The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-05-09
THE STORY RE-ToLD.
Revised Account of the Battle In
Manila Bay.

Manila Bay.
Hong Kong, May S.-(Copyright, 1898,
by the Associated Press).-Among ma
val men, military men and civilians,
Europeans and natives, here today,
there is only one subject of discussion
the brilliant, dashing, annihilating VIC
tory of the American fleet, under Com
modore Dewey, over the Spanish fleet,
commanded by Admiral Montejo, IN
Manila bay on Sunday last.
Owing to the fact that the cable be-
tween this port and the Philippines
was not in working order, having been
cut, it is said, some distance from the
capital of the islands, there has been
delay in obtaining a detailed account
of the battle, and facts in the case
were only available when the United
States gunboat Hugh McCulloch ar
rived here yesterday, and even then
the cable company necessarily made
the earlier account of the engagement
somewhat brief.
Commodore Dewey's orders were to
capture or destroy the Spanish fleet,
and never were instructions executed
in so complete a 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 detail of the
dCllOll anu even lIlG apparently ulOSl
insignificant features were carried out
with perfect punctuality, and on rail-
road timetable order. At the end of
the action Commodore Dewey an
chored his fleet in the bay before Ma
Mia and sent q message to Governor
General August, announcing the in
auguration of the blockade, and adding
that if a shot was fired against his
ships he would destroy every battery
about Manila.
The position occupied by the Span
iards, the support which their ships re-
ceived from the land batteries, and the
big guns they had ashore, gave them
an enormous advantage. Therefore,
when it is considered that the Span
iards lost over 600 men in killed and
wounded, that all their Ships amount
ing to about Il, were destroyed and
that their naval arsenal at Cavite was
also destroyed, with it's defenses, it will
become apparent that the victory of
the American commodore is one of the
most complete and wonderful achieve
mentS in the history of naval warfare
Not a man on board the American
fleet was killed, not a ship damaged to
any extent, and only six men were in
jured slightly on board the Baltimore.
This grand achievement is quite as
much due to the generalship of Com
modore Dewey as to the fact that the
American gunners, ships and guns are
superior to any afloat anywhere.
Great credit must also be given to
the fullest extent to the officers under
Commodore Dewey, for to man they
seconded their gallant commander in
every way possible, and thus helped
him win the laurels which are justly
his.
COURSE OF THE FLEET.
When the squadron left here it touch
ed first at point in the Philippines
near Bolino, as Commodore Dewey
wished the insurgents agents to dis
embark there to ascertain the strength
and disposition of the insurgent forces.
arrange to prevent needless bloodshed,
and inform the insurgents of his inten-
ton to change the government of the
Philippine islands, the commodore OBJ
1ecting strongly to giving the rebels a
chance to commit excuses. The inSur-
gent leaders refused to disembark I'M
der any consideration, and the Amer
lean ships cOaSted in search of the
Spanish ships, but failed to find them.
Commodore Dewey arrived at Subig
bay. about so miles north Of Manila
bay, on Saturday, April 80, and sent
the Baltimore and Concord to recon-
hotter the enemy. They found no Span
ish ships at the entrance of the bay.
and so Commodore Dewey decided to
risk the mines and proceed that same
night after dark into the bay of Ma
Mia, which he did.
ENTERED THE HARBOR.
The order of battle taken up by the
Spaniards was with all the small craft
inside the stone and timber break
waters of Cavite harbor. The larger
ships of Spain cruised off CaVite and
Manila The American fleet entered
Manila bay on Saturday night with the
greatest Of ease. The Spaniards had
- 20. 1sr-1.1 i
40 searchlights at the entrance of the
bay. In fact, the American ships would
probably have passed inside the bay
without any challenge had it not been
that some sparks flew up from the
McCulloch's funnel. Thereupon a few
shots We're exchanged with the batter
les on Corregidor island, but the fleet
did not slow down, and soon took up
position near Cavite, awaiting dawn
in order to commence hostilities
The early hours of the morning re-
vealed the opposing ships to each
other, and the Spanish flagship opened
fire. Its action was followed by some.
of the larger Spanish warships, and
then the Cavite forts opened up and
the smaller Spanish ships brought their
guns into play.
The American squadron, which had
been led into the bay through the chan
mel by the flagship Olympia, did not re-
ply, 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 distance
ahead of the Olympia showed that the
Spaniards had exploded a mine or a
torpedo. This was followed by sec
ond and similar explosion. They were
both utterly unsuccessful.
The American fleet was then drawing
nearer ana nearer TO the Standards
whose gunnery was very poor, the shots
from the Cavite batteries and from the
Spanish ships being equally badly
aimed, either falling short or falling
wide of the mark.
THE BATTLE LINE.
When the American fleet entered the
bay, coming through the southern
channel between CabaIlo Frile inlets.
the following was their order:
The flagship Olympia, the Baltimore,
the Raleigh, the Concord, the Boston.
the Petrol and the McCulloch, with the
two store ships, the NanshanSand the |
Zafiro, bringing up the rear In that
order they swept grandly before the |
city and faced the enemy in column !
line.
Though the Spaniards had opened fire |
at 5000 yards, the Americans reserved |
their fire until within 1000 yards of the |
enemy, when the real battle began. The |
Reina Christina, Castillo, Don Antonio |
dc Ulloa, Isla de Cuba, Isla de Luzon |
and the Mindanao were in line of battle
outside of Cavite at that time with |
four gunboats and the torpedo boats |
inside the harbor.
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