The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-06-14
into wagons. don their marching gear
and form into columns for the march to
the waiting transports 4 X 8
ADMIRAL DEWEY'S REPORT

ADMIRAL DEWEYS REPORT
ofiiis Annihiiation Of tho Spanish Fleet
Mt aIaniia-iio Gives unstinted Praise to
G1icnrs ami Men Under Him.
WASHINGTON, D. c., June 13.-The
navy department to-day made public
the following letter received from Ad-
miral Dewey this afternoon, being Its
first mail ndvlces from him since he
reached Manila:
FLAGSHIP OLYMPIA,
CAV1TE. May 4, 1893.
The squadron left Mrs Bay on April
q, and arrived of Bollnao on the
morning of April 80. and finding no ves-
sels there, proceeded down the coast
and arrived off the entrance to Manila
Bay on the same afternoon. The Bos-
ton and Concord were sent 10 recon-
noitre Port Sublc.
A thorough search OF the port was
made by the Boston and the Concord,
but the Spanish fleet was not found.
Entered the south channel at II IS p.
m, steaming In column at eight knots.
After half the squadron had passed, 4
battery on the south side OF the chan
mel opened fire, none OF the shots takinS
effect. The Boston and McCulloch re-
turned the fire. The squadron proceed
ed across the bay at slow. speed snd ar
rived off Manila at daybreak, and was
fired upon at Sis q. NJ, by three bat
teries ut Maniln and two near Cavitc.
and by the Spanish fleet anchored In an
approximately east and west line across
the mouth OF Baker bay, with their lef,
In shoal water in Canacac bay. The
squadron then proceeded to the attack,
the flagship Olympia under my person.
el direction, leading, followed at dis
tance by the Baltimore, Raleigh, Petrel.
Concord and Boston, In the order man,
ed, which formation was maintained,
throughout the action The squadron
opened fire at .6:41 n. m. While advanc-
Ing to the attack. two mines we're ex-
ploded ahead OF the flagship. too far to
be effective. The squadron maintained a
continuous and precise fire at ranges
varying from 5000 to 1000 yards. coun-
termarching In line approximately
parallel to that OF the Spanish fleet.
The enemy's fire was vigorous. but
generally ineffective. Early in the en-
sagemen. two launches put out toward
the Olympia with the apparent inten-
tion OF using torpedoes. One was sunk
and the other disabled by our fire and
beached before an opportunity occurred
to fire torpedoes II
At a. m. the Spanish flagship Reina
Christina made desperate attempt to
leave the line and come out to engage
ut short range, but was received with
CALLING fire. the entire battery OF. the
Olympia being concentrated upon her
that she was barely able TO return 10
the shelter OF the point. The fires start
ed in her by our shells at this time
were not extingulshcd until she sank.
The three batteries at Manila had
kept up continuous report from the
beginning of the engagement. which
fire was not returned by this squad
ron. At this point sent message to
the governor general to the effect that
II the batteries did not cease firing tho
city would be shelled. This had che ef-
feet OF .!lencing them.
At 1885 q. m ceased firing and
withdrew the squadron for breakfast.
At Ills a. m, returned to the attack.
BY this time the Spanish flagship and
almost the entire Spanish feet were In
. flames. At 1880 p. m. the squadron
ceased firing, the batteries being silenc-
ed, and the ships sunk, burnt and de-
serted. At 12:40 p. m. the squadron re-
turned and anchored on Manila, the
Petrol being left behind to complete the
destruction Of the smaller gunboats,
which were behind the point OF Cavite,
This duty was performed by Command :
er Z. P. Wood In the most expeditions
and complete manner possible. The
Spanish lost the following vessels: Sunk
-Reina Christina, Castclla, Don Anto-
MO de Uiloa. Burnt-Don Juan de Aus
trla, Isla de Luzon. Isla de Cuba, Cen
eral Lezo, Marquis del Duero, Ell Cor
REQ, Velasco and Isla de Mindano,
(transport). aptured-Rapido and
Hercules (tugs), and several small
launches. am unable to obtain COM
plcte accounts OF the enemys killed
and wounded, but believe their losseB to
be very heavy. The Relna Christina
alone had one hundred and fifty killed,
including the captain, and ninety
wounded. am happy to report that
the damage done TO the squadron under
my command was inconsiderable. There
were none killed and only seven men IN
the squadron very slightly wounded.
Several OF the vessels were struck and
even penetrated, but the damage was
OF the slightest. and the squadron Is In
as good condition now as before the
battle. L beg to state to the depart
ment that I doubt II any, commander.
in-chiet was ever served by more loyal.
efficient and gallant captains than
those Of the aquadron now under my
command.
On May 2, the day following the en-
gagcment, the squadron again went to
CavItc. where 1t remains. On the 3rd
the military forces evacuated the Ca
vie arsenal, which was taken possess
ion of by landing party On the samo
day the Raleigh and Baltimore secured
the surrender OF the batteries on Cor
reigdor island, paroling the garrison
and destroying the guns. On the morn
Ing OF May A. the transport Manila,
which hhd been aground In Boxer bny,
wns towed or and made n prize.