The times., 1898-06-14
DEWEY's OFFICIAL REPORT.
The American Admiral Tells of the
Great Naval Battle.

The American AdmIrai Iells of the
Great Naval Battle.
The Navy Department yesterday re-
ceived and made public the written report
of Admiral Dewey on the great battle at
Manila on May !.
The report is as follows except for sew
eral parts withheld for strategic reasons
by the department:
Arrived off Bolinao on the morning of
April 80 and finding no vessels there pro-
ceeded down the coast and arrived off the
entrance to Manila Bay on the same af-
ternoon. The Boston and Concord were
sent to reconnoiter Port Subig. A thor
. ough search of the port was made by the
Boston and the Concord, but the Spanish
fleet was not found.
Entered the south channel at 1:3O p.
N. steaming in column at eight knots. At
ter half the squadron had passed bat
terry on the south side opened fire, none of
the shots taking effect. The Boston and
/ MeCulioch returned the ate. Tine squad
/ ron proceeded across the bay at slow
/ speed and arrived off Manila at day
break, and was fired upon at Sis a. m.
4 by three batteries at Manila and two at
+ Cavite and by the Spanish fleet anchored
/ in an approximately east and west line
I acress the mouth of Baker Bay with their
left in shoai water in Canaeoa Bay.
'-The squadron then proceeded TO the
attack, the flagship Olympia under my
/ personal direction leading, followed at
! distance by the Baltimore, Raleigh, Pc
/ trel, Concord and Boston, in the order
named, which formation was maintained
i throughout the action.
The squadron opened fire at 5:41 a. m.
/ While advancing TO the attack, two mines
were exploded ahead OF the flagship too
far off to be effective.
Early in the engagement two launches
! put out toward the Olympia with the ap-
! parent intention OF using torpedoes. One
was sunk, and the other disabled by our
! fire and beached before an opportunity
occurred to use torpedoes. At a. m. the
/ Spanish flagship. Reina Christina, made
/ desperate attempt to leave the line and
/ come out TO engage at short range, but
/ was received with such calling fire, the
/ entire battery of the Olympia being con-
centrated upon her. that she was barely
/ able TO return to the shelter of the point.
! The fires started in her by our shells at
/ this time were not eXtinguished until she
! sank. The three batteries at Manila had
/ kept up a continuous report from the be-
/ ginning of the engagement. which fire
was not returned by this squadron. The
I first of these batteries were situated on
/ the south mole-head at the entrance of
! the Pasig River. The second on the
south bastian of the walled city of Ma
t Mia, and the third at Malato about
/ twelve miles farther south. At this point
! l sent a message to the governor general
/ TO the effect that if the batteries did not
/ cease firing the city would be sheIled.
This had the effect Of silencing them. AT
4:35 a m. l ceased firing and withdrew
the squadron for breakfast. At I1:I6 a.
IN. I returned to the attack BY this time
the Spanish flagship and almost the en-
tire Spanish fleet We're in flames. At 1880
p. m. the squadron ceased firing, the bat
teries being silenced and the ships sunk
I burned and deserted.
AT l2:40 p. m. the squadron returned
and anchored off Manila, the Petrel be-
/ ing left behind to complete the destruc-
ton Of the smaller gunboats, which were
behind the point of Cavite This duty
was performed by Commander B. P.
! Wood in the most expeditions and COM
/ plete manner possible.
The Spanish lost the following vessels:
/ Sunk-Reina Christina. Castillo, Don An
! tonic De Ulloa. Burned-Don Juan dAus-
tria, Isla d d'LuzOn, Isla d'Cuba, Gen Lezo.
( Marquis dDuero. FL Correo. Valesco and
Isia d. Mindanao, transport. Captured
Rapido and Hercules, tugs, and several
. small launches.
Il am unable to obtain complete ac-
count Of the enemies killed and wounded.
but believe the losses to be very heavy,
the Reina Christina alone had $50 killed.
including the captain and so men
wounded.
Il am happy to report that the damage
/ done TO the squadron under my command
was inconsiderable. There was 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
good condition now as before the battle
/ beg 10 state to the department That /
/ doubt if any commander in chief was
ever served by more loyal efficient and
gallant captains than those of the SQUAD
ron now under my command Capt
J Frank Wildes, commanding the Boston.
volunteered to remain in command of his
/ vessel although his relief arrived before
leaving Hong Kong. Assistant Surgeon
Kindleberger, of the Olympia, and Gunner
]. C. Evans, of the Boston, also volun-
| teered to remain after orders detaching
| them had arrived The conduct of my
| personal staff was excellent. Commander
/ B. II. Lamberton, chief of staff, was a
volunteer for the position, and gave me
most efficient aid. Lieut. Brumby, flag
lieutenant, and Ensign w. p. Scott, aide,
performed their duties as signal officers
in highly creditable manner The Olym-
pia being short of officers for the bat
terry, II. H. Caldwell, flag secretary. vol