Connecticut western news., 1898-05-12

Aay 1ls-AIIlOIlB ldNdi hiShf military men and civilians. Europeans and natives here there Is only one topic of discussion-the brilliant, dashing. an- initiating victory of the American fleet under Commodore Dewey over the Spanish fleet commanded by Admiral Montojo in Manila bay on Sunday, May 1.
 Owing to the fact that the cable be- tween this port and the Philippine is- lands was not in working order. having been cut, it is said, some distance from the capital of the islands. there has been delay in obtaining a detailed ac- count of the battle and facts in the case were only available when the United States gunboat Hugh McCulloch arriv- ed here Saturday, and even then the tremendous pressure of business sud denly thrown upon the cable company necessarily made the earlier accounts of the engagement brief and fragmen- tary.
 Commodore Deweys orders were to capture or destroy the Spanish fleet, and never were instructions executed in so complete a fashion. At the end of seven hours there was absolutely nothing left of the Spanish fleet but a few relics.
 The American commander had most skillfully arranged every detail of the action, and even the apparently most insignificant features were carried out with perfect punctuality and railroad time table order
 At the end of the action Commodore Dewey anchored his fleet in the bay be- fore Manila and sent a message to the governor general, General Augusti, an- nouncing the inauguration of the block
 .4l.a against his ships he would destroy ev- cry battery about Manila.
 Spain'x Enormous Advantage.
 The position occupied by the Span iards, the support which their ships re- ceived from the land batteries, and the big guns they had ashore gave them an enormous advantage. Therefore when it Is considered that the Spaniards lost over 500 men in killed and wounded, that all their ships, IA in number, were destroyed and that their naval arsenal at CaYite was also destroyed with It's defenses it will become apparent that the victory of the American commodore is one of the most complete and won derful in the history of naval warfare.
 Not a man on board the American fleet was killed, not a ship was dam aged to any extent, and only six men were injured sliShtly-on board the Bal timore.
 This grand achievement Is quite as much due to the generalship of Com modore Dewey as to the fact that the American gunners, ships and guns are superior to anything in the same line afluat anywhere. Credit must also be given to the fullest extent to the offi- cers under Commodore Dewey, fer to n man they seconded their gallant com- mander in every way possible and thus helped him earn the laurels which are so justly his.
 The order of battle taken up by the Spaniards was with all the small craft inside the stone and timber breaSwater1 of Cavite harbor. The larger ships of Spain cruised off Cavite and Manila.
 The American fleet entered Manilla bay on Saturday night with the great est of ease. The Spaniards had not es- tablished a patrol and there were no searchlights at the entrance of the hay. In fact, the American ships would prob ably have passed inside the bay with out any challenge had it not been that some sparks flew up from the Mc;,ul- loch's funnel, whereupon a few shots were exchanged with the batteries on Corregidor island. But the fleet did not slow down and soon took up a position near Cavite, awaiting dawn in order to commence hostilities.
 CavIte Forts Opened Fire. The early hours of the morning re- vealed the opposing ships to each other. and the Spanish flagship opened fire. Her action was followed by some of the larger Spanish warships, and then the Cavite forts opened up and the smaller Spanish vessels brought their guns into play.
 The American squadron. which had been led into the bay and through the channel by the flagship Olympia, did not reply, though the shells of the Span- | iards began to strike the water around | them, but moved majestically onward. When nearing Baker bay, a sudden up- heaval of water a short distance ahead | of the Olympia showed that the Span- iards had exploded a mine or a tor pedo. This was followed by a second and similar explosion. They were both | utterly unsuccessful.
 The American fleet was then drawing nearer and nearer to the Spaniards. | whose gunnery was very poor, the shots | from the Cavite batteries and from the | Spanish ships being equally badly aim | ed, either falling short or going wide of | the mark.
 When the American fleet entered the | bay, coming through the southern chan | mel. between Caballo and Frile islets, | the following was their order: The flag ship Olympia, the Baltimore, Raleigh | Concord, Boston, Petrel and McColloch,