The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-05-17
DEWEY Al MANILA BAY.
Interesting Story Of Admiral and
His Fleet.
AMERICAN FLAG HOISTED OVER
THE GUNBOAT CALLAO.

The Spaniards Hadn't Heard of War When
They Entered the Harbor-Foreiep
complishment of the American Com
mander.
New York, May 16.-The World pub.
fishes the following despatch from Manila
by way Of Hong Kong:
The Spanish gunboat Callao steamed
up the bay this morning. She came from
the southern islands, where she had been
stationed for the last sixteen months.
Her commander. Lieut.. Francisco Pou,
did not know that war had been declared
and had heard nothing on his Way up
about the battle of Manila He Steamed
straight for Cavite, expecting to find the
whole Spanish feet anchored there.
He arrived off Cavite at seven O'Clock
in the morning, with the Spanish FLAG
flying and signals for the Admiral I'D.
| The Olympia opened fire. The Spanish
commander supposed the shots we're for
| target practice and turned to get out of
range, but continued on.
| The Boston and the Raleigh 1oined the
| Olympia, and shots were throwing spray
over the Spanish vessels deck, when her
commander began to realize that it was
no joke, and pulled Gown his flag.
He continued on, however, and the
firing was renewed. Finally he hove to,
with white flag on his toremast, and
the Raleigh steamed out to intercept him.
Lieut.. Pou went aboard the Raleigh in a
small boat, and the situation was ex-
planned to him.
Then he surrendered gracefully, and
| the Callao was brought to an anchorage
near the flagship.
The Caliao is an iron gunboat of 2os
| tons, equipped with four modern guns
| and carrying a crew Of thirty-f five men.
| The ship was spick and span for the Ad-
| miral's inspection on arrival.
| The American flag was promptly hoisted
on the Callao, and she was added to Ad-
miral Dewey's fleet. She will be useful
| for river work.
Admiral Dewey feet remains stationed
before Manila.
He is ready to capture the place when
ever orders to do SO are received from
Washington or he deems it expedient.
No hostile demonstration has been
mads since the battle Of May 1. AL
though the Spanish flag flies from the
citadel, white flag is up over the Gov
ernor Generals palace, and many of the
guns from Lunetta have besn transferred
to the land approaches to the city to
guard it against the rebels who occupy all
the surrounding country.
| Admiral Dewey is reticent regarding
his plans. He will continue to closely
guard Manila's water approaches and
| will keep q keen watch on all the river
and nearby bays for any Spanish vessel
remaining. He has ships enough to scatter
throughout the islands and capture any
city desired.
It is believed to be his plan to lie in
Manila Bay, continuing the blockade IN
til further orders are received.
The people Of Manila understand that
| there is no probability of bombardment
as long as no hostility is shown.
The electric lights were out in the city
the first week, but now they are burning
again.
Manila is suffering from great scarcity
of food, particularly among the soldiers.
The poor soldiers are killing horses for
| food already.
s. Unless ships are allowed to land there
or communication is established with the
| interior soon there will be dire distress
among all classes.
There is no cable OF mail communioa-
ton with Manila. The town is under
| complete blockade. Communication by
| water continues interdicted.
| A strict watch is maintained by the
| vessels Of the feet night and day to pre-
| vent the possibility Of an attack, although
| none is expected.
| Guards are maintained at Cavite to pre-
vent the plundering of the naval stores.
| which were found to be in great abund.
| ance.
| Picket boats circle about the fleet every
night watching for suspicious craft. Any
boat seen is made a target for the search
light. If 1t is suspicious it ia fred upon
Monday night the Concord discovered
large row boat off shore and fired three
six Founders. The Loaf quickly ran
ashore. 1t is supposed to have been
Spanish boat lying in wait for the rebel
leader Gonzalez, who commands the in
surgents about Manila. He had gone to
Cavite and it is .surmised that the boat
was sent to lie in wait and capture hi,u
should he attempt to return.
Six warships of neutral powers have
come into the bay since the battle, and
five are here now. The visitors have been
the BruiS, first class armorea cruiser
belonging to France; the Prin zess
Wilhelm, second class protected cruiser,
and the Cormoran, third class protected
cruiser of the German navy; the British
first class armored cruiser Immortaiite
and gunboat Linnet, and the Japanese
second class protected cruiser Naniwa.
The British vessel Linnet has returned to
Hong Kong. The others are here yet.
The German cruiser Cornoran arrived
Tuesday night. The Raleigh saw her
coming, discovered her fighting tops and
promptly fired across her bow. The Cor
moran stopped. The Raleigh boarded her
made certain of her nationality and al
lowed her to proceed to an anohorage.
the battle. The foreign naval officers are
greatly interested in the result, and are
making a careful study of all the wrecks.
They are greatly surprised at the extent
of the damage done by Admiral Dewey's
ships, the large number of casual les on
the Spanish SIDE and the absence CT
fatalities and damage on the Americans
Statistics of the Spanish losses are still