As a warning, he sent a naval force on a voyage around the world. The force included sixteen battleships and twelve thousand men. It was called the Great White Fleet.
No one knew what caused the explosion on the battleship Maine. The United States said it was an underwater bomb. Spain said it was something on the ship itself.
Not only is the Battle of Leyte Gulf among the largest naval battles in history, the maritime clash in 1944 marked the last time battleships fought against each other.