Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1898-05-02
VENI, YIDI, YIcl.
Spanish Fleet at Philippine Islands
Demolished by Commodore
Dewey's Warships.
MANILA HAS SURRENDERED
Naval Battle Lasted Two Hours Only One
American Vessel Damaged Spirited
Bombardment Forced Spanish Gov
ernor General to Oapitulate.

New York, May "A dispatch to the
Herald from London says The Asiatic
squadron Of the United States, Commo-
dore Dewey commanding, on Sunday
morning engaged and completely de-
feated the Asiatic squadronof Spain in
the harbor of Manila, Philippine
Islands.
All the news of the great naval battle
thus far is coming from Spanish sources.
This shows conclusively that the cable
lines are still under the control of Spain.
The advices from Madrid show that
the American warships Jared the best,
and there is hardly any doubt, that when
complete details are obtainable, 1t will
be learned that it was crushing defeat
for the Spanish forces.
During the two engagements that
took place, Commodore Montejo, COM
manding the Spanish fleet, lost three of
his largest ships. His flagship, the
steel cruiser Reina Christina and the
armored cruiser Castillo were burned,
and the cruiser Don Juan de Austria
was blown up. Several other Spanish
vessels were badly damaged. One re-
port adds that several of the Spanish
to prevent their falling into the hands
of the Americans. There was heavy
loss Of life among the Spanish. Captain
Dars0, commanding the Reina Christina,
was killed. Commodore Montejo, COM
manding the fleet, shifted his flag from
the Reina Christina to the Isle de Cuba,
much smaller, steel protected cruiser,
just before the Christina sank. The
blowing up of the Don Juan de Austria
was attended by great loss of life among
the crew and her commander was also
killed.
Commodore Dewey's squadron, leaving
Subic bay, few miles from Manila,
about o'clock yesterday Saturday
afternoon, proceeded toward Manila.
Under cover of the darkness he entered
the harbor of Manila, the batteries To-
Gated there announcing his arrival.
Both fleets lined up for battle about
o'clock Sunday morning. The guns OF
the American warships began firing on
fortress Cavite and the arsenal of Man
ila. Under the protection of the guns
of these Notifications the Spanish war
ships opened fire on the American fieet:
For several hours the harbor resounded
with the roar of guns, the crashing OF
steel and timbers, the shrieks and groans
OF the wounded. Thick clouds of smoke
at times almost obscured the opposing
fleets from each other. A well directed
shot reached the iron cruiser Don Juan
de Austria, vessel Of l,1OO tons. A ter
rife explosion followed and the ship was
blown up. All the time during the first
engagement the American ships were
under way, their manguvering being in
tended to render the Workmanship of
the Spanish gunners less effective. The
American squadron, about Q o'clock,
drew off to the west side of the bay, and
took refuge behind some foreign ships.
They had evidently suffered considerable
damage.
After hasty repairs they returned to
the conflict. During this engagement the
guns of Fort Cavite maintained steady
and stronger fire upon Commander Dew
ey's ships, than in the first encounter.
But the American guns were being used
with telling effect. As the smoke lifted
1t was seen that the flagship Reina
Christina was on fire and the vessel was