Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1898-05-12
DEwEY's GREAT VICTORY.
A Complete Account of the Manila Naval
Battle.

~ OUmpte(0 HCCUuht VI thO MANN" N"sD
Battle.
Hong Kong, May S.-Among naval men
military men and civilians, European
and natives here to-day there is only ont
subject of discussion, the brilliant, dashinI
annihilahng victory of the American fleet
under Commodore Dewey over the Span
ish fleet in Manila Bay on Sunday last.
Owing to tie fact that the cable between
this port and the Philippine Islands wa'
not in working order, a detailed account
of the battle was only available when the
United States gunboat McCulloch arrived
here Yesterday, and then the tremendous
pressure Of business, suddenly thrown up
on the cable company, necessarily made
the earlier accounts of the engagement
somewhat brief.
DEwEY's ORDERS FULLY CARRIED OUT
Commodore Dewey's orders were tc
capture or destroy the Spanish fleet, and
never were instructions executed in SC
complete fashion. At the end of seven
hours there was absolutely nothing left
of the Spanish fleet but a few relics.
The American commander had most
skillfully arranged every detail Of the ac-
ton, and even the apparently most in,
significant features we're carried out with
perfect punctuaity and in railroad time
table order.
At the end of the action Commodore
Dewey anchored his fleet i'll tt bay, be-
fore Manila, and sent message to the
Governor General, General Augusti, an
nouncing the Inauguration of the block
ade, and adding that if a shot was fired
against his ships he would destroy every
battery about Manila,
SPANISH ADVANTAGE UNAvAILING.
The position occupied by the Spaniards,
the support which their ships received
from the land batteries, and the big gun:
they had ashore, gave them an enormous
advantage. Therefore, when it is consid-
cred that the Spaniards lost over 800 men
in killed and wounded, that all their ships
amounting to about fourteen, were de-
stroyed and that their naval arsenal at
Cavite was also destroyed, with its defen-
ses, it is apparent that the victory Of the
Americans is one of the most complete
and wonderful achievements IN the history
of naval warfare.
Not q man on board the American fleet
was killed, not ship was damaged to any
extent, and only six men were injured
slightly on board the Baltimore.
This grand achievement is quite asImuch
due to the generalship of Commodore
dore Dewey as to the fact that the Amerl-
can gunners, ships and guns are superior
to anything in the same line afioat any
where. Credit must also be given to the
fullest extent to the officers under Com
modore Dewey, for, to man, they Sec
onded their gallant commander in every
way possible and thus helped him earn
the laurels which are so justly his.
The order of battle taken up by the
Spaniards was with all the small craft in
side the stone and timber breakwaters OF
Cavite harbor The larger ships Of Spain
cruised of Cavite and Manila.
No SEARCHLIGHTs TO GUARD.
The American fleet entered Manila Bay
on Saturday night with the greatest OF
ease. The Spaniards had not established
a patrol and there we're no searchlights at
the entrance of the bay.
In fact, the American ships would prob
ably have passed inside the bay without
any challenge, had it not been that some
sparks flew up from the McCulloch's fun
mel. Thereupon a few shots were ex-
changed with the batteries on Corregidor
Island, but the fleet did not slow down
and soon took up position near Cavite,
awaiting dawn in order to commence hos
tilities.
The early homs of the morning revealed
the opposing ships to each other and the
Spanish flagship opened fire. Her action
was followed by some Of the larger Span
ish warshirs and then the Cavite forts
opened up and the smaller Spanish YES
sells brought their guns into play.
MINES EXPLODED HARMLEssLY.
The American squadron which hac
been led into the bay and through the
channel by the flagship Olympia did no
reply, though the shells Of the Spaniardl
began to strike the water around them
but moved majestically onward. Wher
nearing Baker Bay a sudden upheavel o
water a short distance ahead of the Olym
pia showed that the Spaniards had ex
ploded a mine or torpedo. This wa
followed by ii second and similar explo
sion. They were both utterly unsuccess
ful.
The American fleet was then drawing
nearer and nearer to the Spaniards, who's
gunnery was very poor, the shots iron
the Cavite batteries and from the Spanisl
ships being equally badly aimed, eithe
falling short or going wide of the mark.
THE ORDER OF BATTLE.
When the American fleet entered tn
bay, coming through the southern chan
) mel between Caballo and Frile Islets, tn
following was their order. The fagshi
Olympia, the Baltimore, the Raleigh
Concord, Boston, Petrel and McCullocf