The Forrest City times., 1898-05-13

f3v Lieut. J. L. Stickney, O. s NJ, staf1 corre-
spondent OF s.. Louis Republic and New York
Herald with the Asiatic Squadron.)
On BOARD THE FLAGSHIP OLYMPIA
MANILA. Philippine Islands, May l, via
HONG KONG, May Mot one Spanish
flag flies in Manila bay to-day. Not one
Spanish warship floats except as our
prize.
More than 200 Spanish dead and 500
to 700 wounded attest to the accuracy
Of the American fire.
Commodore Dewey attacked the Span
ish position at Cavite this morning He
swept five times along the line, and
scored one of the most brilliant sue
cesses in modern warfare.
That our loss is trifling adds to the
pleasure of victory without detracting
from it's value. The number of hits our
vessels received proved how brave and
stubborn was the defense made by the
Spanish forces.
Miraculous as il may appear, none of
our men was killed, and only eight
were wounded. Those who were
wounded suffered only slight injuries.
Commodore Dewey arrived off Ma
Mia bay last night, and decided to en-
ter the bay at once.
With all its lights out, the squadron
steamed into Boca Grande, with crews
at the guns. This was the order of the
squadron, which was kept during the
whole time of the first battle:
The flagship Olympia
The Baltimore.
The Raleigh.
The Petrol.
The Concord.
The Boston.
1t was just eight o'clock, bright
moonlight night. But the flagship
passed Corregidor island witht ut | sign
being given that the Spaniards were
aware of its approach.
Not until the flagship was a mile be-
yond Corregidor was gun fred. Then
one heavy shot went screaming over
the Raleigh and the Olympia. followed
BY second, which fell farther astern.
The Raleigh, the Concord and the
Boston replied, the Concord's shells ex-
ploding apparently exactly inside the
shore battery, which fred no more.
our squadron slowed down to barely
steerage way, and the men We're al
lowed to sleep alongside their guns.
Commodore Dewey had timed our ar
rival so that we were within five miles
OF the city of Manila a daybreak.
We sighted the Spanish squadron,
rear Admiral Montejo commanding,
on Cavite-pronounced Kahveetay,
with ancent on the wee" Here the
opaniards had a well-equipped navy
YARD called Cavite arsenal.
ADMIRAL Montejo's flag was flying on
me 5'5OO-ton protected cruiser Reina
nfistlna. The protected cruiser Cas-
MA OF $500 tons, was moored head
anu stern to the port battery, and to
seaward were the cruisers Don Juan
ue Austria, Don Antonio de Ulloa, Isla
ee cuba, lsia de Luzon. Quiros, Marques
vel onero and General Lezos
ihese ships and the flagship re-
mained under way during most of the
with the United States flag flying at
aii thelr mastheads, our ships moved to
'ae attack in line ahead, with speed
" e'ght knots, first passing in front of
manila, where the action was begun by
sniee batteries mounting guns power
ei enough to send shell over us at
Instance of FIVE miles.
me Concord's guns doomed out
Nepiy TO these batteries with two shots.
40 more were fred, because Commo-
sore Dewey could not engage with
.nese batteries without sending death
Aua aestruction into the crowded city.
as we neared Cavite two very pow
uiui submarine mines were exploded
mead OF the flagship. This was six
A,nutes past five o'clock.
Inc Spaniards evidently had mis-
ssugeo our position. Immense volumes
~ ~ water were thrown high in air by
~ ,oese destroyers, but no harm was done
70 our ships.
= commodore Dewey had fought with
afrugut at New Orleans and Mobile
10y, where he had his first experience
In torpedoes. Not knowing how
hany more mines there might be ahead,
" sun Kept on without faltering.
az so other mines exploded, however,
na " Is believed that the Spaniards
only these two in place.