The times., 1898-07-14
MoNToJo's TESTIMONY.
He Finds More Justice in Noble
Enemy Than Among Compairiots.

Figaro publishes the following letter, written
by Admiral Montoio, at Manila. May 9. to Gen.
JOAQUIN Lazaga, one OF his intimate friends
'My -prognostics are unhappily realized in the
disastrous combat Of The 1st of this month. The
25th of April 1 betook myself with the squadron
TO Subig where ! hoped to establish battery
and 10 place the torpedoes of which | could dis
pose. Terrible deception! / perceived that it
would require a month and half 10 construct
that battery and that. according to the opinion
of the captain Of the Del Rio. we could have
only partial reliance upon the torpedoes, some
Of which were. however, Placed The 29th by
a telegram intercepted by our. consul at Hong
Kong, I learned that the American squadron
was sailing toward US with the intention of de-
stroying US and then presenting itself before
Manila had thus the conviction that the
enemy not only know our refuge, but also knew
that the Port of Subig had not a single de-
fense from the land side A council OF war
met and unanimously. except for voice-that
Of Del Rio, chief of the arsenal-it decided that
the squadron should go TO Cavite TO defend itself
with the aid of the forts.
''My Calvary began.
''The 1st OF May, at O'Clock in the morning
we saw the American squadron, formed in line
at a distance of three miles, between Manila and
Cavite.
81 opened fire, which soon extended all along
the front OF battle, the enemy directing most
of his blows against my flagship. The melinite
projectiles having set on fire the cruisers Chris
tina and Castillo, l transported myself, with my
staff TO the Cuba. What more need | say?
I'VE beat a retreat On Bacoor, where we con-
tinued the defense until | gave the order to
sink our disabled ships. They disappeared in the
waves, with our glorious flag nailed to their
masts. The enemy immediately took possession
of a transport, without defense of the place.
and the arsenal of Cavite which surrendered
after having been evacuated by our soldiers
bearing their arms Thus abandoned, Cavite
was left to the horrors of pillage by the rebels
in the presence Of the Americans, whose ndfer-
ence constituted approval
81 betook myself to Manila by land. fatigued
and slightly wounded in the leg having been
able to convince myself once more that the navy
neither understood appreciated. There
in the capital the fear of a bombardment caused
great panic, and everybody asked himself how
with four such miserable ships, had been
able to sustain the attack of eight frst-cass
ships recently constructed and furnished with
superior artillery. Four hundred of our marines
wounded by the fire of the enemy. OF that
number $50, of whom the half dead, were
from my flagship. Poor Cadarso! Since the COM
bat the Americans have declared that, their su-
periority being admitted they did not doubt
that after having fred few cannon shots for
the honor of our banner, we would raise the
white flag. The heroism of my men, martyrs
to their duty. who have freely poured out
their blood for their country, has struck them
with admiration. Commodore Dewey has said to
me through the English consul that he would
esteem it as much an honor as pleasure if he
could one day shake me by the hand to felicitate
my conduct.
This proves that one more often finds JUS
tice in an enemy, superb and noble, than among
ones own compatriots.
'By the mediation OF the consul, have OBJ
tanned leave from the commodore for the sick
and wounded in the hospital of Canacao to leave
for Manila, where they will be cared for and
protected from the fury OF the natives.
''M0NT0Jo."