The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1898-05-09
How Dewey Annihilated the Fleet of
the Naughty Dons.
He SklllfulIy Arranged Every Detail of the
Action and Carried Out the Most
Trifling Features Of His
Plan.

1898 by the Associated Press. Among
naval men, military men and civilians,
European and natives, here to-day
there is only one subject of discussion
the brilliant, dashing annihilatlng VIC
tory of the American fleet under Com
modore Dewey over the Spanish fleet
commanded by Admiral Montejo in
Manila Bay on Sunday last.
Owing to the fact that the cable be-
tween this port and the Philippine ISL
ands was not in working order, having
been cut, it is said, some distance from
the cape of the islands, there has been
delay in obtaining detailed account OF
the battle, and the facts in the case
were only available when the United
States gunboat Hugh McCulloch ar
rived here yesterday, and even then the
tremendous pressureof business sudden
" thrown upon the cable capacity nee
essarily made the earlier account of the
engagements somewhat brief.
Commodore Dewey's orders were to
capture or destroy the Spanish fleet.
and never We're instructions executed
in so complete a fashion. At the enc
of seven hours there was absolutely
nothing left of the Spanish fleet but d
few relics.
The American commander had most
skillfully arranged every detail of the
action. and even the apparently mos
Insignificant features We're carried out
with perfect punctuality and on rail-
road time table order. AT the end OF
the action Commodore Dewey anchored
his fleet in the bay before Manila ana
sent a message to Governor-General
August. announcing the inauguration
of the blockade, and adding that II
shot was fired against his ships ne
would destroy every battery about
Manila.
The position occupied by the span
iards. the support which their ships re-
ceived from the land batteries and their
guns they had ashore gave them an
enormous advantage. Therefore, when
it is considered that the Spaniards lost
over 600 men in killed and wounded,
that all their ships, amounting to about
fourteen, were destroyed, and that their
naval arsenal at Cavite was also de-
stroyed with it's defenses, it Will become
apparent that the victory of the Amer
lean Commodore is one of the most
complete and wonderful achievements
in the history of naval warfare.
Not a man on board the American
fleet was killed, not ship was damaged
to any extent, and only six men We're
injured slightly on board the Baltimore
This grand achievement is quite as
much due to the generalship of Com
rnodore Dewey as to the fact that
American gunners and guns are supe-
rior to any afioat anywhere. Great
credit must also be given to the fullest
extent to the officers under Commodore
Dewey. for to a man they seconded
their gallant commander in every way
possible, and thus helped him win the
laurels which are justly his.
The order of battle taken up by the
Spaniards was with all the small craft
inside the stone and timber breakwa-
tiers of Cavite Harbor. The larger
ships of Spain cruised off Cavite and
Manila.
The American fleet entered Manila
Bay on Saturday night with the great
est of ease. The Spaniards' had not
established a patrol, and there were nc
searchlights at the entrance Of the bay
In fact. the American ships would
probably have passed inside the bay
without any challenge had it not been
that some sparks flew up from the Nc
CulIoch's funnel. Thereupon a few shots
Corregidor Island. but the fleet did not
slow down. and soon took up position
near Cavite, awaiting dawn before
commencing hostilities.
The early hours of the morning re-
vealed the opposing ships to each 9TH
er and the Spanish flagship opened fire
It's shot was followed by some of the
larger Spanish warships, and then the
Cavite forts opened up and the smaller
Spanish ships brought their guns into
play. The American squadron, which
had been led into the bay through the
channel by the flagship Olympia, dio
not reply, though the shells OF the
Spaniards began TO strike the water
around them. but moved maJestlcaliS
onward. When nearing Baker Bay q
sudden upheaval of water short as
tance ahead of the Olympia showed
that the Spaniards had exploded mine
or a torpedo. This was followed by q
second and similar explosion. Both
were unsuccessful
The American fleet was then draw
ing nearer and nearer to the Spaniards
whose gunnery was very poor, the shots
from the Cavite batteries and from the
Spanish ships being Intellectual ana
badly aimed, either falling short OF
going wide of the mark
When the American fleet entered the
bay. coming through the southern chan
mel between Caballo Frile Inlets, the
following way was their order: This
flagship Olympia, the Baltimore. tbs
Raleigh, the Concord, the Boston, the