The River Falls times. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1894-1933, 1898-05-03

st. Paul, May 3.-The Pioneer Press
prints the following copyrighted cable
from the London correspondent of the
New York Herald:
The Asiatic squadron of the United
States, Commodore Dewey command
ing, yesterday engaged and completely
defeated the Asiatic squadron of Spain
in the harbor of Manila in the Philip
pine islands
All the news of the great naval bat
tie thus far received is coming from
Spanish sources. This shows conclus-
lively that Manila has not yet been
taken by the American forces and that
the cable lines are still under the con-
troll of Spain.
From the fact that even the advices
received from Madrid show that the
American warships Jared the best
there is hardly any doubt that when
complete details are obtainable it VIII
be learned that is was crushing Gle"
feat for spain. Reports Of the battle
thus far are coming piecemeal Dur
ing the two engagements that took
place Commodore MOntejO, command
ing the Spanish fleet lost three of his
largest ships. His flagship, the ar
mored cruiser Maria Reina Cristina,
and the armored cruiser Castillo were
burned, and the cruiser Don Juan Gle
Austria was blown up. Several other
Spanish vessels were badly damaged.
Under the protection of the guns OF the
Manila Notifications the Spanish war
ships
Opened Fire on the American Eject.
For several hours the harbor reSOunded
with the roar Of guns the crashing OF
steel and timbers, the shriekS and
groans of wounded. Thick clouds OF
smoke at times almost Obscured the OPP
posing fleets from each other. A we'll
directed shot reached the iron cruiser
Don Juan de Austria, 4 vessel Of eleven
hundred tons. A terrific explosion fol
lowed and the ship was blown up. All
the time during the first engagement
the American ships were under way,
their maneuvering being intended to
render the craftsmanship OF the span
fSh gunners less effective.
There was u heavy loss of~life among
the Spanish Capt. Cardase, command
inc the Maria Cristina, was killed.
Commodore Montejo, commanding the
fleet, shifted his flag from the Maria
Cristina to the Isla de Cuba, much
smaller steel protected cruiser just be-
fore the Cristina sank. The blowing
I'D of the Don Juan de Austria was at
tended by a great loss of life among
1NnirO
the crew, her commander also DelnS
killed.
On the Way There.
Commodore Dewey's squadron, leav-
mo Srbie bay, a few miles from Ma
nilla. about four O'Clock Saturday af-
ternoon. proceeding toward Manila.
Under the cover of darkness he en-
tered the harbor of Manila. the bat
teries located there announcing his ar
rival. Both fleets lined up for battle
about daybreak-5 o'clock Sunday
morning. The guns of the American
warships began firing on the fortress
of Cayite and the arsenal OF Manila.
The American squadron, about
O'Clock drew off to the east side OF the
bay and took refuge behind some Tor
eicn vessels. The ships had evidently
suffered considerable damage. After
they had made some hasty repairs
they returned to the conflict. During
this engagement the guns of the Cavlte
maintained steadier and stronger fire
upon Commodore Deweys ships than
in the first encounter, but the American
guns were being used with telling eff
feet.
AS the smoke lifted it was seen that
the flagship Maria Reina Cristina was
on fire The vessel was completely
burned. The cruiser Castillo, next 10
the flagship. the largest and most pow
erful of the Spanish squadron, was also
burned The cruiser Don Antonio de
UTlloa and the Mindanao were also pad
ly damaged in this encounter.
Yes. We Suffered Some.
That the American squadron received
severe damage by the engagement can
not be doubted. Early reports had 1t
that five of Commodore Dewey's ships
had been sunk. Later advices from
Madrid put the number at two. | nave
been unable to ascertain anything
more definite than this, but | consider
it highly significant that the latest ad-
vices / have received from Madrid and
Lisbon make no mention Of any Amer
lean ship being destroyed. There were
undoubtedly heavy losses of men on
both sides. One apparently trust