The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-05-03
A CRUSHING DEFEAT.
Dewey's Yankee Tars Were too Much for
the Spaniards.

Dewey's Yankee Tars We're too Much for
the Spaniards.
New York, May "A dispatch to the
Herald from London says: The Asiat-
ic squadron of the United States, Com
modore Dewey commanding. Sunday
engaged and completely defeated the
Asiatic fleet of Spain in the harbor of
Manila. in the Philippine islands. All
the news of the great naval battle thus
far is coming from Spanish sources.
This shows conclusively that Manila
has not yet been taken by the Ameri-
can forces. and that the cable lines are
still under the control of Spain. From
the fact that even the advices received
from Madrid show that the American
warships Jared the best, there is hardly
any doubt that when complete details
are obtained it will be learned that it
was a crushing defeat for Spain. Re-
ports of the battle thus far are COM
ing in piecemeal.
During the two engagements that
took place Commodore Montijo, COM
manding the Spanish fleet. lost three
of his largest ships. His flagship, the
steel cruiser Reina Christiana, and
tria were blown up. Several other
Spanish vessels were badly damaged.
One report adds that several other
Spanish ships were sunk by their sew
eral commanders to prevent their fall
ing into the hands of the Americans.
There was a heavy loss of life among
the Spanish. Captain Darso. COM
manding the Reina Christina. was
killed. Commodore Montijo. command
ing the fleet. shifted his flag from the
Reina Christina to the Isle de Cuba a
much smaller steel protected cruiser
just before the Christina sank. The
blowing up of the Don Juan de Austria
was attended by great loss of life
among the crew. her commander also
being killed.
Commodore Dewey's squadron. leav-
ing Subig. a few miles from Manila.
about o'clock yesterday afternoon,
proceeded toward Manila. Under the
cover of darkness he entered the har-
Dor of Manila. the batteries located
there announcing his arrival.
Both fleets lined up for battle about
daybreak-about o'clock In the morn
ing. The guns of the American war
ships began firing on the fortress of
Cavite and the arsenal of Manila. I'm
der the protection of the guns of these
Notifications the Spanish warships
opened fire on the American fleet.
For several hours the harbor resound-
ed with the roar of guns. the crashing
of steel and timbers. the shrieks and
groans of the wounded. Thick clouds
of smoke at times almost obscured the
opposing fleets from each other. A well
directed shot reached the iron cruiser
Don Juan de Austria. vessel OF 1.i00
tons. A terrific explosion followed. and
the ship was blown up. All the time
during the engagement the American
ships were under way. their maneuver-
ing being intended TO render the marks
manship of the Spanish gunners less
effective. The American squadron
about o'clock drew of to the vest
side of the bay and took refuge behind
some foreign shipping. The ships had
evidently suffered considerable dam
age. After some hasty repairs they re-
turned TO the conflict.
During this engagement the guns of
Cavite maintained steadier ard
stronger fire upon Commodore Dewey's
ships than in the first encountes, b.;