The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1898-05-05


the Victory at Manila In Washington.
LONDON, May 3.-Commodore Dewey,
according to a reported dispatch from
Madrid, gave Captain General August
| "a hours to comply with an ultimatum,
which demanded all warlilSe stores and
the entire stock of coal in charge of the
government officials. The ultimatum
asserted that no money levy would be
made upon Manila.
The dispatch says it is believed in
Madrid that the government has al.
ready cabled Captain General August
authority to comply with the demand,
no other course being open. Grave
events may follow public knowledge Of
this compliance.
HoNGKoNG, May 3.-There is no news
of the American squadron beyond a
private telegram from Captain Concha
of the Spanish cruiser Don Juan de
Austria to his children at a convent
school here. 1t is assumed from this
that the Americans were accommodating
the entrance and trying the southern
side of the island, which is six miles
wide, and surrounded by rocks and
shoals, though not believed to be mined.
There is no news either of the Span.
ish squadron, but according to the latest
advices it could not take the offensive
in any case. The cable to Manila is
now interrupted.
The steamer Esmeralda, chartered by
the banking companies here to bring
away the specie from Manila, reached
there and it is believed that she has
been boarded by the Americans.
LONDON, May 3.-The Madrid CORE
spondent of The Times, describing the
engagement at Manila, says:
"The Olympia, the Boston, the Ra.
leigh, the Concord, the Petrol and the
Monacacy entered the bay under cover
of darkness by the smaller and safer
Bocachica channel. The forts of Core.
gidor island gave the alarm by firing on
the intruders, but they seem to have in
fiicted no serious damage. The Ameri.
can squadron moved up the bay and at
3 O'Clock IN the morning appeared be.
fore Cavite. Here, lying under the
shelter Of the forts, was the Spanish
squadron.
admiral Montejo, a few days be.
fore, went to Subic bay to look for the
enemy, but learning that they were vast.
ly superior in force, had prudently re.
turned and placed his ships under the
protection of the forts. This was his
only chance of meeting the enemy on
something like equal terms, and it did
not suffice.
"Soon the Americans opened fire.
The Spanish replied vigorously and the
combat continued without interruption
for four hours, during which the Don
Antonio de Ulloa was sunk, the Cas-
tilla and Mindanao were set ON fire and
the Reina Maria Christina and the Don
Juan de Austria were seriously dam
aged. One or two of the smaller craft
were scuttled by their crews TO escape
capture Others took refuge in a small
neighboring creek emptying into Baker
bay, where, presumably, the American
ships were unable to follow them. But
not one surrendered.
WASHINGTON, May SIT is curious
fact that the nation most directly inter-
ested of all the great powers in the COM
bat that took place at Manila should be
among the last officially to know of the
result. Up to the close of Office hours
absolutely the only information that our
government had received of the brilliant
victory of Commodore Dewey and the
winning Of the battle of Manila on May
day came to the government through
the medium of the press dispatches If
the report is true that Commodore Dew
ey has begun bombardment and block
ade of the city of Manila it is unlikely
that he can spare vessel fIom his fleet
to carry the news to Hongkong, the
nearest cable station, so it is not known
when official advices will come.
There was some expectation that
through the surrender of the city the
commodore might acquire control of
the cable, but even then there might be
practical difficulties in communicating
through it, The officers Of Commodore
Dewey's feet includes at least one lieu
tenant who is a good practical electri-
clan and telegrapher, but it is not
known positively that he is able to work
cable successfully. Second, fear is
entertained that before retiring from
the city the Spanish troops will smash
the dehcate and complicated electrical
apparatus for the reception and dispatch
Of messages, and it is very uncertain
whether there is enough technical skill
in the. American feet 10 repair such
damage without aid frop the main land.
From the stubborn defense made by
the Spaniards, it is feared that before
they burnt, blew up or sunk their ships
they managed TO infiict severe damage
upon Commodore Dewey's squadron.
All the ships engaged were vulnerable
In one respect--namely, in their lack Of
protection 10 life. There was not an
armored ship in Commodore Dewey's
1eet, the nearest approach being the
nagship Olympia, She had some nnal