Cavite
[key], city, Cavite prov., SW Luzon, the Philippines. The city, situated
on a small peninsula in Manila Bay, has been important as a naval base and
trade center since the days of the Spanish. In the Spanish-American War it
was captured by Dewey on May 1, 1898. The United States established a major
naval base at Sangley Point just opposite the city proper. In World War II
this base was bombed (Dec. 10, 1941) by the Japanese and virtually
destroyed—a major blow to the defense of the Philippines. In 1971,
the United States closed the base. The Philippine government also maintains
a naval school center at Cavite.
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