The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1898-06-23
From a Elaine Man at Manila.

| The following extracts from letter
written by F. f. Shute Of Sears
port who is in the U. S. steamer Concord,
written just after the battle at Manila,
Will oe of interest just now
| U. S. CONCORD, off Cavite, Harbor Of
Manila, May 4, 1898. suppose you will
be anxious to hear from me, SO take this
the first opportunity to send letters to
write to you.
Came in the harbor at y. 25, a. M, on
Sunday, May list; passed small fort at
entrance named Gel Fraile.' They fired
two shots at us, which were returned by
| this ship and the ''Boston." Their shots
| did no harm. the first passing ahead, the
second going over us and between our
mizzen and main masts. At 5.O5 A. NJ,
| while approaching anchorage at Manila,
we were fred upon by shore battery and
two shots were exchanged by Us and
| several by the other ships. We also fired at
| torpedo boat that ran out from Cavite
and it was sunk by the Olympia's guns.
Another boat made for the Olympia, but
meeting with warm reception turned,
ran on the beach, and was abandoned.
The squadron in splendid order turned
to the right when off the city and advanced
on the Spanish fleet, which appeared in
line of battle off Shangley Point in Carnaco
Bay. They opened the ball at once, but
most of the shots fell short.
AS we steamed past, each vessel delivered
fire from ler port battery and the effect
was soon apparent. The ensign of a
cruiser which we took to be the Reina
Christina (3520 tons, u guns) was shot
away, but hoisted again and she took fire
at I. p A. MI, apparently from the effects
of a shell from our third division, and the
fire hose could be seen playing aloft
Three complete turns We're made by our
squadron III front of the enemy's line, the
ships firing whenever the guns would bear.
At /. 40 A.. ". we ceased, in obedience to
signal from the Commander in Chief, and
at s. 10 A. NJ. the crews went to breakfast. -
The foregoing is copied from the re
port of Lit. Com d + y. i. Colcorcss Of this
vessel, to our Commander.
Shute says further: In that two hours and
thirty-tive minutes we had them, and the
most of their ships We're sunk or burning
After an engagement OF about 40 minutes,
II. Is to T. =. not a Spanish flag was fly
ing over ship or fort Except on the ships
that were sunk.
They were the most surprised lot you
ever saw on heard Of None of the English,
Germans, Or other foreigners at Hong
Kong thought we could pass the forts at
the entrance; but Com Dewey with six
cruisers, a revenue boat and two trans
ports 1.-THE last three did no tighting) play
ed Yankee trick on them: sinking or
burning twelve cruisers and large num-
Der of river gun boats They had
about twenty-five small boats for river
service.
We have destroyed everything in the
shape of government property, fleet, forts,
arsenals, etc, and not a mar killed or yes
sci injured badly. There never was such
quick work since Adam, with such small
fleet. The loss on the other side proved
the superiority Of Our ships and guns and
the cool headed manner in which they
were served.
Dom know when there Will be another
mail, but do not worry; We have got every
thing out here, so there VIII be nothing to
do but keep cool, if we can,