Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1898-05-02
A NAVAL BATTLE.


Manila. All advices from the scene of
the engagement come by Spanish
cable, but there seems to be no doubt
that the American fleet won a victory
in the two engagements which took
place. From the best sources obtain
able it is learned that the American
feet engaged the Notifications at Cavite
aud the Spanish gunboats at daylight
Sunday, and after a sever action, dur
ing which at least two of the largest
Spanish warships, including the Span.
ish Admiral's flagship, were destroyed,
retired to land their wounded and re.
fit. After a short interval the Ameri-
can fleet returned to the attack. which
must have been disastrous to the Span
ish fleet. The loss oflife was undoubt-
eddy very large. The American ves-
sells suffered considerable damage. The
captain of the Spanish flagship was
killed.
The battle took place on the morning
of May 1st, which, reckoning the diff
ference liz time, would be about 5
o'clock Saturday evening in Washing
ton. From the fact hat the Spanish
still control the cable at Manila it is
apparent that the U. S. fleet has not
| yet taken that city.
Following are the official dispatches
received at Madrid from the Governor
| General of the Philippines to the min
lister OF war, Lieut.. Gen. Correa AZ to
the engagement of Manila
"Our fleet engaged the enemy in a
brilliant combat, protected by the Cav
lite and Manila forts. They obliged
the enemy, with heavy loss, to maneu-
yer repeatedly. At nine o'clock the
American squadron took refuge behind
the foreign merchant shipping, on the
east side Of the bay.
"Our fleet, considering the enemy's
superiority, naturally suffered q eve,e
loss. The Maria Christina is on fire,
and another ship, believed to be the
Don Juan de Austria, was blown up.
There was considerable loss of life.
Captain Cadarso, commanding the
| Maria Christina, is among the killed.
The spirit OF the army, navy and vol
unteers is excellent"
A dispatch from Havana says: Ad-
miral Bermejo, Minister OF Marine,
Joined the Cabinet council Saturday
night and informed his colleagues that
the Spanish forces had gained a victory
in the Philippines. He asserted that
he found difficulty in restraining his
Joyful emotion. A later official dis
patch does not mention the destruction
of any American vessel, although it
says hat the United States squadron
finally cast anchor in the bay behind
the foreign merchantmen.
A dispatch from Madrid, dated at
, midnight last night, says: Ell Heraldo
de Madrid says that Admiral Montejo
changed his flagship during the en-
gagement or between the two %encount-
! ers in order to better direct the ma.
neuvers. In this way he escaped the
fate of the commander of the Reina
Maria Christina. The second engage
ment, according to Ell Heraldo, was sp.
~parently begun by the Americans, after
landing their wounded on the west side
of the bay. Ia the latter engagement
the Spanish ships Mindanao and Ullos
suffered heavily. Ministers speak of
SERIOUS but honorable los5es.h
a dispatch from London says dis
patches received there seem to make it
clear that the Asiatic squadron Of the
United States, Admiral Dewey ON.
handing, yesterday engaged and com.
pletely defeated the Asistic squadron OF
Spain in the harbor of Manila, in the
Philippine Islands. During the two
engagements that took place Commo-
dore Montejo, commanding the Spanish
fleet, lost three of his largest ships.
His flagship, the armored cruiser Reina
Christina and the armored cruiser Cas-
tilla, were burned and the cruiser Don
Juan de Austria was blown up. Sew
eral other Spanish vessels were badly
damaged.
Under the protection of the guns in
The Notifications the Spanish warships
opened fire on the American fleet. For
several hours the harbor resounded
with the roar Of guns.
A shot reached the iron cruiser Don
Juan de Austria. A terrific explosion
followed and the ship was blow up,
causing great loss OF life.
There was q heavy loss of life among
the Spanish. The captain commanding
the Reina Christina was killed. Com
modore Montejor, commanding the
fleet, shifted his flag from the Christina
to the Isle De Cuba, a much smaller
steel.protected cruiser, just before the
Christina sank. Commodore Dewey's
squadron left Subic bay, a few
miles from Manila, about four
o'clock Saturday afternoon and pro-.
ceeded toward Manila. Under the
cover of darkness he entered the harbor
of Manila, passing the forts. The bat
terie5 at the forts announced his ar
rival.
Both fleets lined up for battle about
daybreak. The guns of the American
warships began firing on the fortress Of
Cavite and the arsenal OF Manila. Then
the battle ragged.
The American squadron about 8
o'clock in the morning drew of to n
side of the bay and took refuge behind
some foreign vessels. The ships had
evidently suffered considerable damage.
Alter Some nasty repairs Iney returneu
to the conflict.
During this engagement the guns Of
Cavite maintained q steadier and
stronger fire upon Admiral Dewey's
ships than in the first e%ncount-
er, but the American guns were
used with telling effect. AS the smoke
lifted it was seen that the flagship
Reina Christina was on fire. This yes
sci was completely burned.