The American squadron entered Manila Bay before dawn and subjected the Spanish ships and shore positions to sustained gunfire. After more than two hours, a message reached Dewey saying that only fifteen rounds of five-inch ammunition remained per gun, so he withdrew and ordered breakfast. The report had been garbled: only fifteen rounds per gun had been expended, leaving ample ammunition. The pause allowed Spanish Admiral Patricio Montojo to reposition survivors, but the rested and still well-supplied Americans returned to finish the action.
Chapter · 34:59-38:13
The Battle of Manila Bay and the garbled ammunition report
Dewey paused for breakfast after a message suggested critically low five-inch ammunition, then resumed when the report proved to mean only fifteen rounds per gun had been fired.