Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1898-05-14
Dewey'S Marvellous Victory
Over the Spaniards.
EIGHT AMERICANS WOUNDED
While the Spaniards Lost 800
Killed and Fourteen Ships.
A PROMOTION FOR THE VICTOR.

A one-Sided Battle, Where the Only Dam
age Done to Our Ships or Sailors Was
milton on Board the Cruiser Baltimore.
Congress Passes Vote of Thanks, Enacts
Law Which Makes the Intrepid Naval
Commander Rear Admiral, and Orders
Medals Cast for Every One of Our Heroes
of Manila-A Big Army to Be Sent to
Cuba at 0nce-General Merritt to Com
mand Our Land Forces in the Philippine
Islands-Informatio Regarding Admiral
SIMPSONS Fleet Withheld.
Hong Kong, May 9.-Among naval
men, military men and civilians, Eu-
ropeans and natives here there is only
one subject of discussion, the brilliant,
dashing, annihilating victory of the
American feet under Commodore
Dewey over the Spanish fleet COM
manded by Admiral Montejo in Ma
Mia bay on May day.
GCNCy . 0idOlo "ViO W
capture or destroy the Spanish fleet,
and never were instructions executed
in so complete fashion. At the end of
seven hours there was absolutely
nothing left of the Spanish fleet but a
few relics. The American commander
had most skillfully arranged every de-
tail of the action, and even the APP
parently most insignificant features
were carried out with perfect punctual-
ity and in railroad timetable order.
At the end of the action Commo-
dore Dewey anchored his fleet in the
bay, before Manila, and sent a mes
sage to the governor general, General
August, announcing the inauguration
of the blockade, and adding that if a
shot was fired against his ships he
would destroy every battery about Ma
Mia.
Not a man on board the American
feet was killed, not ship was dam
aged to any extent. and only eight men
were injured slightly on board the
Baltimore.
The American fleet entered Manila
bay on Saturday night with the great
est of ease. The Spaniards had not
established a patrol, and there were
no searchlights at the entrance of the
bay.
The early hours of the morning re-
vealed the opposing ships to each
other, and the Spanish flagship opened
fire. Her action was followed by some
of the larger Spanish warships, and
then the Cavite forts opened up and
the smaller Spanish vessels brought
their guns into play,
The American squadron, which had
been led into the bay and through the
channel by the flagship Olympia, did
not reply, though the shells of the
Spaniards began to strike the water
around them, but moved majestically
onward. When nearing Baker bay a
sudden upheaval of water a short dis
lance ahead of the Olympia showed
that the Spaniards had exploded
mine or a torpedo. This was followed
by a second and similar explosion.
They were both utterly unsuccessful.
The American fleet was then drawing
nearer and nearer to the Spaniards,
whose gunnery was very poor, the
shots from the Cavite batteries and
! from the Spanish ships being equally
badly aimed, either falling short or 60
ing wide of the mark.
Though the Spaniards had opened
fire at 5000 yards, the Americans re-
served their fire until within 1000
yards of the enemy, when the real
battle began.
The American ships then passed back
wards and forwards six times across
the front of the Spaniards, pouring in
upon the latter perfect hail of shot
and she'll Every American shot seem
ed to tell, while almost every Spanish
shot missed the mark.
After having thus scattered death
and decentralization among the Spanish
fleet and the Spanish batteries, the
American fleet retired for breakfast,
and incidentally a council of war was
held on board the Olympia.
BY this time the Spanish ships were
in desperate condition. The flagship
Reina Christina was riddled with shot
hnd shell, one of her steam pipes had
burst and she was believed to be on
hire. The Castillo was certainly on
6re, and soon afterward their condition