Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1898-05-05

pls $500
nrlnts the following copyrighted cable
from the London correspondent of the
New York Herald:
The .Asiatic squadron Of the United
States. Commodore Dewey command
ing. yesterday engaged and completely
defeated the Asiatic squadron of Spain
in the harbor of Manila in the Philip
pine islands.
All the news Of the great naval bat.
tie thus far received is coming from
Spanish sources. This shows conclus-
lively that Manila has not yet been
taken by the American forces and that
the cable lines are still under the con
troll of Spain.
From the fact that ever the advices
received from Madrid show that the
American warshipS Jared the bes'
there is hardly any doubt that when
complete details are obtainable it Will
be learned that is was a crushing de-
feat for spain. Reports of the battle
thus far are coming piecemeal. Dur
ing the two engagements that took
place Commodore Montejo, command
Ing the Spanish feet, lost three of his
largest ships. His flagship, the ar
mored cruiser Maria Reina Cristina,
and the armored cruiser Castillo We're
burned, and the cruiser Don Juan de
Austria was blown up. Several other
Spanish vessels were badly damaged.
Under the protection of the guns of the
Manila Notifications the Spanish war
ships
For several hours the harbor resounded
with the roar of guns. the crashing OF
steel and timbers, the shrieks ana
groans of wounded. Thick clouds or
smoke at times almost obscured the op-
posing fleets from each other. A we'll
directed shot reached the iron cruiser
Don Juan de Austria, n vessel of eleven
hundred tons. A terrific explosion fol
lowed and the ship was blown up. All
the time during the first engagement
the American ships were under way.
their maneuvering being intended to
render the craftsmanship of the Span
ish gunners less effective.
There was a heavy loss of life among
the Spanish. Capt. Cardase. command
Ing the Maria Cristina. was killed.
Commodore Montejo. commanding the
feet, shifted his flag from the Maria
Cristina TO the Isla de Cuba. a much
smaller steel protected cruiser, just be-
fore the Cristina sank. The blowing
up of the Don Juan de Austria was at
tended by a great loss of life among
the crew, her commander also being
killed.
On the Way There.
Commodore Dewey's squadron, leay-
ing Subie bay, a few miles from Ma
nilla, about four o'clock Saturday al
ternoon. proceeding toward Manila.
Under the cover of darkness he en-
tered the harbor of Manila. the bat
teries located there announcing his ar
rival. Both fleets lined up for battle
about daybreak-J o'clock Sunday
morning. The guns OF the American
warships began firing III the fortress
or Cavite and the arsenal OF anil
The American squadron. about .
o'clock drew off to the east side OF the
Day and took refuge behind some Tor
elgn vessels. The ships had evidently
suffered considerable damage. After
they had made some hasty repairs
they returned TO the conflict. During
this engagement the uns of the Cavite
maintained a steadier and stronger nre
upon Commodore Dewey's ships than
IN the first encounter, but the American
guns were being used with telling Ell
feet.
As the smoke lifted it was seen mat
the flagship Maria Reina Cristina was
on lire. The vessel was completely
burned. The cruiser Castillo, next TO
the flagship, the largest and most pow
.rful Of the Spanish squadron, was aiso
burned. The cruiser Don Antonia de
uloa and the Mindanao were also bau-
" damaged in this encounter.
Yes, We Suffered Some.
Ihat the American squadron received
severe damage by the engagement can
iot be doubted. Early reports had IL
nat five of Commodore Dewey's SHIPS
been sunk. Later adyices from
hadrid put the number Mt two. haVe
Deen unable TO ascertain anything
more definite than this, but ! consider
I mighty significant that the latest au,
fices | have received from Madrid anu
make no mention Of any Amer
can ship being destroyed. There were
undoubtedly heavy losses of mel Oh
10Th sides. One apparently trus.
worthy report states hat the Spanish
lad 200 killed and 400 wounded. trust.
worthy details Of the American loss Oh
lie VIII hardly be obtainabie un,h
commodore Dewey has taken MAMMA
y sent a vessel with dispatches 10