Albuquerque daily citizen. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1895-1903, 1898-05-02
American Ships Win Complete Vic
tory Over Spanish Squadron.
THREE Bio SPANISH wARsHIps DESTROYED
Heavy Loss of Life and Ships on
the Spanish Side.
GREATEST NAVAL FIGHT OF THE CENTURY

New York, May IA dispatch TO the
Herald from London says: The Asiatic
squadron OF the United States, COmm0
dOre dewey commanding, on Sunday en-
gagged aud completely defeated the Asia
tic squadron OF Spain In the harb0r Ma
nila, Philippine islands.
All news OF the great naval battle thus
far II coming from Spanish sources
This shows cOnclusively that the cable
lines are still under the control Of spain.
From the fat I that even the adyices re-
ceiYed from Madrid show that the Ameri
eau warships Jared best, there is hardly
any doubt that when the complete details
are Obtainable that IL will be learned
that it was crushing defeat TO Spain.
During the two engagements that took
place, Commodore MOntejO, commanding
the Spanish heet, lost three Of his larg.
est ships. His 1agship, the steel cruiser
Reina Christina, aud the Armored cruiser
Castillo were burned. and the cruiser
Don Juan de Austria, were blown up.
Several others OF the Spanish vessels
were badly damaged. One report adds
that several other spanish ships were
sunk by their commanders 20 prevent
their falling into the hands Of the Amer
leans.
There was heavy loss OF life among
the Spanish Captain Darso, command
ing the Reina Christina, WAS killed.
MOnteJO. commanding the feet, shifted
his flag from the Reins Christina TO the
Isle dc Cuba much smaller steel pro.
tected cruiser, just before the Christina
sank.
The blowing up OF the Don Juan do
Austria was attended by great loss OF
life among her crew, her commander
also being killed.
Commodore Dewey's squadron. leaving
Subig bay, few miles from Manila.
about 4 o'clock yesterday afternoon, pro-
ceeded toward Manila.
Under cover OF darkness he entered the
harbor Of Manila. the batteries located
there announcing his arrival.
Both fleets lined up for battle about B
o'clock Sunday morning. The guns OF
the American warship began firing on
the fortress Cavtte aud the arsenal Man
lila. Under protection OF the guns OF
these Notifications the Spanish warships
Cd ned Ore on the American heet. For
several hours the harbOr resounded with
the roar OF guns. the crashing OF steel
and timbers, and the shrieks aud grOans
OF the wounded. Thick clouds OF smoke
at times almost obscured the opposite
fleets from each other.
A welldirected shot reached the iron
cruiser Don Juan de Austria. vessel OF
1,l0O tons, end terrific explosion fol-
lowed. and Che ship was blown up.
All the time during the hrst engage
ment the American ships were under
way, their maj 9uvering being intended
% render the marksmanship OF the Span
ish gunners less effective.
The American squadron about . o'clock
drew off to the west side OF the bay and
took refuge behind some foreign ship
ping. The ships had evidently suffered
considerable damage After hasty re-
pairs they returned TO the conflict.
During this engagement the guns OF
Cayite maintained steadier and
stronger fire upon Commander Dewey's
ships than In the first encounter, but the
American guns we're being used with
telling effect.
As the smoke lifted II was seen that the
flagship Reina Christina was on fire. and
the vessel was completely burned. In an
interval between the two engagements
Commodore MontpjO moved his flag from
the Reina Christina 10 the smaller
cruiser, Isle de Cuba.
The cruiser Castillo, next 10 the flag
ship the largest and the most powerful
OF the Spanish squadron, was also burned
The cruisers Don Antonio de UllOa and
MindinaO were also badly damaged.
Early reports say that five OF Commodore
Dewey's ships had been sunk. Later ad-
vices from Madrid put the number at
two.
There were undoubtedly heavy losses
in men on both sides. One apparently
trustworthy report states that the Span
ish had 200 killed and 400 wounded.
Trustworthy details OF the American
loss OF life will hardly beObtainable until
Commodore Dewey has taken Manila OF
has sent vessels with dispatches to Hong
Kong.
SPAIN ADMITS DEFEAT,
Madrid, May 2,S a. ma special Il
the Liberal from Manila says that Ad.
miTal MOntejO. the Spanish commander
acknowledges that the Spanish feet has