The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-12-22
LEADS ALL NORTH GAR0lAA DAllES 1M NEWS AND GlRGy a0M

completely the steering gear; another de-
stroyed the mizzen. bringing down my
flag and ensign. another shell exploded
on the poop and put out of action nine
men. A fresh shell exploded in the
officers cabin, covering the hospital
with blood. destroying the wounded who
We're being treated there. Another eX-
ploded in the ammunition room. I had
to flood the magazines when the car
tridges began to explode; one large shell
penetrated the fire room, putting out Of
action one master gunner and twelve
men serving the guns. Another rendered
useless the starboard bow gun and while
the lire increased astern another ire
started forward from another shell. The
broadside guns continued firing until
there were only one gun and one seaman
remaining unhurt for serving them. The
ship being out of control. the hull,
smokepipe and mast riddled with shot;
half of the crew out of action. among
whom were seven officers. I gave the
order to sink and abandon the ship be-
fore the magazines should explode
The story of the loss of the Castillo
was subsequently the story of the loss
of all the other Spanish ships and Admi
raj Montijo sums up his action with
this statement:
The nefiiciency of the vessels which
composed my little squadron, the lack of
all classes of~the personnel. especially
master gunners and seamen gunners; the
inaptitude of some of the Provisional
machinists, the scarcity of rapid fire can
a. nf{ {I,n
the unprotected character of the greater
part of our vessel all contributed to make
much more decided the sacrifice which
We made for our country and to pre-
vent the possibility of the horrors of
bombardment Of the city of Manila,
with the conviction that with the
scarcity'Of our force against the superior
enemy, we were going TO certain death
and could expect n loss of all our ships.
Our casualties including those of the
arsenal amounted to 3S1 men killed and
wounded
Apparently the first suggestion of the
organization of the Flying Squadron
which was to divert Admiral Camara
squadron from its voyage to Manila
came from Dewey. for in Il dispatch Of
June 9th. he says:
''In my judgment, If the coast of Spain
was threatened the squadron of the enc
my viii have to return"
And that was exactly what happened.
A month later the Admiral pays a high
compliment to the British Consul al
Manila, Mr.. Rawson Walker, who for
three months had been dscharging the
duties Of United States Consul in Manila
and rendering the Admiral great assist
ance.
The Afmiral's estimate Of the impor
tance of the Philippine Islands is set
out in the following telegram sent in
answer-to an inquiry on the subject from
the Government:
Manila, August Goth. 1898.
Secretary of the Navy, Washington,
ID. G.
Referring TO the departments tele-
gram of August 18th. important islands
are: Colon, Luzon. Panay, Cebu, Ne
gros, Leyte. Others. owing to the ma
ture of the inhabitants have a mall
amount of civilization, want of cultiva
ton. They may be neglected, especially
Isles of Southern Group. Luzon is in all
respects the most desirable TO retain
Contains most important commercial
ports. Manila is farthest north. Pro
duces all of the good tobacco. Friendly
natives. Civilization somewhat advanced.
Not yet developed. Possible ricn nine
rails. Population S25000. Subig BAY
best harbor for coaling purposes and
military. Water deep: laniing easily
defended StrateSic.tlly, command OF
bay and city of Manila, with arsenal a;
Cavite, most valuable. Panay, Cebu,
Negros thickly populated, mosr civilized,
Iloilo second comme"c III port: centre of
sugar trade; a good harbor strategically,
i'll view of the situation, o0l for de
fense Cebu third commercial port, n
good harbOr. very desirable. No coal of
good quality can br procured in i. ilip
pine Islands. Some has neen mined on
Cebu, English company trlst it may
ret be necessary 70 orlcr me to Wash
ington. Should regret very much 10
leave here while matters remain in pres
ent critical con litic1.
(Signedl DEWEY"