The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-05-03
Dewey's Movements Caught the
Spaniards Mapping.
They Were Wholly Unprepared
For Its Suddenness.
EUROPE is STARTLED
By the Unexpected Catastrophe
at Manila.
Spain is Advised to Give Up
the Contest.

London. May 3.-The Daily Mail, in
an editorial this morning on the en-
gagement at Manila, says:
1T was, in Nelson's words, not VIC
tory. but annihilation,' and it proved
Com. Dewey a worthy disciple of the he
role Farragut. 1t is characteristic of
the American race to be generous to
the weak, and as the president is averse
to useless bloodshed, he will doubtless
meet Spain, whose honor as now saved,
in a generous spirit
The Times says, editorially:
Exultatlon over the American vic
tory is sentiment with which all
friends of the American people in Eng
land Will readily sympathize. We wish
we could also share the view of many
states as to the consequences of the
victory The idea that Spanish honor
may be satisfied by the issue of single
naval action where Spains best ships
were not engaged will not appear very
probable to those best acquainted with
Spanish character.
Unless an unforeseen CONFUSION oc-
ours in Spain, it is only too probable that
many months will elapse before effect
i've action can be taken in Cuba, the
only place where it is likely to be at,
tended with decisive results"
The Daily Telegraph says:
The Acknowledgement of the Spanish
could hardly have been carried to great
er or more amazing lengths. The en-
over before. it began. No one antici-
pated a Spanish victory, but the sud-
denness and completeness of this total
defeat took the experts by surprise
One act in the drama is over and there
seems little ground for believing that
the next will be unlike it,
The Madrid correspondent of the
Times, describing the engagement at
Manila, says:
1.-The Olympia, the Boston, the RAJ
leigh, the Petrol and the Monocacy en-
tered under a ri
by the smaller and safer Bocachica
channel. The forts of Corregidor is
truders, but they seem to have inf1ict-
ed no serious damage. The American
| squadron moved up the bay, and at 3
o'clock in the morning appeared before
CaVite. Here, lying under the shelter
of the forts, was the Spanish squadron.
Admiral MontejO, a few days before,
went to Subig bay to look after the enc
my, but learning that they were vastly
superior in force, had prudently re-
turned and placed ships under the pro-
lection of the forts. This was his only
chance of meeting the enemy on some
thing like equal terms, but it did not
suffice.
'Soon the Americans opened fire. The
Spaniards replied vigorously, and the
combat continued without interruption
for four hours, during which the Don
Antonio de Ulloa was sunk, the Castillo
and Mindanio were set on fire and the
Reina Maria Christina and the Don
Juan de Austria were seriously dam
aged. One or two of the smaller craft
were scuttled by their crews to escape
capture. Others took refuge in a small
neighboring creek emptying into Boxer
bay, where, presumably. the American
ships were unable to follow them. But
not one surrendered
The Daily Chronicle says:
The Philippines, no less than Cuba,
should be thrown to the light of toIera-
ton and civilization. 1t will be time
to discuss the proposals of the many
claimants to do the work when the
United States had been heard on the
subject"
ponderance of strength Commodore
Dewey enjoyed, he could not have ac-
complished the work without that mix
ture of dash and tactical resource which
constitute military genius. For the van
pushed we can have only feeling of
commiseration. They evinced qualities
that deserved success. Spain's best
course is to submit to the inevitable and
to purchase back the Philippines by for
mally renOuncing her title to exercise
rule in the Antilles"
The Daily News says:
"A defeat so crushing and disastrous
may well make Spanish statesmen ask
themselves whether it is worth while to
risk further misfortunes without hope
of a satisfactory result. If only for the
sake of the queen regent and her son,
the government should agree with the
adversary quickly
The Madrid correspondent of the
considerable surprise and disap-
pointment has been caused by the de-
StructiOn done by the American fleet as
it had been officially stated that the
authorities at Manila had received 60
torpedoes and heavy guns to strengthen
the coast defenses particularly the de-
lenses commanding the two channels on
the right and left of Corregidor island.
1t is notable among all classes, especial
ly among politicians, that there is
strong hope of an intervention by CONT
mental powers, especially Germany and
Russia"
The Madrid correspondent Of the
Daily Mail says:
1T is suggested here that the half
breeds at the Manila arsenals, who are
rebels at heart, cut the cables connect
ing with the submarine mines and thus
enabled Commodore Dewey to force the
harbOr in safety.
mo real bombardment will be neces-
sary to destroy Manila if the shells are
of a description to set houses on fire, the
bulk of the buildings there being of
wood or bamboo Only the public build
ings are built of stone, while the brick
built old town is incapable of resisting
artillery.
Capt Cadarzo of the cruiser Reina
Maria Christina, who was killed on the
bridge of the vessel, was one OF the
most brilliant officers in the Spanish
navy. His ship was a model of order
and efficiency. He read ana wrote a
great deal, especially with reference to
naval and colonial matters, and he was
so outspoken that he often came into
collision with the authorities
1t appears that Admiral Montejo was
taken altogether by surprise and that
the Spanis& Sauthorities generally were
in a state Of utter unreadiness. The
forts were not completed, the harbor
was not mined, there was no search
light and the American squadron was
only sighted after it had already passed
the outer and principal forts.
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