The herald., 1898-05-08
ARRIVES AT HONG KONK WITH
DISPATCHES
SPAIN'S FLEET WELL HANDLED
But American Guns Fired by American
Gunners Proved Their Unques-
tionable Supremacy


HONG KONG, May 7.-Commodore
Dewey's flag lieutenant. Thomas M.
Brumby, arrived at Hong Kong this morn
ing on the United States revenue cutter
Hugh McCulloch, with the first official
news Of the great naval battle Of modern
times that Of Manila harbor.
The official dispatches were at once for
warded by cable to the United States gov
ernment at Washington.
The first connected story of the engage
ment was told by the officers Of the Nc
Culloch, who saw it and participated in it.
They said that Spain's fleet of ten vessels
was wholly destroyed.
The Reina Maria Christina, flagship of
the Spanish squadron. was the center of
attack at the beginning of the action, and
under the hot fire poured in on her from
the American ships she was soon burning
from stem to stern.
Montijo. the Spanish admiral, was COM
PEELED to escape in a small boat to tho
Isla de Cuba, another of the Spanish ves-
sells. and as soon as his flag was hoisted,
the guns Of the American fleet were turned
on 1t. and in a few minutes 1t was des-
troyed.
The admiral was again forced to escape
in a small boat The defenses Of Manila
andits batteries, as we'll as those at Cavite,
were silenced and beaten to the ground
by the rain of shot and shell.
During Saturday night the vessels of the
American squadron crept inside the bay
through supposed maze of mines and
torpedoes. They were not observed by
any of the watchers on the Spanish garri-
sons until some stray sparks were emitted
from the funnel of the dispatch boat, Hugh
McCuiioch. A few shots were exchanged
with the garrison on Corregidor island,
but owing to the darkness they were in
effective.
There was no patrol established, nor
were any searchlights placed at the en-
trance to Manila bay.
The vessels Of the American squadron
never stopped or slowed down until they
had assumed position in circle opposite
the city of Manila. This was just at day.
break.
The order of battle assumed by the Span
lsh fleet at the beginning of the engagement
was with all the small craft inside Cavite
harbor, which is protected by stone ana
timber breakwa ters, and the larger ships
maneuvcring off Cavite and Manila.
The American battle line was led by the
flagship Olympia and the cruiser Raleigh.
The Boston, Baltimore, Concord and Petrol
and the revnue cutter McCulloch followed.
The American fleet in easy speed ap-
preached the Spanish ships, which were
drawn up in two lines the Reina Maria
Christina, the flagship, in the center.
As the dawn broke and the position Of
the American squadron was discovered, the
Spanish fleet Immediately opened freNsup-
ported by the Cavite forts. The Spanibh
fired the first shot. The challenge was
given by the Reina Maria Christina.
The Olympia replied, and at once the
entire American fleet was in action. The
Spanish ships did not hesitate in their
fire and the Cavite batteries let loose their
heavy guns. The best gunners in the
American feet manned the most destruc.
tive weapons on their ships and the havoc
wrought was frightful. The engagement
soon became general. The McColloch re-.
mained at some distance from the brun.
of the encounter, and the enemys shells
passed, but they did not touch her. The
Workmanship Of the Spanish gunners
seemed to be wild from the outset.
The American cruiser Baltimore at one
period of the engagement received the
brunt of the enemy's fire, and suffered the
most Of any vessel in the American squad
ron. From five to ten of the enemy's shots
tCokseffect on the Baltimore, but none of
Her officers or crew were seriously hurt.
As soon as the Spanish admiral left the
Maria Christina and boarded the Isla de
Cuba the fire was directed at the latter,
every eight-inch gun on every ship joining
those on the flagship. The Isla de Cuba
was riddled by the deadly craftsmanship
of the American gunners. After a few
rounds she was put out of action, and be-
fore Admiral Montiio had had time to get
his bearings he was driven out second
time. Again he escaped in small boat,
but the fight was practically over.
The Spanish cruiser Castillo burst into
danes. caused by the remarkable gum