Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1898-09-03
MONT|JO'S AWFUL DEFEAT
Spanish Admiral's Sad
Story Of the Manila
Battle.
MATCHLESS GUNNEUS TO MEET.
Had las More Men Than Dewey. but
Fewer Skilled Fighters and
Lighter Ships.

| Admiral MontiJoS ofilcial report oil
his crushing defeat by Commodore
Dewey on May 1, in Manila Bay, has
just reached the Bureau of Intelli-
gence Of the Navy Department in a
Spanish technical and semi-official
journal, and has been translated for
the Secretary of the Navy. 1t is ex-
tremely interesting. In it the defeat
ed Admiral says:
The squadron being disposed for
action, fires spread and everything in
proper place, we waited for the enc
my's arrival
At a "a m. made signal to prepare
for action, and at 4:45 the Austria sig
nailed the enemy's squadron, few
minutes after which they were recog-
nized with some confusion, in col
umn parallel with ours, at about 6, 900
metres distant, the flagship Olympia
ahead, followed by the Baltimore,
Raleigh, Boston, Concord, Helena,
Petrel and Mccullough, the two trans
ports Zafro aud Nashana.
The force of these vessels, excepting
transports that were non.combatant,
amounted to $1,000 tons, 40, aoo
horsepower, I65 guns (many ofwhich
were rapid fire., 1850 men in their
crews, and Of an average velocity Of
about II miles. The power of our
only S effective ships for battle was
represented by Io,oII tons, II, 200
horsepower, 70 guns very short Of
rapid. fire., 1875 crew, and a maxi
mum speed of IL miles.
At S O'Clock the batteries on Point
Sangley opened fire. The two first
shots tell short and to the lett of the
leading vessel. These shots were not
answered by the enemy, whose prin-
cipal object was the squadron.
This battery only had two Ordonez
guns of rs centimeters mounted, and
but only one of these could fire in the
direction of the opposing fleet.
In few minutes one Of the batter
les of Manila opened fire, and at SIS
| made signal that our squadron open
fire. The enemy answered immedi-
lately. The battle became general
We slipped the springs and cables ana
started ahead with the engines, so as
not to be involved by the enemy.
The Americans fired most rapidly.
There came upon us numberless pro-
jectiles, as the three cruisers at the
head of the line devoted themselves
almost entirely to fight the Christina,
my flagship. A short time after the
action commenced one shell exploded
in the forecastle and put out OF action
all those who served the four rapid
fire guns, making splinters of the for
ward mast, which wounded the helms
man on the bridge, when Lieutenant
Jose Nunez took the wheel with a
GOODNESS worthy of the greatest COM
mendation, steering until the end of
the fight. In the meanwhile another
shell exploded in the orlop, setting
fire to the crews bags, which they
were, fortunately, able to control.
The enemy shortened the distance
between us, and rectifyiug his aim,
covered us with rain of rapid-fir
pIojectiles. At7.3o one shell destroy
ed completely the steering gear. l
ordered to steer by hand while the
rudder was out OF action. In the
meanwhile, another shell exploded on
the poop and put out of action nine
men Another destroyed the mizzen
mast head, bringing down the flag
and my ensign which were replaced
Immediately.
A fresh shell exploded in the Off
GERS cabin, covering the hospital with
blood, destroying the wounded who
were being treated there.
Another exploded in the ammuni-
ton room astern, filling the quarters
with some and preventing the work
ing Of the handsteering gear. AS it
was impossible to control the fire. !
had to flood the magazine when the
cartridges began to explode.