Evening star., 1898-05-02

Admiral Dewey, in command OF
the Asiatic squadron, met the Spanish
fleet in the harbor of Manila vester.
day and utterly destroyed it.
The Spanish warships which were
not burned or blown up by the fire
from the American fleet were run nfF
into shoal water and sunk to prevent
being captured.
The loss of life on the Spanish side
is admittedly heavy and includes
the captain of one of their ships.
The Spanish claim that the Amer
can feet also suffered severely, but
give no details. Late advices admit
that the injury was not sufficient to
prevent the fleet from establishing a
blockade this (Monday) morning.
Advices from Madrid indicate that
an outbreak of the people is immi
nent, and the city has been placed
under martial law
President Mckinley sat up till a
late hour to hear the news, and ex-
pressed his satisfaction at the out
come.
The news causes general rejoicing
throughout the United States.
A special cablegram to the New York
Herald from London Sunday QasO night
says:
The Asiatic squadron of the United
States, Commodore Dewey commanding,
today engaged and completely defeated the
Asiatic squadron of Spain in the harbor of
Manila. in the Philippine Islands.
All the news of the great naval battle
thus far received is coming from Spanish
sources. This shows conclusively that Ma
Mia has not yet been taken by the Ameri-
can forces and that the cable lines are still
under the control of Spain.
From the fact that even the advices re-
ceived from Madrid show that the Ameri-
can warships fare the best. there is hardly
any doubt that when complete details are
obtainable it will be learned that it was a
crushing defeat for Spain. Reports of the
battle thus far are coming in piecemeaI.
Three Spanish ships Destroyed.
During the two engagements that took
place Commodore Montojo, commanding
the Spanish fleet, lost three Of his largest
ships. His flagship. the armored cruiser
Maria Reina Cristina, and the cruiser Cas-
tilla were burned, and the cruiser Don
Juan de Austria was blown up. Several
other Spanish vessels were badly damaged.
There was a heavy loss of life among the
Spanish. Captain Cardase, commanding
the Maria Cristina. was killed. Commo-
dore Montojo, commanding the feet, shift
ed his flag from the Maria Cristina to the
Isla de Cuba, a much smaller steel-protect-
ed cruiser, just before the Cristina sank.
The blowing up Of the Don Juan de Aus
tria was attended by a great loss of life
among the crew, her commander also being
killed.
Commodore Dewey's squadron, leaving
Subig bay, a few miles from Manila. about
o'clock yesterday afternoon, proceeded
toward Manila Under the cover of dark
ness he entered the harbor Of Manila, the
located there announcing his ar
rival
Battle DeHan Mt Daybreak.
Both fleets lined up for battle about day.
break about 8 o'clock-this morning. The
guns of the American warships began fir
ing on the fortress of Cavite and the ar
senal Of Manila.
Under the protection Of the guns of these
Notifications the Spanish warships opened
nre on the American feet. For several
hours the harbor resounded with the roar
OF guns. the crashing Of steel and timbers,
the shrieks and groans Of the wounded.
Thich clouds Of smoke at times almost OBJ
scured the opposing fleets from each other.
The Don juan de Austria Blovvn On.
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