Middletown transcript., 1898-05-07
FIRST NAVAL ENGAGEMENT.

4H6 ASihttC eQu&uEOulIly COmudtiu OL
Commodore Dewey. early Sunday morn
ing engaged the Spanish feet under
Admiral Monteio in the bay OF Manila,
the stronghold of the Spanish in the
PHILIPPINE Islands. There were two fierce
engagements between the opposing
warships. Spain's naval force being as
sisted by the forts Of Cavite.
The only information of the battle
obtainable has been through Spanish
sources, as they control the cable at
Manila. The official dispatches, how
ever, Of the Spanish governor Of the
Philippines to the government at Mad
rid plainly show that Admiral Montejo
was completely defeated, and nearly all
his warships burned, blown up or sunk.
The loss on the Spanish side bo.h in
men and ships was enormous. The ex
tent of casualties on the American
ships is not definitely known, but it is
not believed to have been very great,
for the reason that the Spanish authori-
ties, though notorious for their prevari-
cation and distortion Of facts, do not
report any of the American vessels as
destroyed or seriously damaged.
They do admit, ho wever, that their
ships the Maria Christina and the
Castillo were burned, the Don Juan de
Austria blown up, and other vessels
sunk to prevent them being captured
by Commodore Dewey.
The ships engaged in the battle OH
both sides were: Amer ,can-Cruisers
Olympia Flagship of Commodore
Dewey.) Baltimore, Boston, Raleigh,
Concord and Petrol; revenue cutter
McCulloch. Spanish-Cruisers Rein q
Maria Christina Flagship Of Admiral
Montejo), Castillo, Velasco D1n An
tonic de UlIoa aud D1n Juan d. Aus
tria; gunboats General Lezo Ell Cano,
Isla de Cuba, Isla de Luzon and Isla
de Mindirao.
When the battle was hottest, and the
shells from the American guns had
nearly annihilated aud set fire to Ad-
miral Montejo's flagship, he was COM
PEELED to leave the burning ship, and
his flag was transferred to the gunboat
Isla de Cuba.
The first shot was fred from the
Spanish feet The Reina Christiana
challenged the Olympia-Admiral
against Admiral. 1t was terrible
duel. But the craftsmanship of the
American gunners triumphed. A great
prejectile ploughed through the side of
the Spanish flagship. She caught fire
about the same time. The Admiral
was forced to transfer his flag to the
Isle de Cuba. As he was preparing to
do so Captain Cardarso was shot down
by his side.
The American ships fought both the
forts and the Spanish feet. This
about equalized the strength. For hours
the bay was hell Of smoke and deadly
projectiles and sinking ships. The har-
Dor resounded with crashing steel, the
shrieks Of shot and the groans of the
dying. At times smoke blotted the
ships out from one another. The firing
never ceased. 1t was just one long
roar, punctuated with the bigger bonn
Of the great guns and the cracking Of
the rapid-fire guns.
The Don Juan de Austria was de-
stroyed by one shot. One second she
was fighting, the next the timber and
steel that made her and the men that
manned her were blown into the air.
A shot, by what cool eye aimed 10 one
knows, pierced the magazine of the
Don Juan de Austria. It was like d
retribution for the Maine. The de-
struetion was as complete and awful.
The American ships kept under way
all during ths fight. Tais manls
ing made the Workmanship Of tie Span
ish gunners less effective. About nine
O'Clock the American squadron drew
off to the west side of the bay to land
their wounded. according to the Span
ish reports. Other advices indicate
that the American squadron retired
because the Spanish ships had been de-
stroyed or completely crippled,
The Americans, according to private
advices, were landing their wounded
on the west side Of the bay when they
we're fred upon again. Admiral
Dewey at once gave orders to return to
the attack. Havirg made hasty repairs
the American ships returned to the at
tack with mora determination thar
ever.
In the last engagement the Spanish
warships Murdanao and Don Antonio
de Ulloa suffered heavily from the
American fire. Well placed shots fin
ally made them helpless.
The forts at Cavi:e, ten miles to the
southwest Of Manila, took an active
part in both engagements. and a. cord.
ing to Spanish report, the firing was
most effective during the second en-
gagement.
But, strangely enough. the report
fails TO give in detail an account Of the
damage done, and for which theexcited
populace at Madrid is greediIy waiting.
Soon after The second engagement be-
gan the big wooden cruiser Castillo
caught fire. While the blaze spread
The shot from The American ships tore
her to pieces. She sank slowly. The
firing continued, and for fear shot
might cause her magazine to explode
the ship was scutled. As she settled
rapidly the crew made for the shore in
their boats or upon pieces of broken
spars. Many sailors, mortally wound
ed, jumped into the harbor. sinking
after few desperate strokes.
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