Hutchinson gazette. [volume] (Hutchinson, Kan.) 1895-1902, 1898-05-05
A GREAT VICTORY.
The Spanish Fleet at Manila Suffers
Defeat.
The SPANISH FLAGSHIP DESTROYED.
The First Naval I Engagement Of the
GHlspnnO American Results In
Decisive Victory For
Uncle SAM

London, May 3.-The details of the
battle of Manila have been received
here at the British colonial office.
They came in two cable messages,
received Sunday evening, the sub
stance of which has been furnished
to the Associated Press by the Off
cials of the colonel office.
The first cable dispatch announces
that the United States fleet entered
Manila harbor at daybreak Sunday,
Btationing itself opposite the city. A
fort opened fire on the American
Ships, whereupon they shifted their
position to one near Cavite, in Manila
bay, engaging in a fierce fight against
both the forts and the Spanish fleet.
The engagement there lasted two
hours, and resulted in the annihila-
ton of the Spanish fleet This dis
EItch adds that the American ships
withdrew to their magazine vessel in
the center of the roadstead, for the
purpose of coaling.
One American vessel, the name OF
which is not mentioned, is said to
have been disabled.
Commodore Dewey requested the
British consul, e. H. Rawson Walker,
to convey a message to the Spanish
governor general, demanding the sur
render of all the torpedoes and guns
at Manila, and the possession of the
cable offices, saying that, unless
these terms were complied with, he
would proceed to lombard the city.
The first of the cable messages ends
with the statement that the Spanish
officials were comforting with the
British consul and the telegraph
company's agent, and that, pending
q decision being arrived at, the cables
were not permitted to handle mes
sages.
The second cable dispatch received
by the colonial office announced that
the Spanish govern or general had re-
fused to surrender the torpedoes,
guns and cable offices, and that he
had prevented the agent of the tele-
graph company from comforting with
Commodore Dewey.
The message ended with the state
ment that British governor of the
Straits Settlements expected that the
bombardment of Manila would begin
on Monday morning, when the Span
iards would cut the cable.
The first of these cable messages
was received at o'clock Sunday
evening, and the second one was re-
ceived at midnight. They have not
yet been given to the newspapers
here.
No other messages on the subject
have been received in London. al
though the foreign office expects
news from the British consul.at Man
ia. Therefore, it is supposed that
the expectation of the governor of
the Straits Settlements has been full
filed. and that the Spaniards have
cut the cable.
In the house of commons Monday
Mr.. A. ]. Balfour, the government
header and first lord of the treasury,
answering a question on the subject,
said the government had received in
formation pointing to a serious bat
tie at Manila and the destruction of a
portion of the Spanish feet. He
added that a British warship was on
her way there, explaining that any
thing the government can do to pre-
serve British lives and interests will
be done.
Paris, May "a dispatch from
Madrid to the Temps says that, ac-
cording to the latest dispatches, the
British consul at Manila, in his visit
10 Commodore Dewey, made repre-
Eentations in behalf of the consular
corps against the bombardment of
the town. The dispatch also says:
"French. British and German war
vessels are in the roads at Manila.
mo Spanish warships surrendered,
and the majority persisted. Two
Spanish commanders were killed
while resisting to the last moment.
"The Spanish losses are estimated
at 400 men killed, including many
natives.
"The American squadron attacked
furiously both the Spanish squadron
and Cavite, where it caused great
damage"
commenting VullOi Amy On ule DdI-
tie, the Temps says: "The United
States put into the balance a too
crushing superiority of resources and
forces to leave doubt as to the
result"
Later. the Temps say: Directly
Castilian honor has received the sat
isfaction It demands. will not the
moment have come to say it's word
and take as a basis for its mediatory
action the wise advice of the Duke of
DevOnshire in his speech of Satur-
day EVENING"