Daily capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1896-1899, 1898-05-03
Details Of Dewey's Battle.

NEW 1ORh. May IA 0lspaJcH 70
the Herald from London says:
The Asiatic squadron Of the United
States, Commodore Dewey command
ing, on Sunday engaged and COM
pletely defeated the Asiatic squadron
Of Spain 10 the hOrbor Of Manila, in
the Philippine islands. All the news
Of the great naval battle thus far is
coming from Spanish sources. This
sho as coDcIusively that Manila has
not yet been taken by the 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
American warships Jared the best,
there is hardly any doubt that when
complete details are obtained II will
be learned that IL was a crushing de-
feat for Spain
Reports OF the battle thus far are
coming in piecemeal. During the two
engagements that took place, COmmO-
dore Montejo, commanding the Span
ish feet, lost three of his largest
ships. His flagship, the steel cruiser
Reina Christina and the armUred
cruiser Castillo were burned, and the
Don Juan de Austria were blown up.
Several other vessels were badly dam
aged. One report adds that several
other ships we're 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 DarzO,
commanding the Reina Christina,
was killed. Commodore MOnteio,
commanding the feet, shifted his
| flag from the Reiua Christina TO the
Isle de Cuba, much smaller steel
protected cruiser, just before the
Christina sank.
The blowing up the Don Juan de
Austria was attended by great loss
Of life among the crew, her COM
mander also being killed.
Comomdore Dewey's squadron, leav-
ing Subig bay, few miles from Man
lila, about 4 O'Clock yesterday after
noon, proceeded toward Manila. Un.
der cover Of darkness he entered the
harbor OF Manila, the batteries loca-
ted there announcing his arrival.
Both fleets lined up for battle about
daybreak-about o'clock this morn
ing. The guns Of the American war
ships began firing on the fortress Of
Cavite and the arsenal of Manila.
Under the protection Of the guns OF
these forts the Spanish waFships
opened fire on the American feet
For several hours the harbOr re-
sounded with the roar OF guns, the
crashing of steel and timbers, the
shrieks and groans OF the wounded
Thick clouds OF smoke at times al
most obscured the opposing fleet!
from each other.
A we'll directed shoC reached the
iron cruiser Don Juan de Austria,
vessel OF 100 tons. A terrific eXplo-
sion followed and the ship was blown
up.
All the time during the first en-
gagement the American ships wer,
under way. their maneuvering beinl
intended 10 render the markmanshll
OF the Spanish gunners less effective
The American squadron, about
O'Clock, drew of to the west side o
the bay and took refuge behind som,
foreign shipping. The ships had evi
IDENTIFY suffered considerable damage
After some hasty repairs they re
turned to the conflict,
During this engagement the gun
or Cavite maintained steady ant
stronger fire upon Commodore Dew
ey's ships than in the first encounter
but the American guns were beinI
used with telling effect. AS tn
smoke lifted IL was seen that tn
flagship Reina Christina was on fire
The vessel was completely burned,
In the interval between the tw
engagements Commodore Montej
mOyed his flag from the Christiana I
the smaller cruiser Isle de Cuba. II
the fact that he made this chang
ne doubtless owes his life.
The cruiser Castillo, next TO Tn
, flagship the largest and most power
eIful OF the Spanish squadron, wa
also burned. The cruiser Don An
tonia de Ulloa and the MendanO wer
badly damaged Ia this latter eu
counter.
That the American squadron re
ceived severe damage in the engage
ment cannot be doubted. Early re
ports had il that five OF CommOdor
| Dewey's ships had been sunk. Late
adYices from Madrid put the numbe
at two. There were undoubtedly
heavy losses la men on both sides
One apparently trustworty source say
the SpaniaIds had 500 killed and 70
wounded. Trusty details OF tn,
American loss or life will hardly b'
obtainable until Commodore DeweI
has taken Manila or has sent q vesse
with dispatches TO Hong Kong.