Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1898-06-16


Vancouver, Il. c., June 9.-Mail
advices bruught from Hong Kong by
the steamer Empress OF japan, yester-
day, are full OF interesting details OF
the hattie of Manila. Ono report. COM
menting on Dewey's well timed arrival
a8ys: E.-.
The great victory OF the United
States Asiatic squadron ia, of course.
due in measure 10 the splendid
Workmanship of the American gun.
ners, hut more particularly to tho tact
and strategy OF Commodore Dewey 10
command of the fleet. Late on Sntur-
day night April Both, his ships
entered tho channel Leading TO Manila
Bay The American squadron procselied
in a line TO the naval station at Cavito,
and there found the Spanish fleet lying
in four or five iathoms of water. Tho
Spaniards were drawn up in line, the
wooden hulk Castillo being muored
fore and aft.
This was the strongest possible po-
aiton the ileut cnulu have occupied in
tbs hay. They were supported by the
forts at Cavito and the very shallow
water under CRyito rendered il im-
possible for the American ships to
approach them closely. AT a ranRe of
| G.000 yards ths Spanish ships and
forts opeEcd fire on the United States
fleet, but the shells fell far out OF
range OF our boats. The United States
fleet drew slowly nearer to the Spanish
squadron, undeterred by the tremendous
| fire Of the Spanards When the ranga
bad been lessened from COCO to 1000
yards, the ilagship Olympia opsned
4 10 lQa1Ai.nnra nth
ships filed past they maintained
| atsady firs from theii inch and inch
guns. This American ships mAnpuvred
in line and sent hrbadsids after broad1
side into the Spanish fleet. About $50
o'clock, tina fire from the SpHniatua
| having been very considerably quieted,
tho order was hoiRtel to stop firing.
| From abopt $50 O'Clock the previous
evening till then, the men had hcen on
duty at the guns ami had received no
refreshment hut the Guns Of coffee.
AT IL O'Clock the American feet re-
newed the attack, ami in about an
hour and half white ensIgn was
hoisied at Cavite. The lighter draught
vessels of tho American fleet and
large number of captured tngbnats and
launches steamed into CHvite harbor
shortly after the surrendor, and the
wounded men, who we're leIt behind in
chips, and others picked up out Of tho
water, were conveyed to the hospitals
at Cayitv and also to Manila city.
The Spanish had taken away most of
their dead and buried some Of them,
but next day willis parties were search-
ing around the naval arsenal al Carite,
their attention was drawn by tho dread
full stencil to large heap of purifying
| nj s.h anh haI hg,N
ribly manglea by American shells.
, Notwithstanding the VIGOROUSLY had
i gunnery Of the Spanish, thore must
! havr been many shots in the vigorous
cannonade which got pretty nuRr their
j mark, and many stories are told regard
! ing the number of shells that struck
the different vessels The aim of the
, Spaniards' smaller guns was moi
: within range than the gunn OF heavier
/ cRihre. Tho flagship Olympia was
0 pierced by numerous seven pound shots.
Had the firing of thv big guns hem MS
: accurate as that of the United StRtes
4 ships, which arc not armored vessels,
Q they would havo Jared rather bndly.
I After the cessation Of hostilitIad the
o Baltimore and Raeigh sailed down the
4 channel between COrregador lay and
4 the mainland, aud the officers we're
y afterwards told that tina Spaniards in
tho forts, which had ceased to modest
o the Americana bad been holding up
[, their hands in horror and fear Of the
d result. If the channel had been
i mined" said ono of the officers, III
I bad not heen mined by experts = Very
Q little damage was done to tho American
q fleet. -Four Or five shots struck the
3 Baltimore and some OF them had taken
q very cratic COURSES.
Tho captain Of thu British ship
Esmerada. when in Hong Kong on
. May 18th, ridiculed the idea that he
i pinted the American fleet into Manila
o Bay AS matter of fact, he aain.
0 the Americans needed no one to show
them the way into the bay, il was all
plain sailing for them. -