The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1898-06-16
OFFICIAL REPORT.
Dewey's Account of the Battle of Manila
Bay.

! ton has received the following official
report of the battle of Manila Bay from
Admiral Dewey:
FLAGSHIP OLYMPIA, CAVITE, May 4.
The squadron left Mrs Bay
on April 81. Arrived off Boil
mao on the morning of April 30 and,
finding no vessels there, proceeded
down the coast and arrived off the en-
trance to Manila Bay on the same af-
ternoon. The Boston and the Con-
cord were sent to recOnnoitre Port
Subic. = A thorough search
of the port was made by the Boston
and the Concord, but the Spanish
fleet was not found Entered
the south channelat II 30 p. m, steam
ing in column at eight knots. After
half the squadron had passed, bat
terry on the south side of the channel
opened fire, none of the shots taking
effect. The Boston and the McCulloch
returned the fire The squadron pro-
ceeded across the bay at slow speed
and arrived off Manila at daybreak
and was fired upon at 5:15 a. N. by
three batteries at Manila and two near
Cavite, and by the Spanish fleet an
chored in an approximately east and
west line across the mouth of Barker
Bay, with their left in shoal waters in
CanacaO Bay.
Beginning the Attack.
The squadron then proceeded to the
attack. The flagship Olympia, under
my personal direction, leading, follow
ed at distance by the Baltimore, the
Raleigh, the Petrol, the Concord and
the Boston, in the order named, which
formation was maintained throughout
the action. The squadron opened fire
at 5:41 a. III. While advancing to the
attack two mines were exploded ahead
of the flagship, too far to be effective.
The squadron maintained a continu-
GUS and precise fire at ranges VARYING
from 5000 to 1000 yards, countermar-
ching in line approximately parallel
to that of the Spanish fleet. The
enemy's fire was vigorous, but gener.
ally ineffective. Early in the engage
ment two launches put out toward
the Olympia with the apparent inten-
ton of using torpedoes. One was
sunk and the other disabled by our
fire, and beached before an opportu-
nifty occurred to fire torpedOes.
At IA. IN. the Spanish flagship Reina
Cristina made desperate attempt to
leave the line and come out to engage
at short range, but was received with
such calling fire, the entire battery of
the Olympia being concentrated upon
her, that she was barely able to return
to the point. The fires started in her
by our shells at this time were not ex-
tinguished until she sank. The
three batteries at Manila had kept up
a continuous report from the begin
ming Of the engagement, which fire
was not returned by this squadron.
The first of these batteries was situa-
ted on the south mole head, at the en-
trance to the PasiS River. The second
on the south bastion of the walled
city of Manila, and the third at Nal
ate, about one half mile further south.
At this point sent message to the
Governor General to the effect that
if the batteries did not cease firing the
city would be shelled. This had the
effect of silencing them. At 7.35 a. III.
l ceased firing and withdrew the
squadron for breakfast
Second Attack.
AT l1.16 a. IN. returned to the attack
By this time the Spanish fla gship and
almost the entire Spanish fleet were
in flames. At 1890 p. III. .the squadron
ceased firing and the batteries We're
silenced and the ships sunk, burned
and deserted. At 1910 the squadron
returned and anchored off Manila, the
Petrol being left behind to complete
the destruction of the smaller gun
boats, which were behind the point of
Cavite. This duty was performed by
Commodore E. p Wood in the most
expeditions and complete manner pos
sible. The Spanish lost the following
vessels:
Sunk-Reina Cristina, Castillo, Don
Antonio de Ulloa.
Burned-Don Juan de Austria, Tsla
de Luzon, Isla de Cuba, General Leo,
Marquis del Duero, Ell Correo, Velasco
and Isla del Mindanano transport
Captured - Rapido and Hercules
tugs and several small launches.
| am unable to obtain complete ac-
counts of the enemy's killed and
wounded, but believe their loss to be
very heavy. The Reina Cristina alone
had $50 killed. including the captain,
and ninety wounded. | am happy to
report that the damage done the
squadron under my command was in
considerable. There were none killed
and only seven men in the squadron
very slightly wounded. = \ y Sew
eral of the vessels were struck and