Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1898-05-05
VICTORY AT MANILA.
Thorough and Decisive Blow Struck
by Dewey.

] -
in the Philippines Sunday. The fighting
was of the fiercest character, lasting from
5 O'Clock in the morning until O'Clock IN
the afternoon. The bravery of the Amerl-
can seanen was of the highest character,
and, led by the intrepid Dewey, inflicted
upon the enemy a blow that may be
termed almost veritable rout.
During the night Commodore Dewey
signaled to his war ships that were IN
Subic Bay, so miles to the north of Ma
nila harbor, to cleal the ships for action
and to follow him. The squadron got un-
der way, with the flagship Olympia lead
ing, and followed by the cruiser Baltimore,
cruiser Raleigh, cruiser Boston, gunboat
Concord, gunboat Petrel, revenue cutter
McCulloch and transports Nanshan and
Zatiro. There had been consultation Of
the captains on board the flagship during
the night. and it was decided that the first
stroke should be made decisive.
At4:l5 O'Clock Sunday morning the
lookout at the masthead of the Olympia
reported the Spanish fleet off the port
bow lined up between Cavlte and the
mouth of Manila harbor. The distance
between the two places is about eight
miles. The Spanish fleet was commanded
by Admiral Montijo and consisted OF the
cruiser Reina Cristina, cruiser Castillo,
cruiser Velasco, cruiser Don Antonio de
Ulloa. cruiser Don Juan de Austria, gun
boat General Lezo, gunboat isla de Luzon
and dispatch boat Marquis Marques del
Duero.
The news of the battle, which comes
through government sources and by way
of the Spanish cable, shows that the at
tack was terrible in its energy. Signaling
for the American transports to keep well
out and that the Olympia and Baltimore
would engage the Spanish admiral 1iag-
ship, the Reina Cristina, and the Castllia,
the largest of the enenly's fleet, the
American warships moved in line OF bat
tie on the Spaniard's.
On both sides of Manila barber are
erected forts well manned, though the re-
ports as TO the strength of their arma-
nient have been conflicting.
As soon as his ships had been worked
around so that their starboard batteries
presented a broadside to the enemy, Com
modore Dewey began terrific cannonad-
inc on the enemy's ships and the Spanish
forts. Every shot told. The Olymplas
battery consists of four 8-inch rifles, ten
5-inc! rapid-iire guns, fourteen 6-pound-
ers, six l-pounders, four machine guns
and six torpedo tubes. The heaviest bat
terv of the enemy was on the Reina Chris
tina, which had Fix 6,2-inch Hontorla
guns, two 2.7-inch and three 2.2-inch
rapid fire guns, two 1.5-inch, six 3-pound-
ers, two machine guns and five torpedo
tubes.
Commodore Dewey directed the move
ments of the squadron from the coming
tower of the Olympia. He moved hls
shin close up to the Reina Christina and
sent shell after shell plowing into the
Spanish admiral's hull. Captain Charles
Y. Gridley of the Olympia, was with him,
The superior aim and heavier projectiles OF
the Olympia soon began to tell, and the
fire from the Spanish grew more wild and
somewhat slower.
Captain DYER, of the Baltimore. put his
shin in close fighting distance to the Cas-
tilla. The Baltimore has four S-inch and
six 6-inch guns in her main battery to the
Castilla's four 5.9-inch Krupp guns and
two 4.7-inch and three 2,2-inch guns.
Both ships have good secondary batter
les for cruisers.
The din Of battle was terrific. All the
while the Spanish forts were keeping up
an incessant fire on the American fleet.
The ships were enveloped in a cloud OF
smoke weighted by the early morning air,
and the incessant crack Of the 1apld-flre
guns mingled into voluminous thunder.
The Boston, 31S9 tons; the Raleigh,
3lS2 tons the Concord, 1900 tons; the
Petrel, 800 tons, and the McCulloch had
about all tt.ey could do to handle the
Velasce, Don Antonio de UlIoa, Don Juan
de Austria, General Leo, FL Cano, Mar
cues del Quero, Isla de Cuba and lsla de
Luzon, but by quick manueverlng and
rapid work of the guns, fought their way
to victory bravely.
The hot work on the Olympia brought
the end of the Reina Cristna. A shot
from the American exploded a magazine
on the latter boat, and she took fire. De-
spite the efforts of the Spaniards, the
flames made rapid headway. Captain
Gridev worked his ship around to rake
the Spaniard He fought the Spanish ship
with one battery and kept up lire on the
forts with the other. The masts on the
American boats we're shot away, but few
shells cot through the armor.
A well trained shot from the Olympia
plunged through the fighting tower Of the
Rejna Christina and killed the ships com.
mander Captain Cadasso. The admiral
was standing with him at the time. When
the news that their commander had fallen
spread through the ship the seamen
seemed to lose heart. Their ammunition
had been none too plentiful, and, with its
RAPIDLY failing quantity and the fire that
was raging, they were ready to give up.
Then there took place piece OF bravery
on the part of the Spanish admiral. See
| ing that his flagship was doomed and un-
able to fight, he ordered small boat low
cred. and, with daring crew, rowed to
the small gunboat Isla de Cuba, where he
again hoisted his flag. The American
sailors refused to fire on the plucky ad-
miral Soon after he left the Relna Crls-
tina the flames devoured the boat, most
of the crew jumping overheard, only to
drown in the waters of the bay.
In the meantime, Captain Dyer had
sealed the fate of the Castillo. She, like
the flagship, had considerable woodwork
inside Eer, and after beirg under lire for
about two hours took fire. The Amerl-
can shells and deadly torpedoes ploWed
great holes in her sides and below the
water line. Her crew fought valiantly'
but was no match for 'the Americans
She was completely riddled and torn to
pieces by the rain of leaden misses. Most
of her crew and officers were killed. She
burned out, and after the engagement was
but a smoking hulk.
With the most formidable ships Of the
enemy disposed Of Commodore Dewey at
S O'Clock withdrew with his ships few
miles oct to sea. There the wounded
we're cared for, guns examined, some tin
kering done and preparations made for a
second attack. At 9 o'clock they started
a second attack. The smoke had arisen
and showed wrecked Spanish fleet. The
carnage wrought by the Americans was
plainly evident. a..
With as strong fire as before the fleet
tl.aR-H g-El1sE