The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-05-08
DESCRIPTION OF THE BATTLE
CONTINUED from First Pags.)

1
hoisted the guns of the American fee
it was destroyed.
The admiral was again forced TO es
cape in a small boat.
The defenses of Manila and its batter
ies, as well as those at Cavite. were 81
fenced and beaten 70 the ground by tbs
rain OF shot and shell.
During Saturday night the vessels of th'
American squadron crept inside the ba!
! through a supposed maze OF mines anC
! torpedoes They were not observed BY
any of the watchers on the Spanish gar
| risons until some stray sparks were emit
| ted from the funnel of the dispatch boa
| Hugh McCuIloch. Then few shots were
exchanged with the garrison on Corregi-
dor Island, but. owing TO the darkness
they were ineffective.
There was no patrol established. mol
were any searchlights placed at the en-
trance TO Manila bay.
The vessels of the American squadron
never stopped or slowed down until they
had assumed q position directly opposite
! the city of Manila This was just at day
| break.
| The order Of battle assumed by the
Spanish fleet at 1he beginning of the en-
gagement was with all the small craft
| inside Cavits harbor. which is protected
! by stone and timber breakwaters. and the
larger ships maneuvering off Cavite and
Manila.
The American battle line was led by
the flagship Olympia and the cruiser Ra-
leigh. The Boston. Baltimore. Concord
and Petrol and the revenue cutter McCul-
loch followed. The American feet in easy
speed approached the Spanish ships which
were drawn out in two lines. the Reina
Maria Christiana, the flagship. IN the CEN
Ter.
Az the Dawn broke and the position OF
che American squadron was discovered,
the Spanish feet Immediately opened fire,
supported by the Cavite forts.
Tho Sjpaniards fired the first shot
The challenge was given by the Reina
Maria Christiana-
The Olympia replied. and at once the en-
tire American feet was IN action. The
Spanish ships did not hesitate In their
IRE and the Cavite batteries let loose their
heavy guns.
The best gunners in the American neet
manned the most destructive weapons on
their ships, and the havoc wrought was
frigbtful The engagement soon became
general.
The McCulloch remained at some dis
lance from the brunt OF the encounter
and the enemy's shells passed but did
not touch her. The marksmanshfp OF the
Spanish gunners seemed 20 be wild from
the outset.
The American cruiser Baltimore at one
periodof the engagement received the
brunt of the enemy's fire. and suffered
the most OF any vessel in the American
squadron. From five to ten of the enc
my's shot took effect on the Baltimore.
but none of her officers or crew were
seriously hurt.
As soon as the Spanish admiral left the
Maria Christina and boarded the sla de
Cuba. the fire was directed at the latter
mercilessly. every S-inch gun on every
ship joining those of the flagship.
The Isla de Cuba was riddled by the
deadly craftsmanship of the American
gunners. After a few rounds she was
put out of action, and before Admiral
Montejo had had time to get his bear
ings he was driven out second time.
Again he escaped in a small boat. But
the fight was practically over.
The Spanish cruiser Castillo burst into
flames under the remarkable gunnery OF
Dewey's men,.
The American commodore then directed
a hot fire against the batteries. This
was a surprise Admiral Montejo. who
apparently thought himself secure under
the guns of the Cavite Notifications.
The Spanish cruiser Reina Maria Chris
tina received the full effect Of this gall
ing fire from the American fleet and was
so badly damaged that she sank after
fire.
The other. vessels OF the Spanish feet
were quickly riddled by the whitening
hail of lead from the American gunboats |
Two gunboats that had put out from !
the Cavite breakwater with evident in !
tent TO destroy the nearest American yes
sells, weer speedily forced to return with |
in shelter OF the Notifications.
The arsenal at the Cavite Notifications !
exploded during the engagements. prob |
ably from American shells, and forty /
Spaniards were killed.
The forts made nominal resistance. |
but were quickly overpowered. The /
shor garrison did not capitulate, however. /
and when the American feet ceased fir /
ing the Spaniards on shore were stu de- /
FAINT
The Spanish ships caught FIRE one after /
another or were driven to groundings to
save their crews.
Commodore Dewey continued the fight
ing until the last vessel Of the enemy had /
been destroyed. BY that time the shore
were siIenced and the American
feet had won rema rkable victory.
American ships were kept under way
to maneuver about the Spanish feet.
ing was rendered harmless.
The spectacle of the American ships
naneuvering. as If on parade. and at the
same time directing terrific fire at the
snemy's ships and forts was q magnlf-
cent tribute TO the skill and discipline OF
modern naval warfare.
There were only fe* slight casual
les. all told. among the ships OF the
American feet, the worst OF which re-
suited from an explosion ot ammunition
IN the deck OF the Baltimore. The other
'hips of the feet were practically unin-
ured
At least 150 spaniards are known -
lave been killed during the engagement.
I'D several hundreds were wounded be-
iides
som reports place the total loss % the
Spanish feet At 80 killed and 90
Touna-s