The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1898-05-13
CRUSHING DEFEAT FOR THE
SPANISH FLEET.
BATTLE OF MANILA WON.
Three Spanish Cruisers, Including Ad-
mirai Montejo's Flagship Reina Maria
Christiana, Destroyed - Other
Ships Forced to Retire-some
Were Sunk to Prevent
Their Surrender.

| States, Commodore Dewey command
ing, Sunday engaged and completely
defeated the Asiatic squadron of Spain
in the harbor of Manila in the Philip.
pine islands.
"All the news of the great naval
battle thus far is coming from Span
ish sources. This shows conclusively
that Manila has not yet been taken by
tho American forces and that the cable
lines are still under the control OF
Spain.
From the fact that even the ad-
vices received from Madrid show that
the American warships Jared the best,
there is hardly any doubt that when
complete details are obtainable it will
be learned that it was crushing de-
feat for Spain. Reports of the battle
thus far are coming in piecemeaL
puring the two engagements that
took place Commodore Montejo, COM
manding the Spanish fleet, lost three
of his largest ships. His flag ship,
the steel cruiser, Reina Christina, and
the armored cruiser Castillo were
burned, and the cruiser Don Juan de
Austria was blown up Several other
Spanish vessels were badly damaged.
zone report adds that several other
Spanish ships were sunk by their COM
manders to prevent their falling into
the hands of the Americans.
'There was a heavy loss of life
among the Spanish. Captain Darso,
commanding the Reina Christina, was
killed. Commodore Montejo, COM
manding the fleet, shifted his flag
from the Reina Christina to the Isla
de Cuba, a much smaller steel pro-
tected cruiser, just before the Chris
Una sank The blowing up of the
Don Juan de Austria was attended by
a great loss of life among the crew,
her commander also being killed.
Madrid advices received in Paris say
400 Spanards were killed.
Commodore Dewey's squadron,
leaving Subig's bay, few miles from
Manila, about 4 o'clock Saturday
afternoon, proceeded toward Manila.
under the cover of darkness he enter
ed the harbor of Manila.) The bat
teries located there announced the
American fleets arrival.
Both fleets lined up for battle at
day break about o'clock-Sunday
morning. The guns of the American
warships began firing on the fortress
of Cavite and the arsenal of Manila.
"Under the protection of the guns
of these Notifications the Spanish
warships opened fire ON the American
fleet
For several hours the harbor re-
sounded with the roar of guns the
crashing of steel and timbers and the
shrieks and groans of the wounded
"Thick clouds of smoke at times al
most obscured the opposing fleets
from each other.
"A we'll directed shot reached the
Iron cruiser Don Juan de Austria, a
vessel of 1, 100 tons A terrific explo-
sion followed and the ship was blown
up.
"All the time during the first en-
gagement the American ships were
under way, their maneuvering being
intended to render the craftsmanship
of the Spanish gunners less effective.
1.-THE American squadron about 9
o'clock drew off to the west side of the
bay and took refuge behind some OF
the foreign shipping. The ships had
evidently suffe red considera bic dam
age. After some hasty repairs they
returned to the conflict.
During this engagement the guns
of Cavite maintained steadier and
stronger fire upon Commodore Dewey's
ships than in the first encounter, but
the American guns were being used
with telling effect.
"As the smoke lifted it was seen
that the flagship Reina Christina was
on fire. The vessel was completely
burned. In the interval between the
two engagements Commodore Montejc
moved his flag from the Rena Chris
tina to the smaller cruiser Isla dc
Cuba. To the fact that he made this
change he doubtless owes his life.
1.-The cruiser Castillo, next to the
flagship the largest and most power
full of the Spanish squadron, was also
burned The cruiser Don Antonio dc
Ulloa and the Mindanao were also
badly damaged in this encounter.
THAT the American squadron re
ceived severe damage in the engage
ment cannot be doubted. Early re
ports had it that five of Commodore
Dewey's ships had been sunk. Later
advices from Madrid put the number
at two.
''There were undoubtedly heavy
losses in men on both sides. One ap
parently trustworthy report state!
that the Spanish had 200 killed ant
400 wounded
Trustworthy details of the Amer
lean loss of life will hardly be obtain
able until Commodore Dewey ha
taken Manila or has sent vessel with
dispatches to Hong Kong"