First, the Spanish viewed
Philippines as kind of a backwater station, and so sent to that colony old and
obsolete wooden ships and gunboats. To Cuba, the Spanish station its best ships
there including the steel-clad protected cruiser San Cristobal. The U.S sent
the Asiatic Squadron, commanded by George Dewey, to subdue Spanish ships. Dewey’s
fleet simply outgunned and tore his way out of the wooden Spanish vessels. Campaign
in Cuba needed U.S Navy operations and a land campaign by U.S Army and U.S
Marines, and were successful in destroying the Spanish fleet there.
