The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-07-23
THE SPANISH STORY OF MANILA.
People of the Town Terrified Upon
the Appearance of Our Ships.
From the Washington Post.

From the Washington Post
DR.. r. P. Page OF Perryville, Va, has
received a letter from his son, Assistant
Surgeon John z. Page, on the flagship
Olympia, with the Asiatic squadron, in
which a most interesting account is given
of the battle at Manila. Surgeon Page
sent a copy of the log of the Olympia of
April 80 and May ], the substance of which
has already been published and also
clipping from the Diario de Manila of May
4, in which the Spanish view of the bat
tie is given. An extract from the latter
paper, headed "A Naval Surprise" fol-
lows:
when the enemys squadron was sight
ed in perfect line of battle through the
clouds of a misty dawn on the morning of
May l, gloom and surprise were general
among the people of Manila. At last
these ships had strained their holiness to
the point of appearing on our coasts and
defying our batteries, which showed more
courage and valor than effect when they
opened fire on the squadron. Ii needs
something more than courage to make
projectiles penetrate, indeed it does.
THE inequality of our batteries when
compared with those of the squadron
which alarmed the Inhabitants of Manila
at in the morning was enough to trans
form the tranquil character of our trop-
teal temperaments. While ladies and
children, In carriages and on foot fled in
fright to seek refuge in the outlying SUI
burbs and adjacent villages around the
capital from danger multiplied by their
imaginations, every man, from the stately
parsonage to the most humble workman,
merchants and mechanics, Spaniards and
natives, soldiers and civilians, sought their
stations and put on their arms confident
that never should the enemy land in Ma
Mia unless he passed over their corpses.
Yer from the first moment the strength
of the enemy's armor and the power of
his guns demonstrated that his ships were
| invulnerable to our energies and our arm
aments. The hostile s1uadrons would
never have entered the bay had not its
surety been guaranteed by its manifest SUI
periority.
"The city walls the church towers, the
roofs of high buildings. and all high places
convenient for observation were occupied
by those who were not detained by their
military duties within the walls, on the
| bridges, or al the advanced posts. The
slightest details of the enemy's ships were
eagerly noted as they advanced toward
Cavite in a fine parallel with the beaches
of Manila, as though they had just come
out Of the Pasig river. There were no gaps
in the line, but the curious public hardly
realized the disparity between their great
guns and the pieces mounted on our forti-
hcations Some had glasses and others
We're without, but all seemed to devour
with their eyes these strangers, who, while
brave, were not called upon to show their
courage since the range of their guns and
the weakness of or batteries enabled
them to preserve their impunity while do
ing us much harm as they pleased.
"On they came at full speed in column
of battle, hearing for Cavlte with the de-
cision due to a sense of safety and firm
assurance of success. For more than an
hour the bombardment held In suspense
those whose souls followed the unequal
struggle, in which the Spanish ships went
down with their glorious banners flying
WHAT was going on in the waters of Ca
vite? From Manila we saw through glass
es the two squadrons almost mingled to-
gether in the clouds of smoke This was
not far from the triumph of our side con-
sidering the weakness Of our batteries. For
once alongside the enemy, the cry of
Bcarders awayr and the fash of cold
steel might have enabled our devoted sea-
men TO disturb the calm in which watches
and instruments were regulating and d.
recting those engines of destruction. In the
blindness of our rage how should we paint
the heroic deeds, the prowess the waves
OF vaior which burst forth from our mem
of-war? Those who fought beneath the
Spanish flag bore themselves like mon. as
chosen sons of our native land who never
measure forces, nor yield to superior force
in the hands of an enemy; who would
rather die without ships than live in ships
which have surrendered.
When the hostile squadron turned to-
ward CaVite. the crew of the steamer Isla
dc Mindanao heard the drums beating to
quarters. and answered with enthusiasm
the three rounds of cheers for the King
and for the Queen and for Spain, which
echoed along our line.
Later, until a quarter to 5, absolute
silence reigned. The idea of death was LOST
IN ardor for the fray, and every eye was
fixed on the battleflag waving at our mast
heads. In perfect and majestic order-why
should We deny this? -the nine Yankee
ships advanced in battle array. The Olym-
pia bearing The admiral's flag led the
column, followed by the other ships, steer
ing full speed toward Cavite. The Oym-
uit opened fire. and an instant reply came
from the battery on the mole which kept
on firing at tive-minute intervals, while