Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1898-05-11
a}listellaneuus 8eaaing.
SUNK THBM ALL.
How Americans Treated the
Spaniards at Manila.
DEWEY REMEMBERED THE MAINE.


Spanish Losses Probably 1,OO0-Americans
Had Only Six Hurt by an Explosion on
the Baltimore-It Was the Greatest
Battle of Modern Times.
From the Associated Press.
HONG KONG, May S.-Among naval
men, military men and civilians, Eu-
ropeans and natives here today there
is only the one subject of discussion
the brilliant, dashing, annihilating VIC
tory of the American fleet under Com
modore Dewey over the Spanish fleet
commanded by Admiral Montejo in
Manila bay on Sunday last.
Owing to the fact that the cable be-
tween this port aud the Philippines is
lands was not in working order, having
been cut, it is said, some distance from
the capital of the islands, there has
been delay in obtaining detailed ac-
count of the battle, and facts in the
case were only available when the
United States gunboat Hugh McCul-
loch arrived here yesterday, and even
then the tremendous pressure of busi-
ness suddenly thrown upon the cable
company necessarily made the earlier
accounts of the engagement somewhat
tri.f.
Commodore Dewey's orders were to
capture or destroy the Spanish fleet,
and never were instructions executed
in so complete a fashion. At the end
of seven hours there was absolutely
nothing left of the Spanish fleet but u
few relics.
The American commander had most
skillfully arranged every detail of the
action, and even the apparently most
insignificant features were carried out
with perfect puuctuality and in rail-
road time table order.
At the end of the action Commodore
Dewey anchored his fleet in the bay
before Manila, and sent message to
the governor general, General August,
the inauguration of the
blockade, and adding that if shot
was fired against his ships he would
destroy every battery about Manila.
The position occupied by the Span
iards, the support which their ships
received from the land batteries and
the big guns they had ashore gave
them an enormous advantage. There
fore, when it is considered that the
lost over 600 men in killed
and wounded, that all their ships,
amounting to about IA were destroyed,
and that their naval arsenal at Cavite
was also destroyed, with its defenses,
it will become apparent that the victo-
ry of the American commodore is one
of the most complete and wonderful
achievements in the history of naval
warfare.
Not a man on board the American
fleet was killed, not ship was dam
aged to any extent, and only six men
were injured slightly on board the
Baltimore.
This grand achievement is quite as
much due to the generalship of Com
modore Dewey as to the fact that the
gunners, ships and guns are
superior to anything in the same line
afloat anywhere. Credit must also be
given to the fullast extent to the Off
GERS under Commodore Dewey, for,
to a man, they seconded their gallant
commander in every way possible and
thus helped him earn the laurels which
are so justly his.
When the squadron left here it
touched first at a point in the Philip
pine islands near Bolinao, as Commo-
dore Dewey wished the insurgents
agents to disembark there, ascertain
the strength and disposition of the in
sursent forces, arrange to prevent need
less bloodshed and inform the insur-
gents of his intention to change the gov
ernment of the Philippine islands, the
commodore strongly objecting to CIV
ing the rebels a chance to commit ex-
cesses. The insurgent leaders, how
ever, refused TO disembark under any
consideration, and the American ships,
coasted in search of the Spanish ships,
but failed to find them. Commodore
Dewey arrived at Subig Bay, about 30
miles north of Manila bay, on Satur-
day, April 80, and sent the Baltimore
and Concord to reconnoitre the enemy.
They found no Spanish ships at the
entrance of the bay, and so the com
modore decided to risk the mines and
proceed that same night, after dark,
into the Bay of Manila, which he did.
The order of battle taken up by the
Spaniards was with all the small craft
inside the stone and timber break
waters of Cavite harbor. The larger
ships of Spain cruised off Cavite and
Manila.
The American fleet entered Manila
bay on Saturday night with the great
est of ease. The Spaniards had not
established a patrol, and there were no
searchlights at the entrance Of the bay.
In fact, the American ships would
probably have passed inside the bay
without any challenge had it not been
that some sparks flew up from the
McCulloch's funnel. Thereupon few
shots were exchanged with the batter
les on Corregidor island but the fleet
did not slow down, and soon took up
a position near Cavite, awaiting dawn
in order to commence hostilities.
The early hours of the morning re-
vealed the opposing ships to each
other, and the Spanish flagship opened
fire. Her action was followed by some
of the larger Spanish warships, and
then the Cavite forts opened up and