The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-12-23

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fire stared forward from another she'll
The broadside 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, smokepipe and mast
riddled with shot, half of the crew out
of action, among whom were seven Of
ficers, I gave the order to sink and
abandon the ship before the magazines
should explode
The story of the loss of the Castillo
was subsequently the story Of the loss
of all the other Spanish ships, and Ad-
miral Montejo sums up his action with
this statement:
1.-THE ineffeciency Of the vessels
which composed my little squadron,
the lack of all classes of the personnel,
especially master gunners and seamen
gunners; the inaptitude Of some Of the
PROVISIONAL machinists, the scarcity
of rapid fire 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 which we
made for our country and to prevent
the possibility of the horrors of bonn
bardment of the city of Manila, with
the conviction that with the scarcity
of our force against the superior enc
N.Y. we were going to certain 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 it's voyage to Manila
came from Dewey. for in a dispatch of
with the coast Of Spain threatened the
squadron of the enemy will have to
turn" And that was exactly what
happened.
A month later the admiral pays a
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
Manila and rendering the admiral
great assistance. The admiraFs esti-
mate of the Importance of the Philip
pine island is given out in the follow
ing telegram sent in answer to the
government:
Referring to the departments tel
egram of August 18th, important is
lands are; Colon; LuZon, Panay, Cebu,
Negros, Leyte. Others, owing to the
nature of the inhabitants have small
amount of civilization and want of cul-
tivation. They may be neglected, es-
pecially the isles of the southern
group. Luzon is in all respects the
most desirable to retain; contains most
important commercial ports. Manila
is farthest north. Produces all of the
good tobacco, with friendly natives and
civilization somewhat advanced. Not
yet developed. Possible rich minerals.
Population $4,000. Subig bay best har-
bor for coaling purposes and military;
water deep; land locked; easily de-
Tended strategically, command of bay
and city Of Manila. with arsenal at
Cavite, most valuable. Panay, Cebu,
Negros thickly populated, most civiliz-
| ed and well cultivated. Isoilo second
commercial port; center of sugar, good
habor, strategic point. good defense
Cebu third commercial port; good har-
Dor, very desirable. No coal Of good
| quality can be procured in Philippine
| islands. Some has been mined on
Cebu, English company. I trust ii
may not be necessary to order me to
Washington. Should regret very much
to leave here while matters remain In
present critical condition.
[signed.1 DEWEY"
Naturally the report of the operations
| of the North Atlantic fleet comprises
| the larger part of the printed body
Most of the facts have already appear.
ed, but in the very beginning there is
most interesting exchange Of letters
between Secretary Long and Admira
| Sampson, showing that even before the
| outbreak of the war the admiral ha6
worked out complete plan for the
| immediate reduction of Havana Will
| his own squadron unsupported, an(
was only prevented from carrying ou
! that plan by orders from the depart
| ment which wished to protect the bis
| ironelads.
An unpublished report up to this tims
| is one by Admiral Schley dated Jun,
1st giving an account of the lombard
ment by his fleet of the Notifications OF
Santiago. the day before Sampson ar
rived on the scene. the admiral says
in part: None of our vessels was
\ struck, although the shots fell over ant
around them. / have learned from in.
surgent sources that the Reina Mer.
c>edes was struck by a shell and eight
nsen were killed; also that a numbe,
of shots struck the Morro. The recon,
naisssance developed the fact that the
Spa ufsh vessels are in the harbor and
that the Notifications are well provided
with long range guns of large calibre.'