Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1898-05-14
NONE ESCAPED.
Spain's Entire Fleet Was De-
stroyed at Manila.
Admiral Dewey Sends Report to the
Navy Department In which He Tells
of the Great Victory of the
Squadron He Commands
Not One American was
Killed.

Manila at daybreak this morning. I'm
mediately engaged the enemy and de-
stroyed the following Spanish vessels:
Reina Christina, Castillo, Don Antonio
Ulloa, Isla de Cuba, General Lezo, Isla
de Luzon, Duero, FL Cana, Velasco,
Mindanao, one transport and the
water battery at Cavite. The squadron
is uninjured and only few men were
slightly wounded. The only means of
telegraphing is to the American consul |
at Hong Kong. l shall communicate
with him. DEWEY"
"Cavite, May 4. / have taken posses
sion of the naval station at Cavite, |
Philippine islands, and destroyed its |
Notifications at the bay entrance,
paroling the garrison. l control the |
bay completely and can take the city |
at any time. The squadron is in ex-
cellent health and spirits. The Span
ish loss not fully known, but very
heavy; $50 killed, including the captain
of the Reina Christina. am assisting
in protecting the Spanish sick and
wounded; $50 sick and wounded in
hospital within our lines. Much ex-
citement at Manila. Will protect for
eign residents. DEWEY"
Following this Secretary Long gave
out his reply to Dewey, which was
cabled by direction of the president,
as follows:
Washington, May z, 1898.
dewey, Manila: The president, in
the name of the American people,
thanks you and your officers and men
for your splendid achievement and
overwhelming victory. In recognition
he has appointed you acting admiral,
and will recommend vote of thanks
to you by congress. Lone"
Chicago, May 9.-The Chronicle has
| the following:
Hong Kong, May 9.-Commodore
| Dewey's flag lieutenant, Thomas NJ.
Brumby, arrived at Hong Kong Satur-
day morning on the revenue cutter
| Hugh McCulloch with the first official
news of the greatest naval battle of
modern times, that of Manila harbor
The official dispatches were at once
forwarded by cable to the government
az Washington. The first connected
story of the engagement was told by
the officers of the McCulloch, who saw
| it and participated in it. They said
that Spain's fleet of ten vessels was
wholly destroyed.
During Saturday night the vessels of
the American squadron crept inside the
bay through a supposed maze of mines
and torpedoes. They were not OBJ
served by any of the watchers on the
Spanish garrisons until some stray
sparks were emitted from the funnel
of the dispatch boat McCulloch. Then
few shots were exchanged with
the garrison on Corregidor island
but they were ineffective. There was
no patrol established, nor were any
search lights placed at the entrance to
Manila bay. The vessels of the Ameri-
can squadron never stopped or slowed
down until they had assumed posi-
tion directly opposite the city of Ma
nila. This was just at daybreak. The
order of battle assumed by the Spanish
fleet at the beginning of the engage
ment was with all the small crafts in
side Cavite harbor, which is protected
by stone and timber breakwaters, and
the larger ships maneuvering off
Cavite and Manila.
The American battle line was led by
the flagship Olympia and cruiser Ra-
leigh. The Boston, Baltimore, Concord
and Petrol and the revenue cutter Nc
Culloch followed. The American feet
at easy speed approached the Spanish
ships, which were drawn out in two
lines, the Reina Maria Christina, the
flagship, in the center. AS the dawn
broke and the position of the American
squadron was discovered the Spanish
fleet opened fire, supported by the
Cavite forts The Spaniards fired the
first shot. The challenge was given
by the Reina Maria Christina. The
Olympia replied and at once the entire
American fleet was in action. The
Spanish ships did not hesitate in their
fire and the Cavite batteries let loose
their heavy guns. The best gunners
in the American fleet manned the most
destructive weapons on their ships,
and the havoc wrought was frightful.
The Reina Maria Christina, flagship
of the 81 anish squadron, was the cen
ter If tack at the beginning of the
a non, an, unde'' the hot fire poured in
a her from the American ships she
" soon burn ng from stem to stern
Admiral Nj onte. o, the Spanish admiral
was compelled 10 escape in a small
, boat to the Isla (e Cuba, another o.
: the Spanish vessels, and as soon as his
flag was hoisted the guns of the
American feet were turned on it, anG
in few minutes it was destroyed. The
admiral was again forced to escape il
a small boat he detenst of Manila
and its batteries, as well as those a.
f Cavite, were silenced and beaten II
a the ground by the rain of shot anC
shell.
The craftsmanship of the Spanish
gunners seemed to be wild from tn,
outset and meanwhile the ships of tn,
American squadron were pouring
deadly fire, doing great execution. Tn
: American cruiser Baltimore at on