Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1898-05-05
A Description of the Battle.

patch to the Herald from London says:
The Asiatic squadron of the United
States, Commodore Dewey commanding.
Sunday engaged and completely defea ted
the Asiatic squadron Of Spain in the har-
Dor of Manila in the Philippine Islands.
All the news of the great naval battle
thus received is coming from Spanish
sources. This shows conclusively that
Manila has not yet been taken by the
American forces and that the cable lines
are still under the control of Spain.
From the fact that even the advices
received from Madrid show that the
American warships Jared best, there is
hardly any doubt that when complete de-
tails are obtainable it will be learned that
it was crushing defeat for Spain. Re
ports of the battle thus far are coming
in piece meal.
During the two engagements that took
place, Commodore Montejo, commanding
the Spanish fleet, lost three of his larg-
est ships. His flagship. the steel cruiser
Reina Christiana and the armored cruiser
Castillo were burned, and the cruiser
Don Juan De Austria was blown up. Sew
eral other Spanish vessels were badly
damaged. One report adds that several
other Spanish ships were sunk by their
commanders to prevent their falling into
the hands of the Americans.
There was heavy loss of life among
the Spanish. Captain Darzo, commanding
the Reina Christiana, was killed. Com
modore Montejo, commanding the fleet,
shifted his flag from the Reina Christiana
to the Isla De Cuba, a much smaller steel
protected cruiser, just before the Chris
tiana sank. The blowing up of the Don
Austria was attended by a great loss of
life among the crew, the commander also
being killed.
Commonoder Deweys squadron leaving
Subig bay, few miles from Manila,
about o'clock yesterday afternoon pro-
ceeded toword Manila. Under the cover Of
darkness he entered the harbor of Manila,
the batteries located there announcing his
arrival Both fleets lined up for battle
about day-break-about o'clock this
morning. The guns of the American war
ships began firing on the fortress of Ca
vite and the arsenal of Manila. Under
the protection of the guns of these forth
fications the Spanish warships opened fire
on the American fleet. For several hours
the harbor resounded with the roar of
guns hte crashing of steel and timbers
the shrieks and groans of the wounded.
Thick clouds of smoke at times almost OBJ
scured the opposing fleets from each
other.
a well directed shot reached the iron
cruiser Don Juan De Austria, vessel of
LOO tons. A terrific explosion followed
and the ship was blown up
All the time the first engagement the
American ships were under way. their
maneuvering being intended to render the
craftsmanship of the Spanish gunners
less effective
The American squadron about O'Clock
drew off to the west of the bay and took
shipping The ships had evidently suf-
fered considerable damage. After some
hasty repairs they returned to the con-
f1ict.
During this engagement the guns OF
Cayite maintained a steady and stronger
fire upon Commodore Dewey's ships than
in the first enga cement, but the American
guns were being used with telling effect
AS the SNAKE lifted it was seen that the
flagship Reina Christiana was on fire.
The vessel was completely burned In the
interval between the two engagements
Commodore Monteje moved his flag from
the Reina Christiana to the smaller
cruiser Isla De Cuba To this change he
doubtless owes his life
The cruiser Castillo, next to the flag
ship the largest and most powerful of the
Spanish squadron. was also burned The
cruiser Don Antonio De Ulloa and the
Mindanio were also badly damaged in this
encounter.
That the American squadron received
severe damage in the engagement can net
be doubted. Early reports mad it that
five of Commodore Dewey's caips had
been sunk Later adyices from Madrid
put the number at two
There was undoubtedly heavy losses in
trustworthy report states that the SPan-
ish had 200 killed and 400 wounded
Trustworthy details of the American
loss of life will hardly be obtainaoie until
Commodore Dewey has taken Marila or
has sent vessel with dispatches to Hong
Kong.