Daily new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1897-1906, 1898-05-02


sion concerning the battle or its posi-
Bile consequences.
Officials of the navy department were
reticent in discussing the conflict, in
the absence of official information, but
they made no pretense of concealing
their great qualification. Secretary
Long declined to comment upon the
subject, but it was evident that he felt
relieved. 1t has been known for days
at the navy department that conflict
at Manila was inevitable, and while no
great fear of the result was expressed,
there was yet deep concern in the
heart of every official.
The absence of any statement of spe-
cifc injury to the American vessels in
the Madrid advices was construed as
convincing indication that they had not
suffered appreciable injury, and this
was especially pleasing to the naval
students of the news. Not only was
the preservation of the American ships
and men considered in itself a happy
outcome, but it was commented upon as
indicating clearly that Admiral Dewey
and his associate officers and the men
under their command had discharged
splendidfy their several duties in direct
ing and executing the fight.
In this connection it was pointed out
as little less than marvellous that the
American squadron escaped without
severe injury, because, notwithstand-
ing the disparity in the naval forces,
the Spanish fleet, assisted by the shore
batteries, should have been able to in
fiict severe damage to its foe before it
self being destroyed. It's failure to do
so was applicable only upon the hypoth-
esis of perfect and swift work by the
Americans.
An opinion freely expressed here by
naval officers is that the very decisive
victory of Admiral Dewey's fleet will
mean probably an early end to the war,
withour further naval battles of import
ance.
The following are the,two fleets en-
gagged:
The United States ships-Olympia,
first-class protected cruiser; $500 tons;
speed, y knots; battery, four 8-inch
rifles, ten 5-ineh rapid fire guns, IA g.
Founders, six 1-pounders and four ma
chine guns.
Baltimore, second rate; 1900 tons;
speed, 206 knots; battery, four 9-inch,
six 6-ineh rifles, four 6-pounder rapid
fire, two 3-pounders, two 1-pounders,
two .S-inch, two IA inch and two ma
chine guns
Boston, second rate; 3,189 tons; speed,
10 knots; battery, two S-inch, six g.
inch rifles, two 6:pounder rapid fire,
two 3-pounders, two 1-pounders, two
one point S-lnch, two one point 4-1nch
and two machine guns.
Raleigh, second class; speed, 10 knots;
battery, one 6-inch and ten 5-inch rapid
fire rifles, eight 6-pounders, four l.
Founders and two machine guns.
Concord, third rate; l, 700; speed, II
knots; battery, six 6-inch, two 6-pound
er rapid fire, two 3-pounders, one l.
FOUNDER and four machine gum.
Petrol, fourth rate; 800 tons; speed, 10
knots; battery four 6-inch guns, two g.
FOUNDER rapid fire, one 1-pounder and
four machine guns.
McCulloch, revenue cutter.
Nanshan, collier.
Zafiro, supply vessel.
The Spanish ships - Reina Marie
Christina, $500 tons; built 1885, speed,
II knots; battery, six 6.2-inch Hontoria
guns, two 2.7-inch and three 2.2-inch
rapid fire rifles, six 1.4-inch and two
machine guns.
Castillo, 3,342 tons; built 1881; bat
terry, 5.9-inch Krupp rifles, two 4.7-inch,
two 33-inch, four 2.5-inch rapidfre and
two machine guns.
Velasco, 1,152 tons; battery, three 90
inch Armstrong rifles, 2.7inch Houtor-
las and two maching guns.
Don Antonio de Ulloa and Don Juan
de Austria each 1870 tons; speed, IA
knots; battery, 4.7-inch Hontorias, 32-
inch rapid fire, two 1.5-inch and two ma
chine guns.
General LEO and Ell Cano, gun YES
sells, 524 tons; built 1885; speed, II. 5
knots. The General Lezo has two Hon.
toria rifles Of 4.7-inch caliber, one 3.5-
inch, two small rapid fires and one ma
chine gun; the Ell Cano three 4.7-inch
guns, two small rapid fire and two ma
chine guns.
IS Marques del Duero, dispatch boat, 500
tons; one smoothbore 6.2-inch caliber,
two 4.7-inch and one machine gun.
Isla de Cuba and Isla de Luzon are
both small gunboats. They are of 900
bOHS u1SpldcemenU ana carry 1Our 4.1-
inch Hontorias, two small guns and two
maching guns
Isla de Mindarao, Campania transact
lantica of Cadiz, armed as cruiser;
length, 376.5; beam, 42.3; gross tons,
4,195; speed, 1876.
WEIGHT FOR ENLISTMENT.
Instructions Issued by the War Depart
ment For Recruiting.