The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1898-05-04
On the Atlantic Coast!

On Sunday rumors Of the expected naval
battle in Manila bay, Philippine islands,
began to fill the air.
The American fleet, sailing from Hong
Kong arrived on Saturday, April 30, off
the west coast OF Luzon, the principal
island Of the archipelago, on which Is the
city Of Manila, the capital and the great
commercial metropolis OF the islands.
The city is situated on the east shore OF an
expansive bay whose opening from the sea,
termed the narrows, is some IL miles
wide. The bay, opening out from the en-
trance extends to the north some 60 miles,
and Its width, from east to west, is about
40 miles. On the eastern shore, at about
the middle Of the coast line, the city is
placed. Ten miles south west OF Manila is
Csvite, the fortified point mentioned in the
dispatches. At the entrance Of the bay, in
the narrows, is Corregidor island which
commands the approach inland. The chief
defences are at the latter point, and at
Cavite and Manila.
The earliest news Of the battle comes
through Spanish sources, as the Spaniards
control the cable which connects Manila
with Hong Kong. The reports by way of
Madrid are to the effect that the American
squadron, under command OF Commodore
Dewey, arrived off the entrance to the bay
Of Manila early on the morning OF April 30.
The batteries on Corregidor island an
nounced the arrival of the American squad
ron, which was forcing passage under the
obscurity Of the darkness. The American
vessels took the positions assigned to them
and opened fire against the defenses at
Cavite, under cover OF which and the forts
at Manila the Spanish feet took refuge. In
the action that followed the Reina Maria
Cristina, the flagship Of the Spanish ad-
miral. was burned and its commander
killed. Another Spanish ship was sunk,
the Castillo, cruiser, was set on fire by
shell and abandoned, the Don Juan de
Austria blown up, and others were sunk to
prevent them from falling into the hands Of
the Americans. After the destruction of
the Maria Cristina, the Spanish admiral
transferred his flag to the Isle de Cuba.
Commodore Dewey made his way into the
bay with his flagship, the Olympia, the
Raleigh, and two other ships whose names
are not given. The conflict. which contin-
ued for several hours, is described as terrible
and the Spanish losses heavy. The silence
observed as to the American losses, in ships
or men, inspires the hope that these may not
be 30 severe as to seriously cripple the
squadron. Trustworthy details from the
American side of the battle will not be OBJ
tainable till Commodore Dewey captures
Manila and gets possession Of the cable
connections, or until dispatches can be sent
to Hong Kong and csbled thence to this
country. The real facts OF the contest,
coming through Spanish sources, have prob.
ably been distorted to suit the feversh feel
ing in Madrid.
There has apparently been further fight
ing in Manila bay. After the action on
Saturday, it is reported that the American
ships withdrew to their magazine vessels
in the roadstesd for fresh supplies OF coal
and ammunition, and that the fight was re.
newed on Sunday and Monday; that Com
modore Dewey had demanded the surren-
der Of all the guns and torpedoes at Manila
and in the possession Of the Spaniards, and
the control Of the cable Office, threatening
to lombard the city If the request was not
complied with, and that the Spanish Cap
tain-G General had refused to surrender.
A despatch from Madrid by way OF Lon
don, dated May 2, states that Commodore
Dewey had given the Csptain-G General
twenty-four hours to comply with an ulti-
matum demanding the surrender OF all
Spanish ships, all warlilxe stores and the
entire stock OF coal in charge of the gov
eminent officials, the bombardment Of
Manila being the penalty for refusal. 1t
was reported, further, that the government
to comply with the demand.
If Commodore Dewey has lost heavily in
men, 1t is feared he may be embarrassed In
his efforts to hold Manila. In the absence
Of trustworthy news from him, there is
anxiety for his safety, particularly as he
has no friendly port in which he can repair
his ships and procure fresh supplies
The American feet Is made up OF six steel
ships, the revenue cutter McCulloch, the
storeship Narstan and the collier zaffro.
The warships are the protected cruisers
Olympia, Boston, Raleigh, Baltimore, and
the gunboats Concord and Petrol.
The Olympia, the flagship, is one of
the finest vessels in the navy, ranking
next to the Columbia and Minneapolis in
speed, and next to the Brooklyn and New
York in length. Her displacement is $50 |
tons, her engines 1880. with a possible |
II 1913, horse power, her speed % knots an
hour. Her armament is four eight.inch ri
des, and ten five-inch rapid fire guns, four
teen six-pounder and seven one-pounder |
rapid fire guns, four Calling and one field
gun. She is fitted with torpedo tubes. Her
is "a officers, 4l6 men. The |
S-inch guns are mounted in barbette turrets
Of Al inch steel, with thick steel conical |
roofs. The rapid fire guns are protected
by steel shields four inches thick. She has
A heavy, arched protective deck OF steel and |