The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-06-14
THE BATTLE AT MANILA BAY.
Admiral Dewey Sends to Navy Depart
ment Detailed Account.

Washington, June 13.-The Navy De
partment to-day made public the follow
ing letter received from Admiral Dewey
this afternoon, being its first mail adj
vices from him since he reached Manila:
Flagship Olympia. Cavitc, May f.
1S9S.-The squadron left Mirs-Bay onI
April ~. arrived ut Bolino on the morn
ing of April 30, and finding no vessels
there proceeded down the coast and ar
rived off the entrance to Manila Bay onI
the same afternoon. The Boston and
Concord were sent to reconnoiter
AT Port Subic II thorough search oil
the port was made by the Boston and the
Concord, but the Spanish fleet was not
found.
Entered the south channel at II 80
p. m. stcaming in column at eight knots
After half the squadron had passed. a
battery on south side of the channel
opened fire, none of the shots taking eff
feet The Boston and the McColloch
returned the fire. Squadron proceeded
across the bay at slow speed and arrived
off Manila at daybreak: was fred upon
mt J:15 a. m. by three batteries at Ma
Mia and two near Cavite, and by the
Spanish fleet anchored i'm an approx
mately east and west line across the
mouth of Baker Bay with their left in
shoal water in Canacao Bay. The
squadron then proceeded to the attack.
the flagship Olympia. under my personal
direction leading. followed at distance
by the Baltimore, Raleigh, Petrol, Con-
cord and Boston. in the order named.
which formation was maintained
throughout the action The squadron
opened fire at 5:41 n. IN. While advanc-
ing to the attack two mines were ex-
ploded ahead of the flagship. too far to be
effective. 4'he squadron maintained II
continuous and precise fire at ranges va
rying from five thousand to two thousand
yards countermarching in line approxi-
nately parallel to that of the Spanish
fleet. The enemy's fire was vigorous but
generally ineffective. Early i'm the en-
gagement two launches put out toward
the Olympia with the apparent intention
of using torpedoes. One was sunk and
the other disabled by our fire. and beach
ed before an opportunity occurred to fire
torpedoes. At Z a. IN. the Spanish flag
ship Rcina Christina made Il desperate
attempt to leave the line and come out
to engage at short range. but was re-
ceived with such CALLING fire, the entire
battery of the Olympia being concen-
trated upon her, that she was barely
able TO return to the shelter of the forts
The three batteries ut Manila had kept
up continuous fire. The first of these
batteries was situated on the south mole
head. at the entrance to the Pasig River:
the second on the south bastion of the
walled city of Manila. and the third ut
Malate, about one-half mile further
south. At this point | sent Il message
to the Governor General to the effect
that il the batteries did not cease the
city would be shelled; this had the ef-
feet Of silencng them. At 7:33 a. IN.
ceased firing and withdrew the squadron
for breakfast. At 11:16 a. M returned
to the attack. BY this time the Spanish
flagship and almost the entire Spanish
fleet were in flames. At 1890 p. m, the
squadron ceased firing, the batteries be-
ing silenced. and the ships sunk. burnt
and deserted At 12:40 p. M, theI
squadron returned and anchored off Ma
Mia. the Petrol being left behind to com
plete the destruction of the smaller gun
boats. which were behind the point of
Cavite This duty was performed by
Commander t. T. Wood, in the most
expeditions and complete manner posi-
bic. The Spanish lost the following
vessels:
"sunk-Reina Cristina, Castillo, Don
Antonia De Uloa.
"Burnt-Don Juan De Austria. lsla
De Luzon, and Isla De MindanaO trans
pOrt.)
"Captured-Rapido and Hercules tugs
and several small launches. | am unable
to Obtain complete account of the enc
my's killed and wounded, but it is be-
lieved to be very heavy. The Reina
Christina alone had one hundred and
fifty killed. including the captain and
ninety wounded. | am happy to report
that the damage done to the squadron
under my command was inconsiderable
There was none killed and only seven
men in the squadron were slightly
wounded.
Several of the vessels were struck