The age-herald., 1898-07-18
MoNTTJO ON HIS DEFEAT

The Paris Figaro publishes the follow ing letter, written by Admiral Montijo at Manila, May 9, to Gen. Joaquin Lazaga, one of his intimate friends:
 My prognosties are unhappily realized in the disastrous combat of the first of this month. The 18th of April I betook myself with the squadron to Subig. where l hoped to establish battery and to place the torpedoes of which I couold dispose. Terrible deceptionl I perceived that it would require a month and a half to con struct that battery and that, according to the opinion of the captain of the Del Rio, we could have only partial reliance upon the torpedoes, some of which were, however, placed. The 29th, by telegram intercepted by our consul at Hong Kong, I learned that the American squadron, was sailing toward us with the intention of destroying us and then presenting itself be- fore Manila. I had thus the conviction that the enemy not only knew our refuge. but also knew that the fort of Subig had not a single defense from the land side. A council of war met and unanimously except for one voice, that of Del Rio. chief of the arsenal-t decided that the squad- ron should go to Cavite to defend itself
 
 'The first of May, at o'clock in the morning, we saw the American squadron, formed in line at a distance of three miles, between Manila and Cavite
 "I opened fire, which soon extended all along the front of battle, the enemy di. recting most of his blows against my flag ship The melinite projectiles having set on fire the cruisers Cristina and Castilla, l transported myself with my staff to the |
 We beat a retreat on Bacoor, where we continued the defense until 1 gave the order to sink our disabled ships. They disappeared in the waves, with our glori- ous flag nailed to the masts. The enemy immediately took possession of trans port. without defense of the place, and the arsenal of Cavite, which surrendered after having been evacuated by soldiers bearing their arms. Thus abandoned, Ca vite was left to the horrors of pillage by the rebels in the presence of the Ameri- cans, whose indifference constituted ap- proyal.
 T betook myself to Manila by land, fla tigued and slightly wounded in the leg having been able to convince myself once more that the navy was neither understood nor appreciated. There in the capital the fear of bombardment caused great pan ic, and everybody asked himself how with four such miserable ships, we had been able to sustain the attack of eight first class ships, recently constructed and fur nished with superior artillery. Four hum dred of our marines were wounded by the fire of the enemy. Of that number 1S0 of whom the half are dead, were from my flagship. Poor Cadarso Since the combat the Americans have declared that. their superiority being admitted they did not doubt that after having fired a few can non shots for the honor of banner we would raise the white flag. The heroism of my men, martyrs to their duty. who have so freely poured out their blood for their country. has struck them with admi- ration. Commodore Dewey has said to me through the English consul that he would esteem it as much an honor a pleasure if he could one day shake me by the hand to felicitate me on my conduct.
 ''This proves that one more often finds justice in an enemy, superb and noble, than among one's own compatriots.
 By the mediation of the consul I have obtained leave from the commodore for the sick and wounded in the hospital of Cana cao to leave for Manila where they will be cared for and protected from the fury of the natives. MONTIJO"