Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1898-05-09
DEWEY'S FIGHT.

A dispatch from Hong Kong gives
this account of the naval battle at Ma
Mia: The order OF battle assumed by
the Spanish was with all the small
craft inside Cavite harbor behind stone
and tim Der, breakwaters and the larger
ships cruising off Cavite and Manila.
No patrol was established, nor was any
searchlight placed at the entrance TO
the bay. On Saturday night the Amer.
lean ships crept inside the bay without
being seen until the McCulloch's funnel
emitted e few sparks. Then few shots
were exchanged with Corregidor Isl
and, but the fleet never stopped or
slowed down until opposite the city at
dawn. The Spanish ships then opened
fire, supported by the Cavite forts. The
cruiser Baltimore suffered the most Of
any OF the American ships. Five or
ten shots took effect on her, but none
of her officers or crew was seriously
hurt. Only few slight injuries were
suffered Dy the American feet, the
worst of which resulted from an explo
sion Of ammunition on the deck of the
Baltimore The other ships of the feet
were practically unhur;.
One hundred and fifty Spaniards
were killed and many were wounded.
The cruiser Reina Christina was the
worst damaged ofthe Spanish ships, aud
it is believed that she was sunk. The
other ships OF the Spaniard5 were
quickly riddled by the Americans fire.
Two torpedo boats from Cavite were
quickly driven to return to that place
for shelter.
The Cavite arsenal exploded, and
forty Spaniards were killed, The forts
made nominal resistance. The city
has never capitulated, and the Span
iards ashore are still defiant.
An official dispatch received at Mad
rid from General August, Governor
General Of the Philippines, says: The
enemy seized Cavite and the arsenal.
| owing to the destruction of the Spanish
squadron, and established close
blockade. Its said that, at the request
of the consuls, the enemy will not
lombard Manila for the present, pro-
vided l do not open fire upon the
enemy's squadron, which is out of
range of our guns. Therefore cannot
fire until they come nearer. a thou.
sand sailors arrived here yesterday
from our destroyed squadron, the losses
of which number 61S."
Admiral Dewey's victory at Manila
is without a precedent in the naval his
tory of the world in that he lost none
killed, while inhictipg such terrible
Gamsge. Ii was feared that in so fierce
an engagement against a Spanish fleet,
combined with the shore defenses, the
American fleet must surely have sus
tanned a good deal Of damage, loss Of
=. life and other injuries. Even the Chi
nese in the great battle of Yalu man.
aged to infiict considerable amount OF
| damage upon their japanese antago-
J nisls. Yet in this battle OF Manila, last.
iug two hours at least, and resulting 10
the destruction OF the entire Spanish
feet and the silencing oftheir forts, not
an American life was lost and not an
American ship was injured
At the embassies and legations in
Washington Admiral Dewey's reports
were read with great interest. How
the Spaniards could have lost $50 killed
and $50 wounded, while the American
loss was confined to few men slightly
injured, is regarded as clearly disclosing
the inferiofity Of Spanish arms.
The ambassador OF one OF the great
powers said at recalls Solferiuo. At
that time France and Austria were a
war, but the range of the French guns
was longer than that OF the Austrians.
That brought them together on IN
equal terms, and the simple difference
in the length of range OF the French
guns determined the outcome of that
battle. So it was with Dewey. He
not only bad the guns, but they rad
the modern strength and destructive
ness, while the Spanish guns evidently
were antiquated and guns only in name.
In the warfare OF to-day nation must
have weapons of the most modern pat
tern. 1t is the lesson of the Solferino
oyer 81 ain, and this time Spain learns
it,"