The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-05-03

where they can repair and recoal or OBJ
tain fresh supplies of ammunition
Another account says the Mindano
and Ulloa or Ullao were severely dam
! aged in the second engagement
Midnight. An official telegram re
ceived at a late hour from the COVER
nor general off the Philippines says:
Admiral Montejo has transferred his
flag to the cruiser Isla de Cuba from
the cruiser Reina Maria Christina
The Reina Maria Christina was COM
pletely burnt, as was also the cruiser
Castillo, the other ships having to re-
tire from the combat and some being
sunk to avoid their falling into the
hands of the enemy
FL Heraldo De Madrid says that Ad-
niral Montejo changed his flagship
during the engagement or between the
two encounters in order to better direct
manenWres. In this way he escaped
the fate of the commander of the
Refine, Maria Christina.
The second engagement, according to
Ell HeraldO was apparently begun by
the Americans, after landing their
wounded ON the weStside of the bay.
In the latter engagement, the Spanish
MindanO and UQlOa suffered heavily.
| Minister speak Of serious, but hon
, oTable losses.''
that yesterday the American squadron
at the Philippines was defeated and
lost five ships.
The report is as yet unconfirlned.
! It originated in telegram received by
| the agent of the CoTnpania Trans-At-
| lantica.
London, May 1.-Midnight. The
! second section of Madrid dispatch re-
porting the engagement off Manila bay
has just been received here. 1t shows
| that there was serious fighting off
CaMite. Admiral Bernejo, according
| to the dispatch, has wired congra tula-
! tions to the Spanish navy on the be-
| haviOur of the WarshipS against su-
! peTjOr forces.
! here of the dispatc from Madrid as
| to the fighting at the Philippines
! from any source.
Neither the Rieuter Telegram Com
| pany nor the Times, :,or The Daily
Mail, hitherto the only source of direct
information from Manila, has received
word on the subject.
SCTIaINrE FOR PTIIIdPPINE IN
DEPENDENCE.
4 London. May 1.-Evening News pub
fishes a dispatch from Hong Kong say
ing that it is said the insurgent lead
eIs have submitted to Commodore
. Dewey a scheme of Philippine inde-
pendence embracing free trade.
SPAnN'S CRUSHING DEFEAT
While it is quite clear that the Span
| ish squadron has suffered a crushing
defeat the dispatches leave unclear
| the Intensely interesting question
whether the American squadron has
suffered material damage.
ALI news thus far comes from Span
| ish sources, but it seems evident that
Commodore Dewey has not captured
Manila. Unless he is able to make
another attack and capture the town
| he will be in an awkward position.
| having no base upon which to retire
and to refit. Probably, therefore, the
United States squadron will be obliged
| to make for San Frame isco as the en-
trance to Manila bay was heavily
mined with torpedos- Commodore
Dewey displayed great pluck and dar-
ing in making for the inner harbor.
According to private advices received
from Madrid, the United States eruis-
ers Olympia, rtaleigh and two other
vessels, the names OF which are not
given ntered the haribor.
No dispa tcfles give details as to fhe
vessels actually engaged on either side
1t appears to ae incorrect that the
American ships finally anchored be-
hind the merchantmen on the eaStSide
of the fbay. 1t should be the west SIDE.
Probabilities point in the direction OF
the second engagement having occurred
Through the Spaniards trying to pre-
vent the landing OF the American
wounded.
Reliable details cannot be had until
Commodore Dewey's squadron Is able
to- communicate with Hong Kong.
There is, however, a suspicious frank
ness about the Spanish dispatches that
savers of a desire to break unpleasant
news to the Spaniards. IT is not un-
Elxe,v therefore that Commodore
Dewey may be able to renew the at
tack.
TyHE ENGAGEMENT TERRIBlE.
Madrid. May 1. via Paris. May, l.
A dispatch has been received by the