Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1898-05-05
DEwEY's FLAGSHIP. OLYMPIA.

DEwEYs FLAGSHIP, OLYMPIA.
lines are still under control of Spain.
From the fact that even the advices re-
ceived from Madrid show that the
American warships Jared the best,
there is hardly any doubt that when
complete details are obtainable it will
be learned that it was crushing de-
feat for Spain.
During the two engagements that
took place, Commodore Montejo, com
handing the Spanish fleet, lost three
of his large ships. His flagship, the
armored cruiser Maria Reina Christina.
and the armored cruiser Castillo were
burned, and the cruiser Don Juan de
Austria was blown out of the water.
Capt. Cardase, commanding the Maria
Christina, was killed. The blowing
up of the Don Juan de Austria was at
tended by great loss of life among
the crew, her commander also being
killed.
Commodore Dewey's squadron left
Sudie Bay, few miles from Manila,
about IA. IN. proceeded toward Manila
Under the cover of darkness he entered
the harbor of Manila, the batteries
located there announcing his arrival
Both fleets lined up for battle at day
break, about o'clock. The guns of
the American ships began firing on the
fortress on Cavitc and the arsenal of
Manila. The Spanish warships opened
fire under the protection of guns of the
forts. After about two hours lighting,
the American squadron drew off to the
west of the bay and took refuge behind
some foreign vessels. The ships had
evidently suffered considerable dam
age. After they made some hasty re-
pairs they returned to the conflict.
During this engagement the guns at
Cavite maintained a steadier and
stronger fire upon Commodore Deweys
ship than in the first encounter, but
the American guns were being used
with telling effect. As the smoke
lifted it was seen that the flagship
Maria Reina Christina was on fire.
The vessel was completely burned In
the interval between the two engage
ments Commodore Montejo moved his
flag from the Cristina to the smaller
cruiser Isla de Cuba. To the fact that
he had made this change he doubtless
owes his life. The cruiser Castillo,
next to the flagship the largest and
most powerful of the Spanish squadron,
was also burned The cruiser Don
Antonio de Ulloa and the Mindanao
were also badly damaged in the en-
counter, and at least two vessels were
sunk by the Spanish to prevent them
falling into the hands of the Americans.
That the American squadron received
severe damage by the engagement can
not be doubted. Early reports had it
that five of Commodore Dewey's ships
had been sunk. Later advices from
Madrid put the number at two, but it
is highly significant that the latest adj
vices from Madrid and Lisbon make no
mention of any American ships being
destroyed. There were undoubtedly
heavy losses in men on both sides
Trustworthy details of the American
loss of life will hardly be obtainable
until Commodore Dewey has taken
Manila or has sent vessel with dis
patches to Hong Kong.
After the battle Commodore Dewey
landed force and opened hospital
for his wounded which makes il certain
that the land forces of the Spaniards
had no heart to continue the conflict
after witnessing the naval engagement.
The Spaniards still hold the city of
Manila, it is thought, and probably
will continue to do so until Dewey and
the insurgents combine and drive them
out. Gen. Aguinaldo, the insurgent
president and commander-in-chief in
the Philippines, was taken to the is
lands from Hong Kong by the Ameri
can vessels and the commodore relies
largely upon insurgent support TO
to maintain his footing on the islands.
The monitor Terror had the hardest
scrimmage of any of the blockading YES
sells in attempting to capture Spanish
steamer. She gave chase to the Guido,
10 miles off Cardenas, and after firing
a blank shot to stop the Spaniard the
Terror sent three six-pound balls into
her upper works. These demolished
the pilot house and did other damage
to the Guido, besides wounding the
captain and sailor. The Terror had
l. n IN u