New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-08-09
MANILA AFTER THE BATTLE
A LETTER FROM LIEUTENANT BEACH,
OF THE BALTIMORE.


OF the cruiser Baltimore. describing the fight In
Manila Bay. was received recently by Robert
Leslie Mofett. Of this city. Lieutenant Beach
was graduated at Annapolis in the class OF
/ 1SSS He is passed assistant engineer and has
seen service on the NewYork. the Philadelphia.
and the Puritan. He Joined the Baltimore at
Honolulu. His home Is in Brooklyn. The letter
is dated II. S. S. Baltimore. Manila, Philippine
Is. May 20. 1898" 1t says in part
The Olympia was struck during the action
The Baltimore pierced six times we nave
learned since that the Spaniards thought the BAL
timore tho Oregon and that explains why
they used armor piercing projectile on us, which
went through and through. instead Of shells. which
would have exploded and done killing work inc
spariard is brave enough. but so thoughtess! IL
seems remarkable that could have won so
great a victory without the loss OF n fe' ana that
when for four hours perfect hall OF steel pro-
Jectiles striking all around the ships but not
/ IN them The Spaniards have their own lack or
/ attention to their profession TO thank Tor this'
They seem TO forget that target practice is essen
! tial 10 good craftsmanship. We learned yesterday
that troops coming from san francisco 10
occupy Manila. We Will he most heartily Giao OF
/ this for then we will take Manila and pipe the
/ Spanlards out OF this part OF the world we get
the Manila newspapers occasionally. through the
English and their talk most amusing, as well
as their description of things happening 10 our
fleet We also got some papers published prior 20
the battle The Govcrnor-General issued proc
lamatlon on April o informing all Spaniards
that an American fleet had lef; Hong Kong for
Manila with hostile intent" He said that the in
tont!on of the Americans 70 destroy their dear
religion and substitute therefor dastardly frot-
/ estantsm: to murder husbands. fathers. brothers
and children; to loot, rob. steal ana destroy Anu
then he says: VAIN boasngs ridiculous expecta-
tons, Their ships are manned by towards OF TO
/ uhord Oft1Cered
norance The Americans are all social excres-
cences from all the pesthouses. jais ana asyiums
Of the world. They know not virtue. and courage
IS foreign 10 their vile natures, they are Nauon
Of cowardy murderers. for whom the chivalrous
hosts OF Spain. always victorious. need have no
concern Therefore. remain quiet and tranquil
| O people Of Manila Then this bombastc Gov
ernor-General went on 10 say that the American
squadron would be completely destroyed ana ne
ended his epistle. so full Of Spanish love ana
mercy by saying that any person found or
known to speak in any way kindly or favorabIy
OF America. Americans. would no consoered
public enemy and instantly shot"
Tho Manila papers showed that We were ek-
pected and with the most absolute confidence that
We would he completely destroyed
PRISONERS KINDLY TREATED.
After the action Navy regulations were read. and
Admiral Dewey promised death any American
who in any way maltreated an inhabitant on shore.
or plundered or committed any act or Violence
or tina, would bring discredit upon the flag. There
are probably unruly characters In the heet. out
they are under absolute control As result ali prs
oners have been most kindly treated ana paroleo'
We captured thousands OF them. and paroled them
all Captain Dyer. OF this ship. gave up to women
and children MA private quarters, PROVIDED
them with servants and with food and wine from
nj. own table II was necessary 20 take some on
board as some Of the forts We TOOK were sePara'en
by water from Manila. All were allowed 10
take all property they claimed as personal ana
no question was raised saw ono party We capt
ured taking away safe. At Cavlte we permitted
/ them TO M three enormous trucks with silver
dollars and start for Manila. IL European ana
particularly Spanish. customs had ruled. Tree ioot
! for all hands would have prevailed; but American
,dens nre prevailing. We are hghtng for prnci-
pic and we look with contempt upon their treas
urc and holdings our Government will fully
reward us aud are above the spanish custom
q, killing the enemy and then robbing his house
War custom in the past has permitted this; oui
The soldier instead 81 10 lofty ideals. At,
The American sSoIs ara % Sse psrsona feeng
Of anger against the spaniard. but rather h .id
go nrer{ere e' with our shooting ability with
the speed Of the ships but rather Increased our
sInce the fight the Manila papers Ne gradually
picking up tone Just now. though they are wing
10 admit that their fleet was totally destroyed ana
t5eir land fortihcations demolished Yet 1t was
spanish victory aeT ALL ney n ns' and o now rests
on The bottom II is more than likely that when we
dsmand Of 'S Mana IN aFicgar and ali the Philip
p,nes in general he viii refuse and will have TO
bannw one We have cut tho cable and he is in
teegfaphc communication with Madrid and can, can,
b Sr adm Manila 6eaHiiful little Spanish gun
boat steamns IN tho other mornhs WIN nr r
coiiple OF shells across her bow. caused the cap
tain to % eTzs and The e nex day s' @ the
Spanish captain and Officers OF the captured snip
Wanila They were met on tho wharf. Immediately
tried by court martial and shot to death next day
Le Sd hR wnff that a the own
would soon put them To death.
PERFECT DISCIPLINE ON THE SHIPS
We have more or less alarms every night. We
are on the lookout for Spanish torpedoes and fire.
quentIy get called TO quarters at night To be sub
feet to these night alarms Is trying One Is sleep
ing soundy. and everything Is quiet. OF a sud
den A sentry yells out. Boat ahoy!' II not an
swercd ne Immediately fires Then. II there is any
thing suspicious about the boat. the drums crash
and the buses bring ont their hoarse. strident notes
and hoatswain's mates yell over the ship. "A hands
TO quarters" And then everybody Jumps ont OF
hammock or bunk and runs to his appointed sta
ton and starts carrying out prearranged orders
For A moment 1t appears as II Undesirable confu
sion resns This Is because three hundred and my
rections. ana for n moment II appears as II pade-
The three hundred and fifty men is hard at work
and all signs OF confusion are at an end. rush be,
low shut all watertight doors OF the ship start all
pumps and am ready to pump out pierced com
part ment put out hre or use the engines as re-
aulred other hurriedly sending up am
munition guns loaded and men stationed
M them ready 20 fire. The ship discipline OF the
American Navy Is as perfect incesSant drill and
acute Intelligence can make IT, That Is why was
so confident to what the result OF our action
here would be. And l equally confident that
the same will crown our Atlantic fleet.
The most disagreea5lc work We had here was to
lury the spanish dead on shore. This was on the
third day after the ngnt ard the Intense heat
caused the bodies 10 deconpose badly. War Is a
horrible thing. as the wounds OF these men showed.
Cayite is the naval station. and II Is fortified with
modern guns. Blood ran la the cutters that day.
| went into different rooms that were drenched
with blood There srnken Spanish ships
within from one to miles of us, that now,
at low tide. sending up frighful stencil. caused
nv something between Ave hundred and thou
sand dead Spaniards. whose bodies still in