The Yale expositor. (Yale, St. Clair County, Mich.) 1894-current, 1898-05-06
DEwEY's FLAGSHIP, OLYMPIA,


DEwEY's FLAGSHIP, OLYMPIA.
lines are still under control of Spain.
From the fact that even the advices re-
ceived from Madrid show that the
American warships Jared the best,
there is hardly any doubt that when
complete details are obtainable it will
be learned that it was crushing de-
feat for Spain.
During the two engagements that
took place. Commodore Montcjo, COM
manding the Spanish fleet, lost three
OF his large ships. His flagship the
armored cruiser Maria Relna Christina.
and the armored cruiser Castillo were
burned. and the cruiser Don Juan de
Austria was blown out of the water.
Capt. Cardase, commanding the Maria
Christina, was killed. The blowing
up of the Don Juan do Austria was at
tended by great loss of life among
the crew, her commander also being
killed.
Commodore Dewey's squadron left
Sudie Bay, few miles from Manila,
about IA. IN. proceeded toward Manila.
Under the cover of darkness he entered
the harbor of Manila, the batteries
located there announcing his arrival.
Both fleets lined up for battle at day
break, about ) o'clock. The guns of
the American ships began firing on the
fortress on Cavite and the arsenal of
Manila. The Spanish warships opened
fire under the protection of guns of the
forts After about two hours fighting,
the American squadron drew off to the
west of the bay and took refuge behind
some foreign vessels The ships had
evidently suffered considerable dam
age. After they made some hasty re-
pairs they returned to the conflict.
During this engagement the guns at
Cavite maintained a steadier and
stronger fire upon Commodore Deweys
ship than in the first encounter, but
the American guns were being used
with telling effect. As the smoke
lifted it was seen that the flagship
Maria Reina Christina was on fire.
The vessel was completely burned In
the interval between the two engage
ments Commodore Monteio moved his
flag from the Cristina to the smaller
cruiser Isla de Cuba. To the fact that
he had made this change he doubtless
owes his life. The cru ser Castillo,
next to the flagship the largest and
most powerful of the Spanish squadron,
was also burned. The cruiser Don
Antonio de Ulloa and the Mindanao
were also badly damaged in the en-
counter. and Mt least two vessels were
sunk by the Spanish to prevent them
falling into the hands of the Americans.
That the American squadron received
severe damage by the engagement can
not be doubted. Early reports had it
| that five of Commodore Dewey's ships
had been sunk. Later advices from
Madrid put the number at two. but it
is highly significant that the latest adj
vices from Madrid and Lisbon make no
mention Of any American ships being
destroyed. There were undoubtedly
heavy losses in meu on both sides.
Trustworthy details of the American
loss of life will hardly be obtainable
until Commodore Dewey has taken
Manila or has sent vessel with dis
patches to Hong Kong.
After the battle Commodore Dewey
landed n force and opened hospital
for his wounded which makes il certain
that the land forces of the Spanlards
had no heart TO continue the conflict
after witnessing the naval engagement
The SpaniardS still hold the city Of
Manila, it is thought. and probably
| \ 4
the insurgents combine and drive them
out. Gen. Aguinaldo, the insurgent
president and commander-in-chef in
the Philippines, was taken to the is
lands from Hong Kong by the Ameri.
can vessels and the commodore relies
largely upon insurgent support to
TO maintain his footing on the islands.
The monitor Terror had the hardest
scrimmage of any of the blockadinV YES