The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1898-05-12
OUR FLEET AT MANILA.
Result of Admiral Dewey's Rapid
Movement to Battle.
It Saved His Forces Some Irouble-The ]Spaniards Had
Arranged to Resist in Force at Subig Bay, But
Didn't Have Time to Move.

HAfh#'AAHHn a. "EH-
the Eaghip Olympia, May 81, via Hong
Kong, Sunday As Goveruor-Geueral
August failed to comply with Commo-
dore Dewcy's demand for The use of the
cable to Hong Kong after Sundays
battle, the commodore was obliged to
cut the cable on Monday.
leave here for Hong Kong today on
the revenue steamer MeCulloch, which
is acting as the fleets dispatch boat.
Commodore Dewey sends at the same
time his official dispatches to the
authorities in Washington.
Documents captured in the arsenal
at Cavite show that the Spanish naval
council OF war had decided to make
their fight against the American ships
in Subig Bay, a place having much
stronger natural advantages for de
Tense than are found in Manila Bay.
Commodore Deweys promptness in
bringing over his fleet from Mrs Pay
prevented them from moving to this
position.
find that in my previous dispatches
under-estimated the losses OF the
Spaniards in Sundays battle. The sur
geon of the Castillo tells me that Ad-
miral Moutejo was wounded. The
captain, chaplain and ninety others
were killed, and six were wounded, on
the Castillo. One hundred and fifty
were killed and ninety wounded on the
Reina Christina, Admiral Montejo's
flagship Five were killed and twenty
nine wounded on tire Don Juan de
Austria. -Four were killed and fifty
wounded on the Don Antonio de Ulloa.
As / am leaving the harbor the situa-
ton in the city of Manila is very criti-
cal, The British consul reports that
the city has been entirely cut off from
outside communication both by sea
and land, and has only enough proyi-
sions left to last a few days.
1t is impossible to open c]ommunica-
tion between the shore and the feet,
therefore news about events ashore is
very scarce on board the American
vessels. The little that has leaked
through indicates the probability that
the insurgents will soon attack the city
Spanish residents Of Manila are very
bitter against the governor-geueral,
and are threatening to depose him.
Dewey's Achievements.
Here is a summary of Commodore
Dewey's work up to date;
Monday, April 70. Received news Of
the declaration Of a Quilted British
waters.
Wednesday-Sailed for Manila at the
fastest speed that could be made with
the coal supply Of the ships.
Saturday Night. Passed the bait
teries at the entrance Of Manila Bay.
Sunday Sank. burned or captured
all the ships Of the Spanish squadron.
Silenced and destroyed three batteries
Monday-Occupied navy yard. Blew
up six batteries at the entrance to the
bay, Cut the cable. Established block
AIDE Of Manila. Drove the Spanish
forces out Of Cayite.
Tuesday and Wednesday Swept the
lower bay and entrance for torpedoes.
Gave crews ~well-earned rest. Prepared
official dispatches.
The losses of the spaniards include
ten warships, several torpedo boats,
two transports, navy yard andnine bat-
teries.
Including the losses ashore, about
1900 Spaniards were killed or wounded.
The estimated value Of the Spanish
property destroyed or captured is 49,,
GOO. 600.
On the American side the total loss is
eight men wounded and $1,000 damage
to the ships,
The British gunboat Linnet entered
the bay On Monday but some of her
men having the plague She did not come
near our ships,
The French armored cruiser Bruiz en-
tered the bay today. The British
cruiser Immortalite is understood to be
on her way to Manila.
miraculous Features.
The more j recall the events Of last
Sundays battle at Manila the more
miraculous It seems that no American
lost his life. The shell that en-
tered the Boston's wardroom was gring
straight for Paymaster Martin, when it
exploded within five feet Of him, yet he
was not touched
Aboard the Olympia the surgeons
operating table was placed in the
wardroom. Chaplain Frazier, who was
assisting the surgeon, had his head out
Of one Of the six-pounder gun ports
when a shell struck the ships side, less
than a yard away. The chaplain pulled
his head in just in time to escape hav-
ing # blown off, as the shell instantly
burst.
Three fragments Of one shell struck
the Olympia within q radius 81 fifteen
feet from Commodore Dewey.
The armor-piereinP projeetile that
Isploded THE box Of three-p0under am
munition on board the Baltimore passed
between twa groups of men 50 close to
both Is difficult To see how all
4ped
~ the spaniards lad properly pre-
pared tor our coming they would have
killed MANY q our men. bit ghey had
hot intended % make their fight at
Capite.
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