The record-union., 1898-06-13

MANILA BAY, May (via Hong
kong, May 1O.-(Copyright, 1898, i'y
the Associated Press. with decks
cleared for action. guns shotted, crews
all at quarters and eagerly pearlng
through the port holes, Commodore
Dewey having previously made signal
to follow the flagship, headed for the
entrance of Manila Bay between the
batteries on the islands Of Pulo Caballo
and Ell Fraile at 10 p. m. on Sunday
night last, April Both. Here We're The
guns that We're to blow US out of the
water and the much vaunted torpedo
mine field that was impossible to pass
without a skilled pilot. At 1920 a
signal light and gun on the beach an
nounced that we had probably been
seen, as the night was bright moon
light, but the dark green paint and the
inky darkness on board ship prevented
any estimate of our character being
made. The Olympia and Baltimore
slipped through unseen before the gun
ners of Ell Fraile, but a sudden roar,
flash and shell whistled over the
Raleigh and exploded alongside. The
Baltimore opened fire and a five-inch
shell from her broke the silence OF the
American fleet but the course of the
shots were fired at the Concord and
Boston and they We're promptly re-
piled to, after which the ships were out
of range. Speed was then slackened
and the column headed up the bay for
Manila, thirty miles distant
The Commodore s1irted the city at
early dawn, but the Spanish fleet was
not there. Soon afterward it was dis
tinguished drawn up in line of battle,
off the strongly fortified arsenal Of "a
vite, seven miles from Manila The
signal prepare for general action and
close up was then floated from the
flagship Olympia and the bugle and
drum called to general quarters ard
the glorious Stars and Stripes waved
out from every masthead and gan Of
the six ships of the squadron as the
Olympia headed for their line of battle.
Our formation was in column, 400 yards
apart, with a slackened speed of six
knots
The fullness of day revealed the
Spanish fleet of nine vessels the Reina
Christina, flagship. the Castillo, Don
Antonio de Ulloa, Isla de Cuba Isla de
Luzon and four small gunboats. The
Spanish mail steamer Mindanao was
also in line, having been hastily lifted
with guns. Each end of their line
was protected by batteries of q and s.
inch guns on the peninsula of Cavite.
The Castillo was moored head and
stern and the other ships had steam up
in order to be able TO retreat behind
the mole and batteries of Cavite to i.a-
pair accidents and take a breathing
spell
The shore batteries opened fire on US
long before we We're in range. Our
guns were silent until at 1900 yards,
when the Olympia swung around her
port broadside and let drive her four
S-inch turret guns. The Baltimore,
Raleigh, Petrol Concord and Boston,
in succession followed the flagship and
opened fire as soon as their guns would
bear on the enemy. The engagement
was general as the Americans swept
down parallel to the Spanish line, bnt
was fought at long range, owing TO cur
ships being kept away from the enemy
in the shallow water. The modem
high-power guns and excellent gunnery
of the Americans showed its effect
while the Spaniards' shots either fell
far short or flew wholly over our
heads
The end of their line being reached we