Final answer:
President McKinley endorsed the strategy of sending U.S. warships to the Philippines but the operation was led by Admiral Dewey in a significant confrontation against the Spanish fleet.
Step-by-step explanation:
In response to your question, President McKinley is credited with the decision of sending U.S. warships to the Philippines but Admiral Dewey led the actual operation. McKinley was initially resistant to the idea of war but ultimately endorsed the strategic execution of it. The U.S., under McKinley's presidency, perceived the mission not just as a liberation of Cuba, but as an attempt to garner more naval bases to expand their reach in the Asia-Pacific region. Despite this broader goal, the first significant military confrontation under this mandate took place in the Philippines under the leadership of Commodore George Dewey, who commanded the U.S. Navy to a decisive victory against the Spanish fleet.
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