Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1898-05-19
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The Battle Of Manila. g
One of the Greatest Naval Battles of 5
? Modern Times. g
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course known to the Yankee fleet. 1t
was 0 0 apparent, however. that two
more Spanish cruisers were close at
hand and there was other shipping, not
clearly distinguished, near by.
IL was plain that the Spanish adj
miral was taken entirely by surprise.
His fleet was ready, but he did not ex-
pect the Americans to enter the bay.
Admiral Montejo had fully expected
the American feet to remain in the
vicinity OF Subig bay and that he would
have to go out to the open water to
meet it. He thought Commodore Dew
ey would try to force an entrance past
the batteries Of Subig bay and make a
landing there and the governor general
had a force of $500 men there to pre-
vent a junction between the insurgents
and the Americans. That the latter
would have the temerity to enter the
m~ine-sowed bay and give him battle
in front of Manila never entered his
head.
With the rapidity for which he is
noted Admiral Montejo formed his line.
II is not known yet what his exact for
nation a 1t is a mistake, however.
to say that the Castillo was part OF the
formation. That cruiser ran aground
Friday morning and could not be dis
lodged. She was therefore ~improvlsed
as part Of the land batteries. although
a good portion Of her armament, COM
prising the movable guns, was remov-
ed to shore Saturday. Later she was
riddled with American shells, some of
which set her on fire, and she burned
nearly to the waters edge.
The American fleet forced the fight
ing from the first. Captain Wildes Of
the Boston was ordered to run out
ahead and his ship had the honor Of
firing the first shot. The effect was
not noticed, for the battle began almost
Immediately afterward on both sides,
the fire OF the Spanish fleet being aug
mented by that Of the Cavite batteries.
Under orders the American boats de-
ployed to the right and left until or
dered back for the formation and ad-
vance which finally destroyed the
Spanish feet. Admiral Montejo direct
ed the movement of his fleet from the
deck of the Reina Maria Christina dur
ing the early part OF the fight, and
Commodore Dewey never left the
Olympia until 1t was all over.
The Boston and Baltimore were In
advance Of the American line and the
roar of their guns was incessant. But
presently the commodore's flagship
came UP as though envious of the part
the others were playing. Her main
battery of eight-inch u n was soon
laundering away, while the cannon of
the Concord and Raleigh were making
1t interesting for the remainder OF the
Spanish boats. The Petrol was not
idle, nor was the McCulloch. which
lodged In and out among the feet,
doing it's work of dispatch boat. The
noise OF the bombardment was deafen-
ing on both sides, and the firing, con
sidering the dense smoke which soon
other, was well nigh continuous, al
though every shot was intended TO
count. The noise was plainly heard at
Manila. each shot being easily noted.
although. of course. the result was not
known.
Suddenly a Spanish ship, which
proved afterward to be the Don Juan
de Austria, raj down the Spanish line
under a mistaken signal from the ad-
miral. It was struck at least three
times by the American shells, one OF
which was plainly seen to hit N of it's
guns. disabling 1t. 1t fired as 1t went,
but a shot from IN eight-pounder on
the Olympia struck the Spanish boat
near the waterline. Watchers saw the
Don Juan CULVER as a horse does when
shot In battle. Then in a sudden ces-
sation of firing on both sides, which
seemed almost for the purpose of
watching what followed, the Spanish
cruiser exploded with a noise which
made all the cannonading that had
gone before sound like the popping of