns.
I was both in awe and in fear. If war did break out and reached Marinduque, Boac could not be defended. It would be reduced to rubble by even one of these ships.
"Well... we're here," I heard Isidro's raspy voice, and only then did I realize that I had been by the railings for quite a while. The captain had gone back to his cabin. "And yes... those ships had the same effect on me. It's no wonder the Americans won that battle in May last year so one-sidedly. It was steel against wood... giant against dwarf."
I turned around to see his newly woken face, with puffed cheeks and teary eyes. Vicente Triviño was yawning behind him, scratching his head.
"What battle?" I asked. I had read something on the USS Olympia plaque at the museum, but it had been long ago, and I could not recall the details.
"They call it the Battle of Manila Bay, where the Americans sank all of the Spanish fleet without incurring even a single scratch on any of their ships. As soon as the American cannons started firing... the battle was over," Isidro answered, both hands on his waist and his eyes on the American ships. "This is what we are up against."
I shook my head and returned my gaze to the USS Monterey. After a few moments of silence, I spoke. "If war does break out, and you have to decide for us... would you surrender, Isidro?"
"What? Where did that come from?" my nephew nervously chuckled.