The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1898-05-05
SUNDAY.

victory for the United States fleet un-
der the command of Commodore
Dewey. AS result the three largest
Spanish vessels were sunk, two were
totally disabled, others unknown were
sent to the bottom of the harbor, and
the remaining few were small wooden
vessels of no consequence.
Dewey's fleet consisting of six ves-
sells, Olympia, Baltimore, Boston,
Raleigh, Concord and Petrol, steamed
into the roadstead of Manila Saturday
night and at daybreak opened fire
both on the fleet and the Spanish for
tifications. The forts and the Spanish
fleet numbering nine ships returned
the fire and the first real battle OF the
war was on. The finest vessel in the
enemy's fleet was the Maria Christina,
which was destroyed and her COM
manGer killed. The Castillo was
scuttled, the San Juan de Austria was
blown up and the rest scattered. Not
a single American ship was lost. 1t
was remarkable feat and Commo-
dore Dewey is the hero of the hour.
Full details of the battle will be
delayed, as the Spaniards control the
cables.
The following is the text OF the
official dispatch from the Governor
General Of the Philippines to the
Minister of War, Lieutenant General
Correa, as to the engagement.
"Last night, April 80, tie batteries
at the entrance to the fort announced
the arrival of the enemy's squadron
forcing passage in the obscurity of
the night. At daybreak the enemy
took up positions, opening with
strong fire against Fort Cavite and
the arsenal.
"Our fleet engaged the enemy in a
brilliant combat, protected by the
Cavite and Manila forts. They OBJ
lIged the enemy, with heavy loss, to
maneuver repeatedly. AT 9 o'clock
the American squadron took refuge
behind the foreign merchant shipping,
! on the east side of the bay.
"Our fleet, considering the enemy's
superiority, naturally suffered severe
loss. The Maria Christina is on fire
and another ship, believed to be the
Don Juan de Austria, was blown up.
'There was considerable loss of
life. Captain Cadasso, commanding
the Maria Christina, is among the
killed. 1 cannot now give further
details.
MONDAY.
There has been no news received
at Washington from Dewey concern
ing the great victory, but it is believed
Manila is in his hands. London re-
ports from Madrid say that the forts
have been razed and the city of
Manila burned.
| One of the latest dispatches says ::
"No Spanish warship surrendered
and the majority perished. Two
Spanish commanders were killed
while resisting to the last moment.
"The Spanish losses are estimated
at four hundred men killed, including
many natives.
"The American squadron attacked
furiously both the Spanish squadron
and Cavite, where it caused great
damage.
Further details of the celebrated
battle.
The American fleet entered Manila
Bay on Sunday at S o'clock in the
morning. On arriving at their an
chorage the Cavite fort opened fire at
long range. The Spanish fleet an
.chored off Cavite followed. The
American ships then drew close in
and opened terrible cannonade
After half an hour the Americans
moved out of range of the lighter
Spanish guns and continued the can
nonade with big guns with terrible
effect. At the end of twenty minutes
the American feet again drew into
close quarters, the cannonade being
rapid and incessant.
The Spanish fleet was destroyed,
three vessels burning, one sunk and
the others silenced. The land forts
were also silenced. The hight lasted
an hour and a half. The Spaniards
fought bravely against a superior
force. Their loss was probably great.
| The Americans were apparently un-
injured. The Spaniards will not give
in, and the Americans expect to bonn
bard Marila tomorrow at half past II
o'clock.
| The Americans returned to Cavite.
Some shots were still fired from the
shore, but the Americans poured in
such terrible cannonade that further
resistance was impossible.
| The spectacle was great, but terri