The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-05-13
WOULD BE USELESS TO
lombard CITY.
American Admiral Compliment Mon.
tOjo's Bravery.
SPANIARD ATTRIBUTES HIS DE
FEAT TO MADRID.

Says He Asked for Competent Ships but
They Were Refused Him-Realized tho
Advantage Possessed by the Americans
The Feeling Against the British Not So
ACUTE As 1t Was. Laf
London, May 13-The Hong Kong cor
respondent Of the Daily Mail says:
The Spaniards at Manila are incensed
at the British because it is believed that
the Esmeralda piloted the American
into the bay. 1t is feared that the Spanish
soldiers will attack the British factories.
The British gunboat Linnett brought
from Manila both the Spanish and
American mails The Spanish authorities
and Admiral Dewey have been equally
courteous in permitting the landing and
sanctioning the forwarding of letters and
documents by any and all means which
offered themselves. But the Spaniards
have made up their minds to hold out to
the last
They are in position to give the
Americans a deal of trouble. There are
%, 200 Spanish soldiers in the garrison at
Manila and 100000 volunteers enrolled.
Scores of coasting steamers are imprisoned
on the river Pasis which is blockaded at
the mouth by some sunken schooners.
Mr.. Wildman, the American consul
here tells me that according to his de-
spatches flag Of truce is flying over
Manila and the people are allowed to pass
freely to and from the ships in the harbor.
The Americans are on duty night and
day on the lookout for boats which en-
deavor to run the blockade. The hospital
is supported by the Americans. The
Spaniards are boasting that their big
battleship Pelayo is coming and will de-
molish the Americans in ten minutes.
The Hong Kong correspondent of the
Times who arrived there on board the
British gunboat Lime from Manila, says:
II had conversation with Admiral
Montejo, who, recognizing the superiority
of the American squadron admitted that
his chief object was. to seek the protection
OF the Cavite forts. He fought in the
Reina Maria Christina till she was on fire
fore and aft and had 50 killed.
son the advice of his flag lieutenant he
transferred his flag to the Isla de Cuba.
Eventually, after two and half hours
fighting he gave the signal to scuttle and
abandon her.
Commodore Dewey ceased fire and
asked permission of the forts to destroy
the burning ships. Admiral Montejo re-
Piled: The ships are at your mercy, do
as you like"
The American operations then resumed
till the Spanish squadron was completely
annihilated.
The captain of the Boston, who carried
the flag of truce, said: "You combatted
with four very bad ships, not warships.
We have never seen before drawer fighting
under such unequal conditions. 1t is a
great pity you exposed their lives on YES
sells not fit for fighting.''
Commodore Dewey sent a message to
Admiral Montejo as follows: 81 have
pleasure in clasping your hand and offer
ing my congratulations on the gallant
manner in which you fought"
Admiral Montejo attributes the respon-
sibility of his defeat to the government in
Madrid He had only obsolete vessels.
though he had re4uisitioned the govern
ment for ships. He had no torpedoes ex-
cept some which he himself had con-
structed out of ineffective material. His
original intention was to remain at Subio
and offer battle; but he returned to
Cavite because the Subio forts were mad
equate.
During the bombardment of the Cayite
arsenal, Commodore Dewey suspended
fire at the request of the Spaniards to
allow the women and children to be re-
moved to place of safety. I witnessed
the second commandment The American
vessels were admirably handled. The re-
bells looted Cavite Immediately, the
Spaniards flying to Manila, and en-
counters with the rebels were frequent in
the suburbs. When I landed on May Q
found the city panic stricken and the
shops remained closed for three days.
Finding that an armistice had been
agreed upon, many civilians returned.
The run on the Spanish bank was checked
by the Hong and Chartered bank opening
to negotiate Spanish notes. The position
OF the British section of the community
was precarious, owing to the scattered
position of their houses. Food was scarce
and at famine prices; the soldiers had re-
manned unpaid for several weeks and
looting was feared.
On Friday before the bombardment the
steamer Gulf of Mataban left for Singa-
pore and London with Spanish and Eng
lish women and children on board; but
many English families still remain
ashore.
The SpaniardS are not expected to
capitulate. Commodore Dewey has Manila
at his mercy, but it would be useless to
lombard the city without a sufficient
force to hold it.
Thare was stormy meeting between
the British residents and the British con-
sui over the delay in obtaining protection.
Commodore Dewey had taken coal from
three Britieh vessels. For a few days the
popular luminosity to the Enpljshman
was intense. The Spanish soldiers spat at
an Enslishman and used foul language
When the incident came to the KNOWLEDGE
Of Governor General August. he wrote an
ample apology to the secretary of the
English club, threatening to shoot any
officers or soldier who repeated the
offense.''