Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1898-05-05

were unavailing.
Cruiser Scuttled.
The Americans continued to pour
their fire upon the devoted vessel, and
to prevent the magazine from explod-
ing she was scuttled and the crew made
for the shore in their boats or upon
pieces of the shattered spars.
Blown to Pieces.
The Don Juan de Austria was even
less fortunate. She, too was crippled
by the shots of the Americans and in
her helpless condition could not es-
cape the storm of shot and shell. Sud-
denly her magazine exploded. A great
cloud of smoke, from which flames
seemed to leap, was seen to rise above
the ship and she was seen no more.
The cruisers Mindano and Don An
tcnio de Ulloa were in the thick of the
combat and sustained heavy fire for
an hour. Then they were able to draw
away under the forts, though suffering
serious injury.
Spanish Courage.
No greater show of courage was
made by any of the heroes of Spain
than by those on the smaller gunboats.
Seeing that they were apt to fall into
the hands of the enemy they sunk
their vessels or set them on fire ana
risked their lives in the waters of the
bay.
Admiral MOntejO's Report.
Madrid, via Paris, May 2.-The time
of the retreat of the American squadron
behind the merchantmen was 1880 a.
m. The naval bureau at Manila sends
the following report, signed ''Montejo,
Admiral:" I'm middle of the night
the American squadron forced the forts
and before daybreak appeared off Ca
vite. The night was completely dark.
At half-past seven the bow of the Reina
Maria Christina took fire and soon after
the poop also was burned. At eight
o'clock, with my staff, went on board
the Isla of Cuba. The Reina Maria
Christina and the Catilla were then en-
tirely euveloped in flames. The other
ships having been damaged, retired into
Baker bay. Some had to be sunk to pre-
vent their falling into the hands of the
enemy. The losses are numerous,
notably Capt. Cadarso, priest and nine
other persons"
Governor Generals Report.
The following is the text of the Off
cial dispatch from the governor-gen-
eral of the Philippines to the minister
of war, Lieut. Gen. Correa, as to the en-
gagement off Manila: Saturday night,
April 80, the batteries at the entrance to
the fort announced the arrival of the
enemy's squadron, forcing a passage
under the obscurity of the night. At
daybreak the enemy took up positions,
opening with strong fire against Fort
Cavite and the arsenal.
Our fleet engaged the enemy in bril-
liant combat, protected by the Cavite
and Manila forts. They obliged the
enemy with heavy loss to maneuver re-
peatedly. At nine o'clock the Ameri-
can squadron took refuge behind the
foreign merchant shipping, on the east
side of the bay.
"Our fleet, considering the enemy's
superiority, naturally suffered a Sc
we're loss. The Maria Christina is on fire
and another ship, believed to be the
Don Juna de Austria, was blown up.
There was considerable loss of life.
Capt. Cadarzo, commanding the Maria
Christina, is among the killed. can
not give further details" ..
Excitement in Madrid.
The town is greatly excited by the
serious news from the Philippines and
there is an immense gathering in the
Celle de Sevilla. The civil guards on
horseback were called out to preserve
order and all precautions have been
taken. There is much muttering, but
up to the present nothing more serious
has occurred.
Notwithstanding the severe damage
the Spanish ships sustained naval officers
here consider that further operations
by the American squadron will be con-
Quoted under great difficulty, owing to
their having no base where they can
repair and recoal or obtain fresh sup
plies of ammunition.
Another account says the Mindano
and Ullao Tor Ulloa) were severely dam
aged in the second engagement.
Ministers speak of serious but hon.
OTdDle losses.
Claims Spanish Victory.
Admiral Bermejo, minister of marine,
Joined the cabinet council Sunday even
ing and informed his colleagues that
the Spanish force had gained a victory
in the Philippines. He asserted that
he found difficulty in restraining his
joyful emotions.
The official dispatch does not men
ticn the destruction of any American
vessel, although it says that the United
States squadron finally cast an anchor
in the bay behind the foreign merchant
men.
Result as to Americans I'm Doubt.
London, May 2.-While it is quite
clear that the Spanish squadron has
suffered crushing defeat, the dis
patches leave unclear the intensely in
teresting question whether the Ameri-
can squadron has suffered material
damage. All news thus far comes
from Spanish sources, but it seems evil
dent that Commodore Dewey has not
nj TT,,ln l. & II