The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-05-08
DEWEY TELLS OF
HIS GREAT VICTORY
Continued from Page Nine.)

1
Admiral Montejo. the Spanish Admir-
al, was compelled to escape in a small
boat to the Isle de Cuba, another of tho
Spanish vessels. and as soon as his fac
was hoisted the guns of the American
| fleet were turned on it and in a few
minutes it was destroyed.
The Admiral was again forced to
escape in Il small boat. The defcnses of
Manila and its batteries as well as those
at Cavita. were silenced and beaten 10
the ground by the rain of shot and shell
During Saturday night the vessels of
the American squadron crept inside the
bay through Il supposed maze of mines
and tOrpedoes. They were not observed
by any of the watchers on the Spanish
garrisOns until some stray sparks were
emitted from the funnel of the dispatch
boat Hugh McCulloch.
Then few shots were exchanged with
the garrison on Corregidor Island, but
owing to the darkness, they were inef-
fective.
There was no patrol established, nor
were any searchlights placed at the en-
trance to Manila Bay
The vessels of the American squadron
never stopped or slowed down until
they had assumed a position directly OPP
posite the city of Manila This was just
as daybreak.
The order of battle assumed by the
Spanish fleet at the beginning of the en-
gagement was with all the small craft
inside Cavite harbor, which is protected
by stone and timber breakwaters, and
the larger ships manouevering off Cavitc
and Manila. The American battle line
was led by the flagship Olympia and
the cruiser Raleigh The Boston, Balti-
more, Concord and Petrol and the reve-
nue. cutter McCulloch followed. The
American feet in easy speed approached
the Spanish ships, which were drawn
out in two lines. the Reina Maria Chris
tina, the flagship, in the center.
AS the dawn broke and the position If
the American squadron was discovered
the Spanish fleet Immediately opened
fire, supported by the Cavite forces. The
Spaniards fired the first shot. The chal-
lenge was given by the Reina Maria
Christina.
The Olympia replied and Mt once the
entire American fleet was in action. The
Spanish ships did not hesitate in thei:
fire and the Cavite batteries let loose
their heavy guns. The best gunners IN
the American feet manned the most de
structive weapons on their ships and
the havoc wrought was frightful. Tie
engagement soon became general. The
hugh McCulloch remained at come dis
lance from the brunt of the encounter
and the enemy's shells passed, but did
not touch her.
The craftsmanship of the Spanish gun
ners seemed to be wild from the outset
and meanwhile the main ships of the
American squadron were pouring in a
deadly fire, doing great execution both
in tie Spanish fleet and in the Cayi e
Notifications on land.
The American cruiser Baltimore. at
one period of the engagement. received
the brunt of the enemy's fire, and suffer-
cd the most of any vessel in The Amcri-
can squadron. From five to ten Of the
enemy's shots took effect on the Balti-
more, but none of her officers or crew
was seriously hurt.
As soon as the Spanish Admiral left
the Reina Maria Christina and boarded
the Isla de Cuba. the fire was directed
ut the latter mercilessly, every eight
inch gun on every ship joining those
or the flagship. The Isla de Cuba was
rlddied. After a few rounds she was
put out of action and almost before Adj
miral Montejo had had time to get his
bearings he was driven out a second
time.
The Spanish cruiser Castillo hurst
into flames under the remarkable gun
merry of Dewey's men, The American
Commodore then directed a hot fire
against the batteries. This was a sur
lAp M A II -
entity thought himself secure under the
guns of the Cavite Notifications.
The Spanish cruiser Reina Maria
Christina received the full effect of this
CALLING fire from the American fleet and
was so badly damaged that she sunk af-
ter catching fire The other vessels of
the Spanish fleet were. quickly riddlea
by the whitening hail of lead from the
American gun boats.
Two gun boats that had put ont from
the Cayite breakwater, with evident in
tent to destroy the nearest American yes
sells, were speedily forced to return with
in shelter of the Notifications.
The arsenal ut the Cavite Notifications
exploded during the engagement. proba,
bly, from American shells, and forty
Spaniards were killed.
The forts made a nominal resistance
but were quickly overpowered. The shore
garrisons did not capitulate, however,
and when the American fleet ceased fir
ing the Spaniards on shore were still de-
faint.
The Spanish ships caught fire one af-
ter another, or were driven to grounding
to save their crews. Commodore Dewey
continued the fighting until the last YES
sci of the enemy had been destroyed. BY
that time the shore batteries were ST
lencd and the American fleet had won
most remarkable victory. American
ships were kept under way to man0uever
about the Spanish fleet. BY this means
much of the enemy's fire was rendered
harmless. The spectacle of the Ameri-
can war ships manoueyering as if ON
parade, and at the same time directing
terrific fire at the enemy's ships ana
forts was Il magnificent tribute to the
skill and discipline of modern naval war
fare.
There were only few slight casual
ties, all told, among the ships of the
American fleet, the worst of which 70
suited from an explosion of ammunition
on the deck OF the Baltimore. The 9th
er ships of the fleet were practically nm
injured