Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-05-09

features were carried out with perfect
pUnctuality and in railroad time table or
der.
AT the erd of the action Commodore
Dewey anchored his fleet in the bay before
Manila and sent a message to Governor
General August, announcing the inaugu-
ration of the blockade and adding that if a
shot was fired against his ships he would
destroy every battery about Manila
The position occupied by the Spaniards
the support which their ships received from
the land batteries and the big guns they
had ashore gave them an enormous advan-
tage. Therefore, when it is considered that
the Spaniards lost over six hundred men in
killed and wounded, that all their ships,
amounting to about fourteen, We're de-
stroyed, and that their naval arsenal at
Cayite was also destroyed, with it's de-
lenses, it will become apparent that the
victory of the American commodore is one
of the most complete and wonderful
achievements in the history of naval war
fare.
Not a Man Killed.
Not man on board the American fleet
was killed, not a ship was damaged to any
extent, and only six men were injured
Slightly on board the Baltimore.
This grand achievement is quite as much
due to the generaisbip of Commodore
Dewey to the fact that the American
gunners, ships and guns are superior to
anything in the same line ahoat anywhere
Credit must also be given to the fullest ex-
tent to the officers under Commodore
Dewey, for, to a man, they seconded their
gallant commander in every way possible
and thus helped him earn the laurels which
so justly his.
The order of battle taken up by the Span
iards was with all the small craft inside
the stone and timber breakwaters of Ca
wife harbOr- The larger ships of Spain
crUised off Cavite and Manila.
The American fleet entered Manila bay
on Saturday night with the greatest of
ease The Spaniards had not established a
patrol and there We're searchlights at
the entrance of the bay. In fact, the
American ships would probably have pass
ed inside the bay without any challenge
had IL not been that some sparks flew up
from the McCulochs funnel. Thereupon a
few shots were exchanged with the bat
teries on Corregidor Island, but the feet
did not slow down. and soon took up a po-
sition near Cavite, awaiting dawn in order
to commence hostilities.
Spanish Flagship Opened Fire.
The early hours of the morning revealed
the opposing ships to each other, and the
Spanish flagship opened fire. Her action
was followed by some of the larger Spanish
warships, and then the Cavite forts opened
up and the smaller Spanish vessels brough ut
their guns into play.
The American squadron, which had beer
led into the bay and through the chsAnel
by the flagship Olympia, did not reply
though the shells of the Spaniards begar
to strike the water around them, but moved
majestically onward. When nearing Baker
bay sudden upheayal of water a short
distance ahead of the Olympia showed thai
the Spaniards had exploded a mine or
torpedo. This was followed by second
and similar explosion. They were both ut
serly unsuccessful
The American fleet was then drawing
nearer and nearer to the Spaniards, whose
gunnery was very poor, the shots from tbs
Cayite batteries and from the Spanish ships
being equally badly aimed, either falling
short going wide of the mark.
When the American feet entered the bay
coming through the southern channel he
tween Cabaio Frile Islets, the following
was their order: The flagship Olympia, thu
Baltimore, the Raleigh, Concord. Boston
Petrol and McCulloch, with the two stor,
ships. the Nanshan and Zafro, bringin,
up the rear. And In that order they swep