The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-07-26
DENEY'S R[1NFRCEMENIS.
More TrOopships Have
Reached Manila.
SPANIARDS DESPAIR

OfReeeivfng Assistance from the Home
commandments More Active.
Dewey Awaiting General Merrita's
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Among ansur.
gents-Inspection OF the Wrecked
Spanish WarshipS-Evfdenees Of Ter.
rfble Execution of Our Guns.
Washington, July 21.-The navy de-
partment this afternoon posted the
following:
"Cavite, July l.,
Via Hong Kong. July 20.
Situation is unchanged. The second
army detachment arrived today. All
are we'll on board. The health CT the
squadron continues good. There is no
ckneS whatever.
DEWEY"
Hong Kong. July 21.-The German
steamer Wuetin, at this port, from
Cavite. reports that the United States
transport China, with American rein
forcements for Admiral Dewey, arriv-
ed at Cavite on Saturday last and that
the other transports arrived on Sum
day. The Wuetin also brought the
news that no advance had been made
by the American forces. They were
awaiting the coming of General Mer-
rift, who was expected to reach the
place within ten days. The insurgents
still invested the town.
Tho NOUS Of tho destruction of h1-
miral Cervera's fleet at Santiago de
Cuba was received at Manila on July
18th and created CONSERVATION among
the Spaniards.
Manila, Philippine Islands, July II,
via Hong King, July 21.-Rear Adj
miral Dewey may decide to capture
Manila before General Merritt arrives.
In view of the possibility of an early
peace and the news from Cuba, the
insurgents are renewing their activi-
ty. There have been vigorous attacks
n a slight bO~mbardment on the out
skirts of the city to which the Span
iards replied with an -extravagant
Smelling.
The Spaniards now say they do not
believe the reinforcements promised
them will ever reach here and they
despair of success; but they condemn
the proposal to retire to the citadel,
which is utterly defencelesS, as such
a step will merely invite slaughter.
Therefore, they believe it would be
better to surrender, though fearing
public censure. However, they will
! probably be compelled to surrender
soon, as food is dangerously scarce.
| They may pretend to fight the Amer
leans for the sake of appearances, but
the result will not be long in doubt
if Admiral Dewey resolves to capture
| Manila with the forces he has at his
disposal.
A Spanish steamer, the Vosolo, hav-
ing on board a native crew from the
| Visayes islands, is now in the hands
| of the insurgents. The crew revolted
| reached Tayabao in the southern part
| of the island of Luzon, but there they
| quarrelled with Tagalon insurgents
and returned to Iloilo, which is looked
upon as indicating hat the Visayes
are unwilling to join the Tagalons. In
any case it is considered certain that
the Philippine islands will never be
amalgamated and will never be re-
turned to Spanish rule. Therefore, the
only alternative in the opinion of the
best informed people here, is foreign
rule, American or British.
New York, July 21.-A correspond
ent of The Journal, writing from Ca
vite, Manila, July 18th, relates the re-
suit of an inspection of the hulls OF
he Spanish warShipS sunk in Manila
by the squadron of Admiral Dewey
The cruiser Reina Christina shows the
most complete destruction. The course
of the Olympia's 8-inch shell is clearly
traced by a line of ruin extending
from her stern to her waist. All her
woodwork is totally destroyed. There
are very few large shot holes through
her hull, the principal ones being from
a 6-inch shell amidship and from some
4-inch shells. Charred human remains
were seen in several places. A large
heap of remains near where the lad
der stood shows that a rush to escape
was made by the engineers force. AL
were lost as the matches to the engine
and fire room were closed. The cruiser
Castillo was less burned, but was ter
ribly wrecked. There are plain traces
where six big shells tore immense
holes in her wooden hull. When the
fire started the weight of the guns
caved the hull inward. The warship is
now a mas of twisted iron and char
red beams, a very bad wreck, resem-
bling that Of the Maine in appearance
Everything aft from the engines was
shattered. Three shells entered amid.
ships. The number of deaths was not Sc
large as on the Reina Christina. The
Don Antonio did not burn. She sank
quickly, riddled by shells of all sizes
The greatest havoc was done by the
6-inch shells A numbe of dead bodies
all huddled together near the ladder
leading to the superstructure shows
that the men were killed by a shell
as they were attempting to lift tbs
treasure chest to the supcrstruCturo
and save il.
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