Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1898-05-12
A CLEANUP AT MANILA.

After waiting for several days most
anxiously, the officials at Washington
on Saturday last received the report
of Commander Dewey, whose fight with
the Spanish squadron at Manila the
previous Sunday had been briefly re-
ported the first of the week. His dis
patches were modest and brief They
were taken to Hong Kong by the cut
ter Mccullough and there put upon
the wires. The following is the first
dispatch
MANILA. May l.-Squadron arrived at
Manila at daybreak this morning lmme-
diately engaged the enemy and destroyed
the following Spanish vessels: Relna
CriStina. Castillo, Don Antonio de Olloa.
Isla de Luzon, Isla de Cuba. General
LEO. Marquis del Duero, Cano, Nelasco,
ISla de MindanaO, transport ana wa
ter battery at Cavite. The squadron is
uniuiurcd, and only few men are slight
" wounded Only means of telegraph
ING is to American consul at Hong Kong.
| shall communicate with him.
DEwEv.
Following is the second message:
CAvIrE, May al have taken posses
sion of naval station at Cavitc. on Phil
ippine Islands. Have destroyed the forti-
fications at bay entrance, paroling the
garrison. control bay completely and
can take city at any time. The squad
ron is i'm excellent health and spirits.
Spanish loss not fully known, but very
heavy. One hundred and fifty killed,
including captain, on Reina Crlstlna
alone. lam assisting in protecting span
ish sick and wounded; 2jO sick ana
wounded in hospital within our lines.
Much excitement at Manila. Will pro-
tcct foreign residents. DEWEY,
By direction of the President Secre-
tary Long sent this dispatch to Dewey;
WASHINGTON. May :, 1898. Dewey,
Manila.-The President, in the name OF
the American people, thanks you ana
your officers and men Tor your Splehulu
achievement and overwhelming victory.
In recognition he has appointed you act
inc admiral. and will recommend vote
of thanks to you by Congress. Long.
The dispatches sent later by the
newspaper correspondents give the
particulars of what was one OF the most
remarkable naval battles ever fought.
Not man was killed on our vessels,
and but eight were injured. These
were all of the cruiser Baltimore, which
was struck by she'll that exploded a
box of ammunition, the ship being
slightly damaged. The Spanish lost
more than 200 killed and from 500 to
500 wounded. Every one Of their
vessels was absolutely destroyed. The
battle began at 5 a, M, and within the
next couple of hours the Spanish fleet
had been pretty badly pounded. AT
7.45 Commander Dewey suspended
operations and gave his men their
breakfast. At 1910 he moved closer
to the Spanish and resumed the attack,
and at 1910 the enemy struck their
colors. Their fleet had been annlhi-
lated. The Spanish fought with great
bravery, but they were poor gunners,
and were utterly unable to stand
against the awful hail of shot and shell
that poured upon them. All the war
ships were destroyed, but large trans
port and a number of tugboats were
captured.
Commodore Dewey turned his guns
upon the city of Manila when the bat
tie was over and notified the authon-
ties that the port was blockaded. He
warned them that if one shot was fired
at his fleet he would destroy the city.
He will not land force and take full
possession until troops sufficient to hold
the city are sent him. This will be
done at once, and 5000 soldiers will
leave San Francisco for Manila this
week.