The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1898-05-07
GREAT NAVAL BATTLE.
COMMODORE DEWEY DE-
STROYS THE SPANISH
FLEET AT MANILA.

LONDON, May 1.-Dispatches received here
seem to make it clear that the Asiatic squad
ron of the United States, Commodore Dewey
commanding, engaged and completely de-
feated the Asiatic squadron of Spain in the
harbor of Manila, in the Philippine Islands
All the news of the great naval battle thus
far received is coming from Spanish sources.
This shows conclusively that Manila has not
yet been taken by the American forces and
that the cable lines are still under the control
of Spain.
From the fact that even the advices re-
ceived from Madrid show that the American
warships Jared the better, there is hardly any
doubt that when complete details are obtain
able it will be learned that it was a crushing
defeat for Spain.
Reports Of the battle thus far are coming
in piccemeal. During the two engagements
that took place, Commodore Montejo, com
handing the Spanish fleet lost three of his
largest ships. His flagship. the armored
cruiser Reina Christina, and the armored
cruiser Castillo, were burned and the cruiser
Don Juan de Austria was blown up. Several
other Spanish vessels were badly damaged.
4 TERRIBLE SCENE OF BATTLE.
Under the protection Of the guns in the
Notifications the Spanish warships opened
fire on the American fleet For several
hours the harbor resounded with the roar of
guns, the crashing of steel and timbers, the
shrieks and groans of the wounded. Thick
| clouds of smoke at times almost obscured the
| opposing fleets from each other
A well-directed shot reached the iron
| cruiser Don Juan de Austria. \ terrible eX-
| ploson followed and the ship was blown up.
All the time during the first engagement
! the American ships were underweigh. their
maneuverings being intended to render the
workmanship of the Spanish gunncrs less
| effective.
| There was Il heavy loss of life among the
! Spanish. The captain commanding the Reina
| Christina was killed. Commodore Monte
jo. commanding the fleet, shifted his FLAG
from the Christina to the lsa de Cuba. a
much smaller steel-protected cruiser, r>t be-
| fore the Christina sank.
The blowing up Of the Don Juan de Aus
tria was attended by great loss of life among
! the crew. her commander being killed.
Commodore Dewey's squadron left Subic
BAY. a few miles from Manila, about 4 o clock
yesterday afternoon and proceeded toward
Manila. Under the cover OF darkness he en-
| tered the harbOr of Manila. passing the forts.
| The batteries at the forts announced his AZ
rival.
Both fleets lined up for battle about day
| break The guns Of the American warships
began firing on the fortress of Cavitc and the
arsenal of Manila. Then the battle ragged.
The American squadron about o clock in
the morning drew off to one side of the bay
and took refuge behind some foreign vessels.
! The ships had evidently suffered consdera-
| BILE damage. After some hasty repairs they
returned to the conflict.
During this engagement the guns Of Cavlte
maintained a stcadier and stronger fire upon
| Dewey's ships than in the first encounter but
| the American guns were used with telling eff
| feet As the smoke lifted it was seen that
the flagship Rena Christina was on fire.
This vessel was completely burned.
In the interval between the two engage
menfs Commodore Montejo moved his flags
from the Christina to the smaller cruiser Isla
de Cuba. To the fact that he made this
change he doubtless owes his life.
The cruiser Castillo. next to the flagship,
the largest and most powerful of the Spanish
squadron, was burned soon attcrward. The
cruiser Don Antonio de Ulloa and the Min
dana were badly damaged in this encounter
That the American squadron received Sc
we're damage in the engagement cannot he
doubted. Early reports had it that FIVE of
Dewey ships had been sunk. Later advices
from Madrid put the number at two.
There were undoubtedly heavy losses in
men on both sides. One apparently trust
worthy report states that the Spanish had two
hundred killed and four hundred wounded
Trustworthy details Of the American loss Of
life will hardly be obtainabe until Commo-
dore Dewey has taken Manila or sent Il YES
sci with dispatches TO Hong Kong