Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1898-05-05
Two Choice Vessels Burned, One
Blown Up and Several 9th
ers Are Sunk.
Spaniards Said to Have Lost Fully 1000
Men-Americans in Control of
Harbor Entrance.
Our Loss Not Thought to Be Heavy
Sources Fails to Enumerate 1t.

Madrid, May 2.-There has been a
tremendous naval battle off Manila, the
capital of the Philippine islands, be-
tween the ships of the United States
under Admiral Dewey and the Spanish
feet under Admiral Montejo.
Official advices from Manila report
serious reverse for the Spanish arms.
The first naval engagement of the war
appears to have resulted disastrously
to the fleet under command of Admiral
Montejo.
Commodore Dewey appeared off the
Bay of Manila late Saturday night and
at five o'clock Sunday morning engaged
the Spanish squadron that had been
awaiting the attack.
The opposing fleets were engaged for
several hours and the heavy guns of
the land Notifications at Cavite protect
Ing the harbor kept up steady fire on
the American warships.
Spanish Losses.
Losses of Spanish vessels are:
Second-class cruiser Don Juan de
Austria, blown up and sunk. Her COM
mander killed.
Cruiser Reina Maria Christina, flag
ship, set on fire by shells. Burned and
sunk. Der commander killed.
cd orI
plete wreck. .-....
Cruiser Mindano, severely damaged.
Cruiser Ullao, damaged and put out
of action. ...
Late official kilograms to the govern
ment say that several other warships
were sunk to avoid their falling into the
hands of the enemy.
1t is unofficially stated that the Span
iards have lost 1000 men.
The American squadron retired, hav-
ing sustained severe damage, but few
hours later renewed the attack, when
the Spanish fleet retired into the inner
harbor.
Commodore Dewey controls the en-
trance to the bay. .##
No American vessels were burned or
sunk, so far as known.
The fact that Dewey's fleet did not
pursue the fragment of the Spanish
squadron into the harbor is regarded
as victory for Spain by enthusiastic
loyalists.
Cable dispatches from Manila con-
tinue to give details of the fight be-
tween the fleets, none being favorable
to Spain.
story of the Battle.
Three a. m.-Fuller details are COM
ing in about the tremendous combat at
Manila. These indicate that the Amer
ican fleet remains in the harbor, but
Spanish fleet are keeping up resist
ance. The insurgents have attacked
from the land side of the city, but have
been held in check. The ministry adj
mits severe Spanish losses in the fleet,
but claims virtual victory, as the city
of Manila has not capitulated.
The killing of the captain of the
Reina Maria Christina and the loss of
the ship are greatly deplored, as she
was lllc 1uOSI spain . war
ships in Pacific waters, and the captain
has record for distinguished gal
lantry.
The Attack.
1t seems that the American squadron
was sighted off Subic Saturday evening
Apparently its commander expected
to find the Spanish fleet there, but Ad-
s,.a1 hfnnfoiA hn1 rafirad fn Nozzle
and the protection of the forts of the
bay. So Commodore Dewey kept on
and passed the forts at the entrance of
the bay just before dawn. There was
some firing from the batteries, but the
squadron did not reply, and there has
been no report whether the shots took
effect.
Firing Becomes General.
When morning came the Cavite forti-
fications opened fire and at once the flag
ship Olympia fired her eight-inch for
ward guns in reply. FROM this the fir
ing became general. Admiral Montejo,
In the Reina Maria Christina, went bold
" to meet the foe. He was soon en-
gagged with the Olympia, a cruiser of
much superior force, and though he in
ficted some injury his ships was set on
fire and crippled by the Olympia's
heavy fire.
The Second Engagement.
In the second attack the Baltimore,
Olympia, Concord and Boston made
straight for the crippled Spanish ships.
firing their heavy guns with great ra-
pidity. The Spanish gunners stood
nobly to their guns and answered snot
for shot. But weight.was on the Amer
lean side and soon the large cruiser
Costilla was on fire and all the efforts