The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1898-05-11
NONE ESCAPED.
Spain's Entire Fleet Was De-
stroyed at Manila.
Admiral Dewey Sends a Report to the
Navy Department in Which He Tells
Of the Great Victory of the
Squadron He Commands
Not One American was
Killed.

dispatch from commodore Dewey MD |
nila, May 1.-The squadron arrived at |
Manila at daybreak this morning. I'm
mediately engaged the enemy and de-
stroyed the following Spanish vessels
Reina Christina, Castillo, Don Antonio
Ulloa, Isla de Cuba, General Lezo, Isla
de Luzon, Duero, Ell Cana, Velasco
Mindanao, one transport and the
water battery at Cavite. The squadron
is uninjured and only few men were
slightly wounded. The only means of
telegraphing is to the American consul
at Hong Kong. l shall communicate
with him. DEWEY"
A second dispatch read as follows:
"Cavite, May A. have taken posses
sion of the naval station at Cavite,
Philippine islands, and destroyed its
Notifications at the bay entrance,
paroling the garrison. / control the
bay completely and can take the city
at any time The squadron is in eX-
cellent health and spirits The Span
ish loss not fully known, but very
heavy; $50 killed, including the captain
of the Reina Christina. l am assisting
in protecting the Spanish sick and
wounded; $50 sick and wounded in
hospital within our lines. Much ex-
citement at Manila. Will protect for
eign residents. DEWEY"
Following this Secretary Long gave
out his reply to Dewey, which was
cabled by direction of the president,
as follows:
washington, May Z, 1898.
dewey, Manila: The president, in
the name of the American people,
thanks you and your officers and men
for your splendid achievement and
overwhelming victory. In recognition
he has appointed you acting admiral
and will recommend vote of thanks
to Won bv congress. LONG,"
Chicago, May 9.-The Chronicle has
the following:
Hong Kong, May 9.-Commodore
Dewey's flag lieutenant, Thomas M.
Brumby, arrived at Hong Kong Satur-
day morning on the revenue cutter
Hugh McCulloch with the first official
news of the greatest naval battle OF
modern times, that of Manila harbor.
The official dispatches were at once
forwarded by cable to the government
at Washington. The first connected
story of the engagement was told by
the officers of the McCulloch, who saw
it and participated in it. They said
that Spain's fleet of ten vessels was
wholly destroyed.
During Saturday night the vessels Of
the American squadron crept inside the
bay through a supposed maze of mStes
and torpedoes. They were not OBJ
served by any of the watchers on the
Spanish garrisons until some stray
sparks were emitted from the funne
of the dispatch boat McCulloch. Ther
q few shots were exchanged will
the garrison on Corregidor islanC
but they were ineffective. There wa
no patrol established, nor were any
search lights placed at the entrance t.
Manila bay. The vessels of the Ameri
a can squadron never stopped or SLOWED
= down until they had assumed posi-
tion directly opposite the city of Ma
Mia. This was just at ybreak. TIL
order of battle assumed by the Spanisl
feet at the beginning of the engage
5 ment was with all the small crafts in
r side Cavite harbor, which is protecte
, by stone and timber breakwaters an
: the larger ships maneuvering Of
: Cavite and Manila.
The American battle line was led b
n the flagship Olympia and cruiser R;
d leigh. The Boston, Baltimore, Concor
It and Petrol and the revenue cutter NJ,
d Culloch followed. The American flee
at easy speed approached the Spanis
" ships, which were drawn out in tw
r lines, the Reina Maria Christina, til
e flagship in the center. AS the daw
s. broke and the position of the America
e squadron was discovered, the Spanis
,r feet opened fire, supported by tt
Cavite forts. The Spaniards fired tt
IS first shot. The challenge was give
s. by the Reina Maria Christina. II
Olympia replied and at once the entiI
T. American feet was in action. III
ii Spanish ships did not hesitate in the
~ fire and the Cavite batteries let loo
er their heavy guns. The best gunne
I'd in the American feet manned the mo
Mt destructive weapons on their ship
and the havoc wrought was frightfr
ne The Reina Maria Christina, fagsh
lg of the 81 anish squadron, was the ce
| - e Of hn hnf sTr tpfr Of
On a cion, ant under the hot fire poured
o., 1 her from the American ships S
nd " soon burr ng from stem to steI
of Admiral NJ )ntc, o, the Spanish admir-
80 was compelled 10 escape in sm
as boat to the lsla &c Cuba, another
the Spanish vessels, and as soon as
*, flag was hoisted the guns of I
ed American fleet were turned on it, a
in, in few minutes it was destroyed. I
admiral was az ain forced to escape
ro- a small boat. The defense of Man
on and its batteries, as well as those
nic Cavite, were silenced and beaten
lth the ground by the rain of shot q
Ter shell.
70 The craftsmanship of the Span
'"' gunners seemed to be wild from I
on, outset and meanwhile the ships Of {
AXE American squadron were pouring
the deadly FIRE, doing great execution. ]
'ey' American cruiser Baltimore at {
.on . period of the engagement received
rals brunt of the enemy's fire and suffe
lent the most of any vessel in the Amerit
e squadron. From to 10 of the enem
SEQ shots took effect on the Baltimore,
in none of her officers or crew were S,
, ously hurt.
men The American shins nassed ba