Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1898-05-12
DETAILS OF THE BATTLE.

A press correspondent, under date OF
Nav 7, sent the following from Hong
Kong-The conquest of Manila Bay by
Commodore Dewey will go down in
history as the most remarkable naval
battle ever fought
From reliable advices received d1-
rect here tonight it is now known that
the United States forces destroyed
eleven Spanish ships and captured
eight, destroyed four shore batteries at
Cavite, and reduced the three forts on
Corregidor Island; that four hundred
Spanish sailors and soldiers were killed
and that six hundred were wounded.
1t is estimated that the value of Span
ish supplies lost and captured aggrega-
ted at least $5,OOO,O00.
The unprecedently remarkable part OF
the engagement is that only eight
Americans were slightly wounded, and
that the monetary damage was only
81 600. The engagement lasted just
seven hours and forty minutes The
first gun was fired at ) a. m. and the
Spaniards struck their flag at II. 40
p. III.
The American squadron slipped into
the harbor at night and was well inside
before one or two stray shots from the
Corregidor forts showed that its pres
ence was discovered. Their aim was
wild, however, and they did no harm.
At dawn Sunday Commodore Dewey
began his attack on Admiral Montijo's
fleet. By noon ten of the Spanish ships
had been sunk.
The effectiveness of the American
gunners is shown by the fact that out Of
a crew of 400 on the Spanish flagship
Reina Cristina, alone, 140 men, includ-
ing Captain Cadarso were killed and
nearly 100 seriously wounded.
Not a man was killed on the Ameri-
can ships and the few who were injured
fought gallantly to the end.
The complete surrender of Manila is
question of only a few hours. Conn
modore Dewey can take it at any time
he chooses, for the remaining fortifica-
tions are weak, and even brief peace
full blockade" would force surrender
in few days.
The food supplies are nearly exhaust
ed, the inhabitants are penned up like
pigs in the old walled portion of the
town and communication is impossible
with the outside world, for Dewey
I,N1l L. +l.a III ofY-xy 1sIn
are completely held by the insurgents
Some of the Spaniards at Cavite have
even applied to the Americans for pro
lection and it will be granted them
The ships destroyed by Dewey's fleet
are: The Reina Cristina, flagship, and
the cruisers Castillo (wooden), Don An
tonic de Ulloa, Isla de LuZon lsla de
Cuba; gunboats, General Lezo, Mar
quis del Duero, Ell Correo, Ell Correo,
Ell .Velazco and the steamship Minda
and supplies
These ships were captured; Cruiser
Don Juan de Austria, gunboats Isabella,
The First Rapido, Hercules. transport
Manila, with supplies, two whaleboats
and three steam launches.
The Correg:dor forts made scarcely
any opposition to the squadrons en-
trance. The Spanish evacuated almost
instantly, leaving only a commandant
tC formally surrender the Notifications
They did not even see the Olympia, Bal
timore, Raleigh, Concord, Petrol and
Boston pass in The McCulloch was
the only boat fired upon and she was
not hurt.
Seventeen miles up the bay the Span
iards exploded two mines. but they
never touched" the gallant Deweys
ships.
At Cavite the Spaniards opened the
first fire Dewey made no reply until
his squadron was at close range. Then
his flagship, the Olympia, opened the
ball with her eight-inch guns and the
other Americans fell in line with the
grand naval march, each delivering
storm of metal compliments from their
port guns into the covering Spanish
fleet. Then reversing they counter
marched, their starboard guns belching
forth terrible fire.
Five times did Dewey repeat this
maneuver, and on every terrible trip
the Maine was avenged with cool deliber-
ate and deadly intent. Closer and clos
er drew the Americans and, like rats
driven into a corner, the Spaniards
fought against their certain doom
sumed this time the Baltimore leading
of with a terrific assault in the teeth of
the enemy, her companions bravely
supporting her.
No fleet could withstand this attack
and least of all the rror-stricken Span
iards. What ships were not sunk by
the American shells they attemped
| themselves to scuttle or run ashore.
But IN this they were only partially sue
| cessful, and at 1910 Admiral Montijo
struck his colors, and with as many of
/! his followers as were alive and able fed
| in small boats to Manila.
! 1t was II Spanish warships and land
batteries against six American warships
| but every shot counted counted from
| the latter, while the Dons grew wildly
reckless and burned their powder to no
purpose.
Only once did Dewey call time for Il
! breathing spell. At 9.45 o'clock he
withdrew to watch the results of his
| daring attack. He found his own fleet
hardly damaged, while i'll front of him