 The loss of the Maine helped precipitate the Spanish – American War . Cluverius saw action during the conflict on a number of ships including USS Scorpion , on which he participated in the Second Battle of Manzanillo and the bombardments of Santiago and <unk> . Commissioned as an ensign , he served in the Philippine – American War on the USS Solace in 1900 . He then served on the gunboat USS Newport . 
