Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1898-05-05


of modern times was fought in the
hsrbor OF Manila in the Philippine Is
lands on Sunday morning. when the
Spanish feet was utterly destroyed by
Admiral Dewey's fleet, after an en-
gagement lasting about three hours
Every Spanish ship was sunk. blown
up or burned. and strange as it may
seem no American snip was seriously
Injured. Before day light on Sunday
our fact ran into Manila harbor past
the Spanish forts, and Immediately
engaged the Spaniards. The battle
was swift and terrible, and death and
destruction came fast and furious
The city which stands at the head of
the inlet contains about 800, 600 people.
These were asleep when the first gun
shook the earth and sea, and told them
that war had begun in earnest. The
men in the Spanish ships were as much
surprised as the people in the city, as
none had anticipated that the Ameri
can fleet was upon them, without Il
sound from the forts. The harbor of
Manila is very deep, and mines were
OF little avail there, SO that the forts
7ere the only safeguard. Theee how
ever were passed, until thu fort known
as Cavite which is near the city was
reached and this was knocked into a
helpless condition in short time. The
Spanish fought with great fury, their
flag ship was set on fire and the AID
nirai left it and went to another ship
and continued the battle, but his fight
was hopeless and soon that ship was
rendered useless, and to prevent 9th
ers from falling into our hands several
III t,of,
the bottom with the ships.
The loss to the Spaniards is not
known, but it is very heavy, our loss
have been had cur guns been less we'll
aimed, and our ships less efficient.
The Spaniards we're wholly out classed,
our ships guns and crews being for su
perior in every respect, Capt. Dewey
landed our wounded and Immediately
ordered q surrender of the city and all
the forts with all the coal ammunition
and implements of war. There was
one fort which refused to surrender
and this he proceeded to knock down.
The mayor of the city refused to sur,
render it, SO he gave "a hours in which
to decide, and in the event he refused
then me would begin the lombard.
ment CT it. The city finding itself
helpless and unprotected capitulated,
and the Americans took possession on
Tuesday. Particulars are hard to Oh
tain as the cables are owned by the
Spanish and English, and measa gps are
Obliged TO come from Hong Kong. But
the above are the main facts in the
case. There never was Il more com
plete victory nor could one have occur
red in this war which was more prolific
OF results 1t may change the whois
course of events.
Manila where the battle took place
is not an ocean seaport, as Is generally
supposed, 1t lies nearly thirty miles
back, at the end of broad, nearly cir
eular bay Of tie same name. This bay
is on the west coast of the lake Of
Luzon, which Is the largest and most
important OF many hundreds Of islands
in the Malayan archipelago.
Before the American fleet could get
at the city of Manila it had to make its
way past two fortified islands at the
entrance to the bay and past the
fortified naval station of Cavite. Cavite
is built upon small peninsula in this
bay, south along the shore from the
capital, seven miles distant from
Manila across the water, fifteen around |
the curve Of the shore. Cavite lies |
on the inner side OF the |
peninsula upon which it is built, thus
g. safe harbor from the terri |
bic moneooES, which was more than |
could be said of Manila until G break
water was built off shore in the bay a
few yeara ago.
The two small islands at the entrance
to the bay would be the chief stumbl |
ing blocks in the way of Admiral |
Dewey, it vas generally believed, for
the Spsniar6s have been fortifying
lem in haste ia The past few weeks,
using both gaas Hnd torpedos from the
iaet at Cnviip. They are small bui
-atlier pgecipfinns isiets, ard with long
-anse guns woujd easily command thu |
,r,traslce to tie sssy. The larger one
Jorregidor, sometimes called Berivaleg |
$ oniy two miles from the mainland |
IT the north end. The other, Ceballos. |
3 "A few miles further cut. and between |
hem they divide the channel into |
hree arts. 1t is said to be iinprac-
icahle to plant mines Il these chan
leia for the reason that the depth is
sreat and the tides are heavy
TIE population of tba walled town |
s IL 900 and OF the newer porti u about
100, 900
The foreign conmsrcs OF Manila lie |
arge, the exports being rbrut $50 900
10 annually. Chinese merchants large
y oniroi The trade, which is carried |
IN in B.itish and German steamers.
danila hemp, sugar, cigars and coff ee
re the chief articles of export. Moth
# OF p .arI. gum and sapan wood are
lso sent away in considerable quaint
les The United States ard Great