New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-05-09
STORY OF DEWEY'S FIGHT
WIPING OUT OF SPAIN'S FORCE.
ENEMY FOUGHT BRAvELY AND MANY
DIED RATHER THAN SURRENDER.
BATTLE BEGAN AT pAYBREAK AND THE AMER
IcANs. AFTER PRACTICALLY DEFEATING
THE sPANIARDs. WITHDREW FOR
BREAKFAST-THE JOB FIN
IsHED ABOUT NooNTIME.
Copyright. 1898. by the Associated Pr.ss)


IsHED ABOUT NooNrIME.
Copyright 1898. by the Associated Press)
Hong Kong May S.-Among naval men, mill
tary men and civilians. European and native.
here to-day there is only one subject of discus
sion the brilliant. dashing annihilating victory
Of the American fleet under Commodore Dewey
over the Spanish fleet commanded by Admiral
Montojo in Manila Bay last Sunday. Owing to
the fact that the cable between this port and
the Philippine Islands was not in working order.
having been cut. 1t is said some distance from
the capital of the islands. there has been delay
in obtaining detailed account Of the battle.
and facts in the case were only available when
the United States dispatch-boat Hugh McCul-
loch arrived here yesterday. Even then the tre-
mendous pressure Of business suddenly thrown
upon the cable company necessarily made the
earlier accounts of the engagement somewhat
brief.
THE TASK WELL DONE.
Commodore Dewey's orders were to capture
destroy the Spanish fleet. and never were in
structions executed ia more complete fashion
At the end of seven hours there nothing
left Of the Spanish fleet but few relics. The
American commander had most sklfully ar
ranged every detail of the action and even the
apparently insignificant features were carried
out with perfect punctuaty and in railroad
timetable order.
At the end OF the action Commodore Dewey
anchored his fleet in the bay before Manila and
sent a message to ovevHor-General August.
announcing the beginning Of the blockade and
adding that II shot should be fired against
his ships he would destroy every battery about
Manila
The position occupied by the Spanards. the
support which their ships received from the
land batteries and the big guns they had ashore
gave them enormous advantage Therefore.
when 1t is considered that the Spaniards lost
over six hundred men in killed and wounded.
that all their ships probably fourteen. were de-
stroyed and that the naval arsenal at Cavits
was also destroyed. with its defences, 1t will be-
come apparent that the victory OF the American
Commodore is one of the most complete and
warfare
NO AMERICANS KILLED
Not a man on board the American feet was
killed, not a ship was damaged to any extent
and only six men were injured slightly. these
being on board the Baltimore.
This grand achievement is quite as much due
to the generalshp Of Commodore Dewey as to
the excellence Of the American gunners. ships
and guns Credit must also be given to the full
est extent to the officers under Commodore
Dewey for TO man they seconded their gall
liant commander In every way possible and thus
helped him earn the laurels which are so justly
his.
TRIP TO MANILA BAY
When the squadron left here 1t touched nrst
at a place in the Philippine Islands near Bo-
linao. as Commodore Dewey wished the insur-
gent agents 70 disembark there ascertain the
strength and disposition Of the insurgent forces
arrange to prevent needless bloodshed and In
form the insurgents OF his Immediate intention
TO change the government Of the Philippine
Islands The Commodore strongly objected to
giving the rebels chance TO commit excesses
The insurgent leaders. however, refused to dis
embark under any consideration and the Amer
lean warships coasted In search Of the Spanish
ships but failed to find them
Commodore Dewey arrived at Subig Bay.
about thirty miles north of Manila Bay, on Sat-
urday April 80 and sent the Baltimore and the
Concord TO reconnoitre They found no Spanish
ships at the entrance of Manila Bay, and so the
Commodore decided to risk the mines and pro-
coed that same night at dark into the bay
which he did.
THE OPPOSING FLEETS.
The American ships engaged were:
The hrs,-class cruiser OLYMPIA. having on
hoard 400 officers and men. the flagship OF Commo-
dore Dewey.
The cruiser BALTIMORE 800 officers and men,
The cruiser BOSTON 2sl officers and men.
Tho eunboat CONCORD. 200 officers and men.
The cruiser RALEIGH 2c0 officers and men,
The gunboat PETREI.. 1872 officers and men,
rh e,rboat HUGH M'CULLOCH. 100 officers
and men.
The Spanish fleet under Admiral Montojo. was
composed Of
The cruiser REINA MARIA CRISTINA the nag
chin having on board $40 officers and men.
The cruiser CASTILLA 800 officers and men,
The cruiser DON ANTONIO DE UILOA. I7s
officers and men
The cruiser DON JUAN DE AUSTRIA. l7s on
and men.
The cruiser VELAsCO 17S officers and men.
The gunboat ISLA DE LUZON. l6o officers and
men.
The gunboat IsLA DE CUBA. lso officers and
The gunboat GENERAL LEO 81 officers and
men.
The gunboat Ell CANO. 1ls officers and men.
The auxiliary cruiser ISLA DE MINDANAO. $50
officers and men.
And a few torpedo-boats