Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1898-05-11
THE STORY on MANILA
Details of the Most Brilliant Ma
val Victory in Modern
History.
HOW DEWEY WHIPPED SPANISH
Enemy Put to Utter Rout Without
the Loss of Single Man
on American Side.

peduS anu natives mere lnore is only one
subject of discussion-the brilliant, dash
ing, annihilating victory of the American
fleet under Admiral Dewey over the Span
ish fleet commanded by Admiral Montejo
in Manila bay a week ago.
Owing to the fact that the cable be-
tween this port and the Philippine islands
was not in working order, having been
cut, it is said, some distance from the
capital of the islands, there has been de-
lay in obtaining detailed account of the
battle, and facts in the case were only
available when the United States gunboat
Hugh McCulloch arrived here Saturday,
and even then the tremendous pressure
of business suddenly thrown upon the ca
bic company necessarily made the earlier
accounts of the engagement somewhat
brief.
Admiral Dewey's orders were to cap
ture or destroy the Spanish fleet, and
never were instructions executed in so
complete a fashion. At the end of seven
hours there was absolutely nothing left
of the Spanish fleet but q few relics. The
American commander had most skillfully
arranged every detail of the action, and
even the apparently most insignificant fea-
lures were carried out with perfect pune
tuality.
Blockade of Manila.
At the end of the action Admiral Dewey
anchored his feet in the bay before Ma
Mia and sent message to Gov-Gen. Au-
gust announcing the Inauguration of the
blockade, and adding that if q shot was
fred against his ships he would destroy
every battery about Manila.
The position occupied by the Spaniards,
the support which their ships received
from the land batteries and the big guns
they had ashore, gave them an enormous
advantage. Therefore when it is consid
cred that the Spaniards lost over 600 men
in killed and wounded; that all their ships,
to about fourteen, were de-
strOyed and that their naval arsenal at
Cavite was also destroyed, with its de-
lenses, it will become apparent that the
victory of the American commander is one
of the most complete and wonderful
achievements in the history of naval war
fare.
Not man on board the American feet
was killed; not a ship was damaged to
any extent, and only six men were injured
slightly on board the Baltimore.
This grand achievement is quite as much
due to the generalship of Admiral Dewey
as to the fact that American gunners,
ships and guns are superior to anything in
the same line afioat anywhere. Credit
must also be given to the fullest extent to
the officers under Admiral Dewey, for
they seconded their gallant commander in
every way possible and thus helped him
win the laurels which are justly his.
Spanish Guns Open Fire.
The American fleet entered Manila bay
Saturday night with the greatest Of ease
The Spaniards had not established pa
troll and there was no searchlights at the
of the bay. In fact, the Ameri-
can ships would probably have passed in
side the bay without any challenge had
it not been that some sparks flew up from
the McCulloch's funnel. Thereupon a
few shots were exchanged with the bate
ries on Corregidor island, but the feet
did not slow down and soon took up a
position near Cavite, awaiting dawn in
order to commence hOstilities.
The early hours of the morning re-
vealed the opposing ships, and the Span
ish flagship opened fire. Her action was
followed by some of the large Spanish
opened up and the smaller Spanish vessels
brought their guns into play.
The American squadron, which had
been led into the bay and through
the channel by the flagship Olym-
pia, did not reply, though the
shells of the Spaniards began to strike the
water around them, but moved majesticaI-
ly onward. When nearing Baker bay
sudden upheaval of the water a short dis
lance ahead of the Olympia showed that
the SpaniardS had exploded a mine or
torpedo. This was followed by a second
and similar explosion. They were both
utterly unsuccessful
The American fleet was then drawing
nearer and nearer to the Spaniards, whose
was very poor, the shots from
the Cavite batteries and from the Spanish
ships being equally badly aimed either
falling short or going wide Of the mark.
Real Beginning of the Battle.
When the American fleet entered the
bay, coming through the southern channel
between Cabalo Frile islets, the following
was their order: The flagship Olympia, |
the Baltimore the Raleigh, the Concord, |
the Boston, the Petrol and the McCulloch, |
with the two store ships, the Nanshan and |
the ZatirO, bringing up the rear. And IN
that order they swept grandly before the |
city and faced the enemy in column line.
Though the Spaniards had opened fire |
at 5000 yards the Americans reserved |
their fire until within 1000 yards of the |
enemy, when the real battle began.
The Reina Christina, Castillo, Don An
tonic de Ulloa, Isla de Cuba, Isla de Lu- |
zon and the MindanaO were in line of |
battle outside Of Cavite at that time. |
with four gunboats and the torpedo-boats |
inside the harbOr.
The American ships then passed back
ward and forward six times across the |
front of the Spaniards, pouring in upon |
the latter q perfect hail of shot and she'll |
Every American shot seemed to tell, |
while almost every Spanish shot missed |
the mark.
After having thus scattered death and |
among the Spanish fleet |
and in the Spanish batteries the Amer
lean fleet retired for breakfast, and in |
a council of war was held on |
board the Olympia.
By this time the Spanish ships were
in a desperate condition. The flagship |
Reina Christina was riddled with shot |
and shell, one of her steampipes had
burst and she was believed to |
be on fire. The Castillo was certainly on |
fire, and soon afterward their condition
became worse and worse, until they were
eventually burned to the waters edge.
Sinks with ALI Fighting.
The Don Antonio de UIloa made
most magnificent show Of desperate brav-
cry. When her commander found she |
was so torn by the American shells that |
le could not keep her afioat he nailed |
ler coiors to the mast and she sunk with |
all hands fighting to the last. Her hull |
was completely riddled and her upper |
1eck had been swept clean by the aw- |
.ul fire of TIE American guns, but the |
Spaniards though their vessel was sink
n IL.