The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-12-22

der to sink and abandon the ship before
the magazines should explode"
The story of the loss of the Castillo was
substantially the story of the loss OF all
the other Spanish ships and Admiral Mon
tito sums up his action with this state
meut:
MOntijO Sums 1t Up.
''The inefflciency of the vessels which
composed my little squadron, the lack of
all classes of the personnel, especially
master gunners and seameu gunners; the
inaptitude of some of the provisional ma
chinists, the scarcity of rapid fire cannon,
the strong crews of the enemy, and The
unprotected character Of the greater part
of our vessels, all contributed to make
much more decided the sacrifice which we
made for our country and to prevent pos
sibility of the horrors of a bombardment
of the city of Manila, with the conviction
that with the scarcity OF our force against
the superior enemy, we We're going TO
certain death, and could expect a loss of
all our ships. Our casualties, including
those of the arsenal amounted TO 3Sl men
killed and wounded"
Apparently the first suggestion of the
organization of the flying squadron which
was to divert Admiral Camara's squad
ron from its voyage to Manila came from
says
In my judgment, If the coast of Spain
was threatened, the squadron OF the
enemy Will have to return
And that was exactly what happened
A month later the admiral pays nigh
compliment to the British consul at Ma
Mia, Mr. Rawson Walker, who for three
months, had been discharging the duties
of United States consul in Manila and
rendering the admiral great assistance.
Importance of the Philippines.
The admiral's estimate of the import
ance of The Philippine Islands is set out
in the following telegram sent in answer
to an inquiry on the subject from the
government:
Manila, Aug. %. 1S98.-Secretary Of the
Navy, Washington: Referring to the de-
partments telegram of Aug. 13, import
ant islands are: Colon, Luzon, Panay,
Cebu, Negros Leyte. Others, owing to the
nature of the inhabitants, have small
amount of civilization, and want or
cultivation. They may be neglected, es-
pecially isles of southern group. Luzon
is in all respects the most desirable TO
retain. Contains most important CONNER
cial ports. Manila is farther north. Pro-
duces all of the good tobacco. Friendly ma
tives. Civilization somewhat advanced.
Not yet developed, possibly rich minerals.
Population S25, 900. Subig Bay best harbor
for coaling purposes and military. Water
deep; landlocked; easily defended. Stra-
tegically, command of bay and city OF
Manila with arsenal at Cavite, most valu-
able. Panay. Cebu, Negros thickly popu-
lated most civilized, and well cultivated.
Iloilo second commercial port; center of
sugar trade; a good harbor strategcally;
in view of the situation. good for defense.
Cebu third commercial port; good mar
bor very desirable. No coal of good quail
ity can be procured In Philippine Islands.
Some has been mined on Cebu, English
company. l trust It may not be necessary
TO order me to Washington. Should re-
gret very much to leave here while mat
ters remain in present critical condition.
(Signed) Dewey"
Planned an Attack on Havana.
Very naturally the report of the opera
tions of the North Atlantic feet com
prises the larger part of the printed body
Most of the facts have already appeared
but in the very beginning there Is most
interesting exchange of letters between
Secretary Long and AdmiraI Sampson
showing that even before.the outbreak OF
the war the admiral had worked out a
complete plan for the immediate reduction
of Havana with his own squadron, un-
supported, ana was ohAy prevented IiOiil
carrying out that plan by orders from
the department which wished to protect
the big lronclads.
An unpublished report up to this time
is one by Admiral Schfey dated June
/, giving an account of the bombardmeni
by his fleet of the Notifications of San
tago the day before Sampson arrived on
the scene. The admiral says in part:
None of our vessels were struck, al
though the shots fell over and around
them. l have learned from insurgent
sources that the Reina Mercedes was
struck by a shell and eight men Were
killed; also that number Of shots struck
the Moro. The reconnaissance devei-
oped the fact that the Spanish vessels are
in the harbor, and that the foruhcatlons
are well provided with long-range guns
of large caliber."
HITCHCOCK SUCCEEDS BLISS.