<Tr> <Td> <Ul> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> </Ul> </Td> </Tr> <Ul> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> </Ul> <P> The Battle of Manila Bay (Spanish: Batalla de Bahía de Manila), also known as the Battle of Cavite, took place on 1 May 1898, during the Spanish--American War . The American Asiatic Squadron under Commodore George Dewey engaged and destroyed the Spanish Pacific Squadron under Contraalmirante (Rear admiral) Patricio Montojo . The battle took place in Manila Bay in the Philippines, and was the first major engagement of the Spanish--American War . The battle was one of the most decisive naval battles in history and marked the end of the Spanish colonial period in Philippine history . </P> <P> Americans living on the West Coast of the United States feared a Spanish attack at the outbreak of the Spanish--American War . Only a few U.S. Navy warships, led by the cruiser USS Olympia, stood between them and a powerful Spanish fleet . </P>

Commander of the naval squadron that attacked manila bay