The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1898-06-14

Cavlte, May 4. 1885, o &c
The squadron left
Mrs bay on April 81
arrived off Boinao on the morning of April
80, and finding no vessels there. proceeded
down the coast and arrived off the entrance
TO Manila Bay on the same afternoon. The
Boston and Concord were sent to recon-
noiter A thorough search of the port was
made by the Boston and the Concord, but
the Spanish fleet was not found. j.. . :.
Entered south channel at 1890 pm, steam
Ing in column at knots After half the
squadron had passed battery on the south
side OF the channel opened fire, none of the
shots taking effect The Boston and Nc
Culloch returned the fire. The squadron
proceeded across the bay at slow speed and
arrived off Manila at daybreak and was
fired upon at Sis a. m. by three batteries at
Manila and two near Cavite and by the
spanish fleet anchored, In an approximately
east and west line across the mouth of Ba-
kor Bay with their left In shoal water in
Canacac Bay. The squadron then pro-
ceeded to the attack. The flagship Olym-
pia, under my personal direction leading,
followed at distance by the Baltimore,
Raleigh, Petrol, Concord ard Boston,
IN the order named, which forma-
ton was maintained throughout the &C.
tlon The squadron opened fire at
bal a. m. While advancing to the attack
TWO mines were exploded ahead of the
flagship. too far to be effective The
squadron maintained a continuous and pre-
else fire, at ranges varying from 5000 10
1000 yards. countermarching in a line ap-
proximately parallel to that of the Span
tSh fleet. The enemy's fire was viuorouS
out seheiaiiy lhe1ective. Early in the en-
'"o iauiches put out toward
tne olympia with the apparent intention
e .o,peuoes' one was sunk and the
other oisapieo py our hre and beached be-
lote an opportunity occurred to fire tor
peooes. AT Z a. m. the Spanish flagship,
I'eiiia ohiis''iia' mace desperate attempt
10 ieaVe tne line and come out to engage
at snort range put was received with such
gaining hre' the entire battery of the Olym-
pa oeihe concentrated upon her. that
she was barely able to return to the shell
Ter Oh the point. Fires started in her by our
ene,, a. Inns 'iine were not extinguished
49, ono S"iih'
Inc three batteries at Manila had kept
up coi'tihuous report from the beginning
OF 'he engagement which fire was not re-
turned by the squadron.
Inc hrst Oh these batteries was situated
on the south mole head, at the entrance to
the Fasig river. The second. the south bas-
.ioii OF the Wailed city of Manila, and the
tniro at Malate' ABOUT one-half mile fur
ther south. Al This point sent message
10 the 1oVerhor-General to the effect that
II the batteries Ga not cease firing the city
would De sheiled. Ihis had the effect Of
shehclns them. AL f:5o am. ceased firing
ana Withdrew the squadron for breakfast.
Al LILO ain. returned to the attack. BY
this 'lme the spanish hagship and almost
the entire spanish Heet were on fire. AT
lz'oV Pm inc squadron ceased firing, the
batteries were silenced and the ships being
SUNK burned ana deserted. AT 12:45 the
squadron returned and anchored off Man.
lia' the fetrei oeing left behind to complete
the destruction OF the smaller guns which
were pehlnd the point OF Cavite. This duty
was performed oy commander e. T. Wood
III the most eNpeultlous ana complete man.
her possiole'
The Spanish lost the following vessels:
Sunk-Reina Christina, Castillo, Don An
tonic da Ulloa
Burned-Don Juan de Austria, Isla de Lu-
zon, lsla de Cuba, General Leo, Marquis
del Duero, El Correo, Valesco and Isla de
Mundane dransporo.
Captured-Raphido and Hercules (tugs)
and several small launches.
am unable to obtain complete accounts
of the enemy's killed and wounded. but be-
lieve their losses to be very heavy. The
Reina Christina alone had $50 killed, in
Guiding the captain, and 80 wounded. am
happy to report that the damage done to
the squadron under my command was In
considerable. There were none killed and
only seven men in the squadron very
Slightly wounded.
Several of the vessels were struck and
even penetrated, but the damage was of
the slightest and the squadron is in as