Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1898-12-22

shell destroyed completely the steering
gear. Another destroyed the
mizzen, bringing down my flag and en-
| sign. Another shell exploded
on the poop and put out of action nine
men. A fresh shell exploded in the off,
GERS cabin, covering the hospital with
blood, and destroying the wounded who
We're being treated there. Another ex-
ploded in the ammunition room
l had to flood the magazines when the
cartridges began to explode. !"
| one large shell penetrated the fire
room, putting out Of action one mas
ter gunner and twelve men serving the
guns. Another rendered useless the
starboard bow gun, and while the fire
increased astern, aHother fire started
forward from another Shell. The broad
side guns continued firing until there
were only one gun and one seaman
remaining unhurt for serving them.
The ship being out OF control
the hull smoke pipe and mast riddled
with Shot; half of the crew out of ac-
ton, among whom were seven officers
| gave the order to sink and abandon
the ship before the magazine should
explode
The story of the loss of the Castillo
|
Of all the other Spanish ships, and Adj
miral Montojo sums up his action with
| this statements:
The nefficiency Of the vessels com
posing my little squadron, the lack of
all classes Of the personnel, especially Of
master sunners and seamen gunners;
the inaptitude of some of the provi-
SIGNALS machinists, the scarcity Of rapHl
lre cannon, the strong crews Of the
enemy, and the unprotected character
OF the greater part Of our vessels. all
contributed to make much more decided
the sacrifice we made for our country
and to prevent the possibility Of the
horrors Of a commandment of the city
OF Manila. With the conviction that with
the scarcity of our force against the
superior enemy, we We're going to GER
tain death. and could expect a loss of
all our ships. Our casualties, including
those of the arsenal, amounted to 3S1
men, killed and wounded"
Apparently the first suggestion of the
organization of the flying squadron,
which was to divert Admiral Camara's
squadron from its voyage to Manila,
came from Admiral Dewey, for in a
dispatch Of June 9th. he says:
In my Judgment, if the coast of
Spain were threatened the squadron of
the enemy would have to return And
that was exactly what happened "A
month later the Admiral pays high
compliment to the British Consul at
Manila, Mr.. Rawson Walker, who, for
three months, had been discharging the
duties of United States Consul in Ma
Mia and rendering the Admiral great
assistance.
IMPORTANCE OF PHILIPPINES.
The Admiral's estimate of the in1por-
lance OF the Philippine Islands is set
oct in the following telegram sent in
answer to an inquiry on the subject
from the government:
Manila. August 60 1898
Secretary of the Navy,
Washington.
Referring to the departments
telegram of August 18th, important
islands are: Colon, Luzon, Panay Cebu.
Negroes, Leyte. Others. owing to the
nature of the inhabitants have a small
amount of civilization. want of culti-
walton. They may be neglected, es-
pecially isles Of southern group. Luzon
is in all respects the most desirable to
retain. Contains most important COM
.nercial ports. Manila is farthest north.
Produces all of the good tobacco.
Friendly natives. Civilization some
what advanced. Not yet developed.
Possible rich minerals. Population $685.
coo. Subig bay best harbor for coaling
purposes and military. Water deep;
ii nd locked, easily defended. STRAIT
egically command of the bay and city
of Manila. with arsenal at Cavite; at
present most valuable. Panay. Cebu,
Negos thickly populated. most civilized
and we'll cultivated. Isoilo second COM
mercial port; centre Of sugar trade; a
good harbor strategically; in view of
the situation, good for defense Cebu
ht,,1 oil ,0~t. q 1,ar INnr-
very desirable. No coal of good quail
:ty can be procured in Philippine Is
lands. Some has been mined on Cebu,
English company. I trust it may not
be necessary to order me to Washing
ton. Should regret very much to leave
here while matters remain in present
critical condition.
(signed) DEWEY"
NORTH ATLANTIC FLEET.
Very naturally the report of the OPP
erations of the North Atlantic fleet
comprises the largest part Of the
Printed body. Most Of the facts have
already appeared but in the very be-
ginning there a most interesting eX-
change of letters between Secretary
Long and Admiral Sampson showing
that even before the outbreak of the
war the Admiral had worked out a COM
OF Havana, with his own squadron, un-
supported, and was only prevented
from carrying out that plan by orders
from the department which wished to
protect the big iron-clads.
An unpublished report up to this time
is one by Admiral Schley dated June j.
giving an account of the bombardment
by his fleet of the Qualifications of San
tiago. the day before Sampson arrived
on the scene. The Admiral says in
rart:
None Of our vessels was struck. al
41,ot Jo1 Hn cHr &c fo1l md md
them. / have learned from insurgent
sources that the Reina Mercedes was