Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-12-22

whom were seven officers. gave the
oeder to sink and abandon the shin be-
iore the magazines should explode"
MONTIJOS COMPLAINT.
Inc story OF the loss OF the Castillo
was substantially the story of the loss of
all Of the other Spanish ships. and Admi-
RAJ MohuJo sums up his action with this
statement:
The inefiiciency OF the vessels which
composed my little squadron; the lack
OF all classes of personnel especiaIlv ~
summers ana seamen gunners, the inapu-
tude of some Of the provisional ma
C"'hlStSi the scarcity OF rapd-nre can
nuh' the strong crews of the enemy. and
'ne unprotected character Of the greater
part OF our vessels, all contributed TO
make much more decided the sacrifice
winch we made for our country. and TO
prevent the possibility Of the horrors of
comhardment OF the city Of Manila.
with the conviction that with the scarcity
or our force against the superior enemy
we were going TO certain death. and could
expect the loss OF all our ships. our
casualties. including those Of the arse
nal, amounted 10 3Sl men, Killed and
wounded"
THE FLYING SQUADRON"
Apparently, the first suggestion Of the
organization Of the Flying Squadron
which was 10 divert Admiral Camara's
squadron from its voyage to Manila
came from Dewey, for in a dispatch Of
June 9th, he says. 'In my judgment,
i the coast OF Spain Is threatened the
squadron OF the enemy will have TO re-
turn And that is exactly what hap
pened. A month later the Admiral pays
"a high compliment TO the British Consul.
"a n.
for three months, had been discharging
the duties of United States Consul i'm
Manila, and rendering the Admiral great
assistance.
DEWEY ON THE PHILIPPINES.
The Admirals estimate Of the i'm
portance of the Philippine Islands is set
out in the following telegram. sent I'm
answer TO an inquiry on the subject from
The government:
Manila, August 20, 1898.
secretary of the Navy, Washington:
Referring TO the departments tee-
gram OF August 18th. important islands
are Colon, LuZon, Panay, Cebu, NegrOs.
and Leyte. Others. owing TO the nature
OF the Inhabitants, have a small amount
OF civilization. They may be neglected.
especially isles of southern group. Luzon
Is, in all respects, the most desirable 10
mercial ports. Manila is farthest north.
Produces all Of the good tobacco Friend
ly natives. Civilization somewhat ad-
vanced. Not yet developed. Possibly
rich minerals. Population. $4,000 Subig
bay best harbor for coaling purposes and
military; water deep: land-locked; easily
defended. Strategically, command of bay
and city of Manila, with arsenal at Ca
vite, most valuable. Panay, Cebu, and
Negros thickly populated. most civilized,
and well cultivated. Iloilo second com
mercial port, centre of sugar trade, a
good harbor strategically, in view of
the situation. good for defence. Cebu
third commercial port; a good harbOr;
very desirable No coal of good quality
can be procured in Philippine Islands.
Some has been mined on Cebu: English
company. l trust 1t may not be neces-
sary TO order me TO Washington. Should
regret very mica to leave here while
matters remain i'm present critical condi-
tiOn. (Signed DEWEY"
SAMPSON PLAN TO CAPTURE HA-
BANA.
Very naturally, the report of the opera
tions Of the North Atlantic fleet COM
prises the largest part of the printed
body. Most of the facts have already APP
peared. but in the very beginning there
- a. &<iNoL inter tElAllS tAtlldi1tt VI ltltttS
between Secretary Long and Admiral
Sampson, showing that even before the
outbreak of the war the Admiral had
worked out a complete plan for the i'm
mediate reduction of Habana with his
own squadron. unsupported. and was only
prevented from CO. rying out that plan by
orders from tie department, which wish
ed 10 protect the big irOnclads.
An unpublished report up to this time
is one by Admiral Schley, dated June 1st
giving an account Of the bombardment
by his fleet OF the fortGcations Of San
tiago the day before Sampson arrived on
the scene. The Admiral says in part:
REPORT FROM SCHLEY.
"None Of our vessels were struck, al
though the shots fell over and around
them. l have learned from insurgents
that the Reina Mercedes was struck by a
shell, and eight men were killed, and also
that a number Of shots struck the Moro.
The reconnaissance developed the fact
that the Spanish vessels are in the har-
Dor, and that, the fortifcations are well
provided with lOngrange guns Of large
Calibre.'