The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-05-06
Copyright by Associated Press.)

battle or MAMMA nave Deen received
at the British colonia office. They
came in two cable messages, received
yesterday evening, the substance of
which was furnished to the Associated
Press by the officials IF the colonial
office today.
The first dispatch announced that
the United States fleet entered Manila
harlbOr at day break yesterday, sta
tioning itself opposite the city. A fort
opened fire on the American ships,
whereupon they shifted their position
ITO one near Cavite, in Manila bay, en-
gaging in a fierce fight against both of
the forts and the Spanish fleet. The
engagement laster two hours, n re-
suited in the annihiliation of the Span
ish fleet.
n dispatch adds that the Ameri-
can ships withdrew to their magazine
vessel, in the centre of the roadstead
for the purpose of coaling. One Amer
lean vessel, the name OF which is not
mentioned, is said to have been dis
albled.
TO lombard MANILA.
Commodore Dewey requested the
British consul, E. III. RaWson-Walker,
to convey a message to the Spanish
governor general, demanding the sur
enc of all the torpedoes and guns
at Manila and the possession Of the
cable offices, saying that unless these
terms were complied with he would
proceed to lombard the city. The
first Of the cable messages ends with
the statement that the Spanish officials
x-.4I 49, p-:l
sui and the telegraph cOmpany'S agent,
and that. pending a decision to be ar
rived at, the cables were not permitted
to handle messages.
"A dispatch received by the colonial
office announced that the Spanish go
ernOr general had refused to surrender
the torpedoes, guns and cable offices,
and that he had prevented the agents
of the telegraph company from con-
ferring with Commodore Dewey. The
message ended with the statement that
the British governor OF the
str. its settlements expected that
the bombardment of Manila would be
gin on Monday morning, when the
Spaniards would cut the cable.
The first of these cable messages was
received at 9 o'clock yesterday even
ing and the second at night. They
have not yet been given to the news
papers here.
No other messages on the subject
have been received in London although
the foreign offices expected news from
the british consul at Manila. There
fore it is supposed that the eNpecta-
ton of the governor of the Straits set
Element rave been FULFILLED, ana that
the Spaniards have cut the cable.
SPANISH MINISTER'S H~ORRIFIED.
Madrid, May g. 2. p. m.-While at
n mnptinO of tho minister's diSn1ccinr
General Agusti's dispatch. rumors
reached the cabinet that the ews
paper men had received news Of the
second engagement. General Correa
and Admiral Bermejo Immediately
communicated with their departments
and found that a fresh dispatch was
being deciphered. Premier Sagasta
ordered the dispatch to be brought to
the council for deciphering. The con-
fused wording of the message showed
the state of mind of the sender, Ad-
miral Montejo, but finally it's contents
Were e~lucidateE and demonstrated, to
the ministers horror, the complete de-
struction of the Spanish squadron.
General Correa and Admira Bermejo
went straight to the queen regent, who
was terribly distressed.
Madrid was not excited this morn
ing, but sad faces were to be seen ev-
erywhere.
Captain Cadarso, of the Spanish
cruiser Reina Maria Christina, who
was killed, and whose vessel was
among those destroyed, belonged to a
Madrid family who are proud of the
circumstances of his death.
The newspapers censure the street
demonstration mad last evening
against the cabinet and in of
General Weyler. A crowd of people
gathered before General Weyler's resi-
1onoo ohoarinO for tho fnf fI,ar bantam
general of Cuba, n another crowd
assembled before the house of Premier
Sagasta and hooted him. The project
ordered the crowds to be dispersed.
Several arrests were made
EXCITEMENT IN LONDON.
London, May I'm the house Of par
Lament, at the hotels, which are be-
ginning to be full of American tour
lists, at all the government offices and
particularly at the admiralty, the bril-
liant defeat os~tbe Spanish fleet by the
Asiatic fleet of tfe United States at
the battle of Manila was the n sub
ject talked of throughout the day.
The United States embassy was the
centre of interest for all London There
was a continuous line of callers re-
.Questing information, the majority be-
ing Americans.
The United States ambassador, Col
onel John Hay, is overjoyed at this
demonstration of the prowess of the
American navy, remarking,, concern
ing Commodore Dewey. who is a per-
sonal friend of the ambassador: 1T
is hard to imagine so quiet and amiabie
a gentleman controlling a fers naval
battle. 1t is these quiet, gentlemanly
Americans, however, who may be de-
pended upon to surprise the world
when the opportunity of making his
tory in the line of duty"
Lieutenant Colwell, the United States
naval attachee, declared the result
was merely what he expected.
The hotel bulletins are surrounded
with enthusiastic Americans, many of
them displaying miniature flags at
their button holes.
Many British naval officers have ex-
pressed the warmest admiration for the
A-oa~saon acct To- fa4t