Daily new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1897-1906, 1898-05-02

HoNdKoNG, May "A special to the
Pittsburg Post says: Commander Dew
ey of the United States Asiatic squad
ron arrived off Manila, capital of the
Philippine islands, Saturday night after
dark, and, forcing passage early Sun
day morning, he took up positions and
opened up strong fire on Fort Cavite
and the arsenal.
The forts from shore answered with
their batteries, while outside the bay
the Spanish fleet stole up on the attack
ing force and opened fire.
There was a terrific interchange of
shots, but it soon became evident that
the Spanish admiral, Montejo, was cop
ing with a superior enemy, and the
Americans well-direeted shots soon be-
gan to tell on his ships and men.
The Spaniards seemed paralyzed with
excitement and fear, their projectiles
fell wide of the mark. there was confu-
sion on board, orders were misunder-
stood and at every point there was half
hearted work.
When the American vessels sighted
Manila the command was given, ''strip
for action" No excitement, no confu-
sion. Coolly and carefully the final
preparations were made. AS the ports
of Manila and Cavite hove into sight
the guns of the two advance cruisers
were trained ON the battery of Manila
and fired an S-inch projectile each. The
first two shots fell short of the mark
Not so, however, the next two. The
American gunners' aim sent them with
unerring accuracy against the works,
and there was crumbling of old stones
and mortar and a great cloud of dust.
The shore batteries returned the fire,
but their aim was inaccurate, and their
projectiles simply whizzed through the
rigging.
In the meantime the rear vessels of
the squadron were made the target of
the guns of the Spanish squadron which,
hitherto in hiding, had sailed into sight
around the upper end of the bay
Commander Dewey, standing on the
bridge of his flagship, the Olympia, di-
rected his first efforts to the Spanish
| flagship, the Renia Marie Christiana.
carrying the Spanish Admiral Monteio.
He opened a whitening fire upon her.
His six-inch and eight-inch guns did
the most awful work His rapid fire
guns describing a semi-circle crashed
| through the Christianas rigging and
swept the Spaniards completely off their
| feet; finally great shell was hurled
against the ironclad, which landed
squarely on the deck, scattering death
ON every hand. Suddenly a great
! tongue of fame burst out of the Chris.
tiana's vitals; her commander, Captain
Codaiso, already lay stretched upon the
deck corpse. Admiral Montejo, see.
ing all hope gone, and desiring to es-
cape the captain fate, hurriedly gave
orders to quit the ship, and boarding his
launch, he transferred his flag to the
Isle de Cuba, while the Christiana was
left to her fate
- --7rE =. = .enc.-- -.- --- 80 = :.
given concerning the loss sustained by
Admiral Dewey's squadron, and it is
scarcely likely, in the opinion of ex.
perts OF the navy, that authentic infor.
nation will be received until Admiral
Dewey has opportunity to communicate
officially with the department 1t is re-
garded as probable that immediately
after the engagements Admiral Dewey
sent the revenue cutter McCulloch back
to Hongkong with dispatches and that
the first information from him will
come from that point