UCLA Asia Institute
Today in Asian History
May 1
1898 During the Spanish-American War, Spanish and United States naval forces fought the Battle of Manila Bay. US forces under Commodore Dewey defeated the Spanish destroying some eleven ships, thus ensuring the Spanish navy would be unable to threaten the US or support Spanish land forces in Cuba.
As part of a centennial website, Patrick McSherry has assembled a great deal of information, including accounts from Dewey and other participants, maps, drawings, and a bibliography. The magazine Military History has an extensive article on Dewey, the plans for the battle, and concludes arguing that Dewey had managed something no other naval leader had accomplished: the destruction of an entire fleet without a single casualty or the loss of a single ship. The US Navy's website includes a collection of photographic images of the results of the battle.
1952 Large anti-American riots in Tokyo.
1958 Memorial to the People's Martyrs dedicated in Beijing.
1963 James Whittaker became the first American to reach the summit of Mt. Everest, the world's tallest peak.
1967 In Chengdu armed fighting broke out among factions in a cotton mill, lasting one week and killing several people before Beijing ordered the PLA to suppress it.
1981 Japan agreed to exercise self-restraint in exporting cars to the US, 1981 limit: 1.68 million.
1987 Japan's trade surplus surpassed $100 billion ($101 B).
The AI "Today in Asian History" page was compiled by Clayton Dube. He welcomes your comments and suggestions. Send them to <cdube@isop.ucla.edu>.
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