The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1898-05-12
NEWS FROM COMMODORE
DE WEY.

bated breath to hear something from
Commodore Dewey who was reported
to have dealt such destruction to the
Spanish fleet at Manila in the Phil
lpine Islands. The first authoritative
news came to Washington last Satur-
day. It dispatch from Com. Dew
ey himself and said:
manila, May 1.-Squadron arrived
at Manila at daybleak this morning.
Immediately engaged the enemy and
destroyed the following Spanish vessels
Reina Crlstlna, Castillo, Don Antonio
de Ulloa, Isla de Luzon, Isla de Cuba,
General LEO, Marques de Duero, Cor
REQ, Velasco, Isia de Mindanao, d trans
port and water battery at Cavite.
"The squadron is pninjured and only
few men are slightly wounded. Only
means of telegraphlng is to American
consul at Hongkong. l shall commun-
lcate with him.
(Signed) "DEwEY."
A second dispatch came later which
said:
"Cavite, May Al have taken poss-
ession of the naval station at Cavite,
Philippine Islands, and destroyed the
Notifications. Have destroyed the tort
ifications at the bay entrance, patroll1ne
the GARRISON. control the bay com
pletely and can take the city at any
time. The squadron ls in excellent
health and spirits. The Spanish loss
not fully known, but very heavy, l5C
killed, including Captain of Heina Ma
ria. I am assisting in protecting the
Spanish sick and wounded Two hun.
dred and fifty sick and wounded in the
hospital within our lines. Much excite.
ment at Manila. Will protect foreign
residents.
(Signed) dewey"
The following comment from Wash
lngton followed the news from Ad
miral Dewey:
"A close study of Admiral Dewey's
two cablegrams during the day only in.
creased the wonder felt early in the day
by the naval experts at the extraordin.
airy results achieved by the Admiral
without Injury. The reports that came
before the cutting of the cable we're oil
a character to indicate that Dewey was
going to make quick and thorough
work OF the seizure of Manila, but II
was feared that in so fierce an engage.
> ment against Spanish feet, combined
with the shore defenses, the American
f1eet must surely have sustained good
deal OF damage, loss OF life and other
Injuries. Yet in the destruction of the
entire Spanish fleet and the silenclnp
OF their forts, not an American life was
lost and not an American ship was in
jured.
There are all sorts of theories among
the officials to account for this, but in
the absence of facts it is hard to form q
reasonable hypothesis. Probably the
true explanation will not be forthcom.
Ing until mail advlces are at hand, but
the Spanish naval prestige has received
blow from the battle of Manila from
which it cannot recover in very manv
years. Admiral Dewey cut the cable
himself and, though he offers no expla.
nation for so doing, it is believed that
his purpose was not only to prevent the
Spanish Governor-G General from COM
municating with his own Government
but also to prevent the foreign consuls
at Manila from interfering with his
plans by cabling protests to their Gov
ernments. He made it impossible for
them to summon any war vessels to
enforce the protest they were expected
to make against the siege of Manila.
A closer examination of the two ca
Diagrams show that in the news as or.
fginaliy given out the names of two
Spanish vessels had been omitted from
the list Of those destroyed. They were
the DON Juan de Austria and the Isla
de Luzon. The Austria was a 1l3O
ton vessel, II knots, carrying 4.7-inch
guns and also machine guns. The Luz
ron was 1000 ton gunboat similarly
armed. That makes eleven Spanish
ships destroyed by Dewey in the short
space Of two hours