The Portland daily press., 1898-05-03
THE SEA FIGHT AT MANILA.

AS was supposed to be the case the
early Spanish reports from Manila mini
mixed the defeat of the Spanish fleet,
though they admitted enough to show
that there had been a defeat and q crush
ing one. Yesterday there being no longer
any hope that the facts could be con-
cealed from Che Spanish people, the gov
eminent, frankly admitted that the Span
ish f1est had been routed and the most OF
it destroyed. The British consul at Ma
Mia and the corresponding official at the
Straits Settlement telegraph their gov
eminent that the feet was "annihilated.
We have nothing yet from the American
admiral. and will not have probably un-
TIL the McCulloch arrives at Hong Kong,
which will be likely to be some time to-
day, unless he succeeds in gaining pos.
session of Manila and the cable. We
know very little as to the damage to the
American fleet. One report says one of
the vessels was disabled, but inasmuch
as the feet was ready to begin the bonn
bardment of Manila yesterday morning,
the damage could not have been very
general or severe. The number of killed
and wounded on the American fleet is
also entirely unknown. The Spaniards
admit a loss to them of 400 killed. but
probably this is an understatement
Admiral Dewey's victory has apparent
" placed Manila entirely at his mercy.
1T lies completely defenceless in front of
his guns. Its fate is IN the hands of the
Governor General of the Philippines. If,
as is reported, that official refused to
comply with the Admiral's demand for
the surrender of the munitions of war in
the city, no doubt the city has been bonn
barded. 1t is probable, however that the
bombardment would not proceed far be-
fore the Governor General would see the
folly of his refusal and take the back
track. But If he has persisted, then it
may be that the city has teen demolished.
Details of the engagement are so
meagre that there is little basis for specu-
lation, but appearances indicate that the
victory was largely due to our superior
craftsmanship. The Spaniards fought
valiantly, and no charge of cowardice can
be made against them. But the COM
parativaly slight daamge to our fleet, and
the almost complete destruction of theirs
would seem to show that the aim of the
Spaniards was faulty, while ours was
deadly, almost every shot from our guns
penetrating into the very vitals of a
Spanish ship.
The material effect of this victory. i'm
M to mt fhof Sc &c ri; al. =
with the moral effect. The Spanish peo-
pie have been SO stuffed with stories of
the invincibility OF their fleet and the
pusillanimity of the Americans, that
this battle will be terrible revelation to
them. So certain were they of defeating
the American ships thas Madrid had pre-
pared to celebrate the victory. The Span
iards are not a people Of good staying power
and this terrible setback when they were
confident OF victory. must have very
demoralizing effect. There are already
signs that the rage ard disappointment
of the populace are to vent themselves by
oyerthrowing the goveYnmnet. Madrid
may be on the eve of an insurreotion,
and it would not be surprising to hear
at any moment that the city was in the
hands of mob The eject of this vic
tory as regards continuance of the war
remains to be seen. The idea is enter
tanned in Washington that it may vir-
tually end 1t, that the Powers will bring
pressure to bear upon Spain to surrender
Cuba, warning her that if she keeps on
the Philippines and Porto Rico
may be lost There Will probably be a
strong demand on the part OF certain
Spanish elements, however, to continue in
tho hope Of retrieving the disast at
NJ anila.