The record-union., 1898-06-14
THE BATTLE AT MANILA.
Admiral Dewey Gives Details of His
Great Victory.

Great Victory.
WASHINGTON, June 13.-The Navy
Department to-day made public the fol-
lowing letter received from Admiral
Dewey, being it's first mail advices from
him since he reached Manila:
Flagship Olympia, Cavite, May 4.
1S9S.-The squadron left Mrs Bay on
April 9th; arrived off Bolinao on the
morning of April Both, and finding no
vessels there, proceeded down the coast
and arrived off the entrance to Manila
Bay on the same afternoon. The Boston
and Concord were sent to reconnoiter.
A thorough search of the port was
made by the Boston and the Concord,
but the Spanish fleet was not found
Entered South Channel at 1880
p. m, steaming in column at eight
knots. After half the squadron had
passed a battery on the south side of
the channel opened fire, none of the
shots taking effect. The Boston and
McCulloch returned the fire. The squad
ron proceeded across the bay at slow
speed, and arrived off Manila at day
break and was fired upon at 5:15 a. m
by three batteries at Manila and two
near Cavite, and by the Spanish fleet
west line across the mouth of Bakor
Bay. with their left in shoal water in
Canacac Bay.
THE squadron then proceeded to the
attack The flagship Olympia. under
my personal direction, leading, followed
at q distance by the Baltimore, Raleigh,
Petrol, Concord and Boston, in the or
der named, which formation was main
To
1.-The squadron opened fire at 5:41
a. m. While advancing to the attack
two mines were exploded ahead of the
flagship. too far to be effective The
squadron maintained a continuous and
precise fire. at ranges varying from
1900 to 1000 yards, countermarching
in line approximately parallel to that
of the Spanish fleet. The enemys fire
was vigorous, but generally ineffective
Early in the engagement two launches
put out toward the Olympia with the
apparent intention Of using torpedoes.
One was sunk and the other displaced
by our fire and beached before an op-
portunity occurred TO fire torpedoes.
''At7 a. m. the Spanish flagship Reina
Christina made desperate attempt
to leave the line and come out to en-
gage at short range, but was received
with such CALLING fire, the entire bat
terry of the Olympia being concentrated
upon her, that she was barely able TO
return to the shelter of the point The
fires started in her by our shell at this
time were not eXtinguiShed until she
sank.
The three batteries at Manila had
kept up a continuous fire from the be-
ginning Of the engagement, which fire
was not returned by the squadron The
first of these batteries was situated
on the south mole head, at the en-
trance to the Pasig River. The second,
the south bastion of the walled city Of
Manila, and the third at Manila, at
about one-half mile further south
''At this point I sent a message to
the Governor General to the effect that
if the batteries did not cease firing the
city would be shelled. This had the
effect of silencing them. At ?:3O a. m.
I ceased firing and withdrew the squad
ron for breakfast. At 11:15 a. m. 1
returned to the attack. BY this time
the Spanish flagship and almost the
entire Spanish fleet were on fire. At
1890 D. m. the squadron ceased firing,
the batteries being silenced and the
ships being sunk, burned and deserted
'At 12:45 p. m. the squadron returned
and anchored off Manila, the Petrol be-
ing left behind to complete the destruc-
ton of the smaller guns which were
behind the point of Cavite This duty
was performed by Commander E. r.
Wood in the most expeditions and com
plete manner possible
"The Spanish lost the following yes
sells:
"Sunk-Reina Christina, Castillo. Don
Antonio de JJlloa.
s'Burned--Don Juan de Austria Isla
de Luzon. Isla de Cuba. General Lezo.
Marquis del Duero. El Correo. valesco
and Isla de Mindanao (transport).
"Captured-Rapido and Hercules
tugs) and several small launches.
IT am unable to obtain complete ac-
counts of the enemy's killed and wound
ed. but believe their losses to be very
heavy. The Reina Christina alone had
$50 killed, including the Captain and
ninety wounded. I am happy to re-
port that the damage done to the
squadron under my command was in
considerable. There were none killed.
and only seven men in the SQUADRON
very slightly wounded. Several Of the
vessels were struck and even penetrat-
ed. but the damage was of the slight