The evening times., 1898-05-13
THEY MADE 4 GREAT FIGHT
The Spanish Ships at Manila
We're Very Bad Vessels.
COMPLIMENTS FOR MoNTIJo
Admiral Dewey and Capt. Wilde
Pay \ High Tribute to the Span
other Account of the Fight by nm
Eye-Witness-Situat in Manila.

London, May 13.-The correspondent OF
the Times, who arrived at Hong Kong on
board the Linnet, telegraphs as follows:
II had a conversation with the Spanish
admiral at Manila, who. recognizing the
superiority of the American squadron. ad-
mitted that his chief object was to seek
the protection of the Cavite forts. He
fought the Reina Maria Christina until
she was on fire, fore and aft and fifty-two
persons had been killed aboard of her.
Eventually, after two hours and half
of fighting, he gave the signal to scuttle
and abandon the flagship.
Admiral Dewey ceased to fire and ask
ed permission of the forts to destroy the
burning ships. Admiral Montijo replied;
g" The ships are at your mercy: do as
you like
THE American fire was then resumed
until the squadron was completely anni-
hilated.
The captain of the Boston. who carried
the flag of truce. said:
You fought US with four very bad
ships. not warships. We never have seen
Drawer fighting under such unequal condI-
tions. 1t is great pity you exposed your
lives on vessels not fit for fighting
Admiral Dewey sent this message to
Admiral mOntlJO.
Il have the pleasure of clasping your
hand and offering congratulations upon
the gallant manner in which you fought
Holds Spain Responsible.
Admiral Mantijo attributes the respoa-
sibility for his defeat to the government
at Madrid. He had only obsolete vessels,
though he had requisitioned the govern
ment for ships. He had no torpedo boats
except some that he had himself con-
structed out of ineffective material. 1t
was his original intention to remain at
Subig Bay and offer battle. but he re-
turned to Cavite because the Subig forts
were inadequate.
During the bombardment of the Cavite
arsenal, Admiral Dewey suspended his fire
at the request of the Spaniards. who
wanted TO move their women and children
to a place OF safety. | witnessed the sec
ond bombardment. The American vessels
We're admirably handled.
The rebels looted Cavite Immediately
after the Spaniards fed to Manila. En-
counters with rebels were frequent in the
suburbs. When l landed on May l
found the city panic stricken. The shops
remained closed for three days. Finding
that an armistice had been agreed to.
many of the civilians who had left the
city returned. A run on the Spanish
bank was checked by the Hong Kong and
chartered banks opening to negotiate
Spanish notes.
A PrecarIOus Situation.
'The position of the British community
was precarious. owing to the scattered
position of their houses. Food was scarce
and was selling at famine prices. The
! soldiers had been unpaid for several weeks
and looting was feared.
"On the Friday before the lombard
ment the steamer Gulf of Martoban left
for Singapore and London with a num-
ber of Spanish and English women and
children. but many English families re-
main.
THE Spaniards are not expected to ca
pitulate. Admiral Dewey has Manila al
his mercy, but II would be useless to bonn
bard the city without sufficient troops tC
hold it.
There was a stormy meeting of the
British residents with their consul owing
to the delay in obtaining protection. Ad-
miral Dewey had taken coal from three
British vessels. He was allowing Others
to load with hemp.
For few days the popular animosity
against Englishmen was intense. The
Spanish soldiers spat at Engiishmen and
used foul language toward them. The
governor, learning of this, wrote an am
pie apology to the secretary of the Eng.
lish Club and threatened to shoot any of.
ficer or soldier who repeated the offense.' :