Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1898-05-11

Sufficient details of the fighting al
Manila on Sunday morning, May l, have
been received to show that it was the most
remarkable naval engagement in the his.
tory Of the world never before was there
such disproportionate loss of life and
property. The reported losses in the bay
were II Spanish ships destroyed, 61S men
killed, wounded and missing. The total
estimated Spanish loss, including the losse.
in the land batteries, which were stormed
from the ships, and in Cavite, is 2OOO.
Story Of The Battle.
The Associated Press account of the
great battle is as follows:
When the American squadron appeared
off Manila bay early Sunday morning the
lookout found no patrol boats of the enemy
scurrying over the dark waters on the
watch tor them; nor did any searchlight on
the shore cast its dazzling shaft Of light
upon the deep. The Spaniards seemed
asleep, or unconscious of the bolt about to
crush them. Dewey's mind was resolute,
and orders were given to the Olympia to
enter the bay, the rest of the squadron fol-
lowing-a weird, ghostly procession creep
ing along, all lights extinguished and no
fresh coal on the fires. The Spaniards on
Corregidor did not see the ships some three
or four miles from the shore until the fun
mel of the McCulloch emitted few sparks.
Then there was an alarm and shots were
fired from the batteries on the island, but
the squadron made made no reply and
steamed on until opposite Cavite in the
early dawn.
When the Spanish admiral came on deck
that Sunday morning his eyes met sight
that he was unprepared to see. Across
the bay was the American squadron, their
six dark gray hulls in war paint, and scarce
ly disc ernible from the water line. They
were in line Of battle and ready for the
fray. The Spanish squadron lay well up
under the guns of the water battery Of
Cavite, 1 ships in all, led by the steel
cruiser Reina Maria Christina, Admiral
Montejo's flagship. The crews were al
ready at quarters and suddenly the Ameri-
cans saw puff of smoke from the flag
ships side and then splash in the waters
of the bay. 1t was the challenge to COM
bat.
The answer was one of the most stun
ming blows ever delivered in the history of
naval warfare. From every gun in the
American squadron there were spurts of
flame, and projectiles leapt across the in
tervening waters with the unerring preci-
sion Of death. The fire was so rapid, so
accurate, and SO heavy that the Spanish
ships were smothered as in huge pot of
boiling metal. The eight-inch and six-inch
projectlles tore their way through the
Spanish ships while the Spanish gunners
fell dead in heaps under the terrific pelting
of the American rapid-fre guns. The enc
my's fire, however, was maintained at the
outset with considerable consistency. The
owing to her slight protection,
remained some distance behind the Ameri-
can battle line, and several of the Spanish
shells whistled by her. 1t was the Balti-
more that was hit the oftenest by the enc
my's shells. Five or 10 shots took effect
upon her but none Of the officers or crew
were seriously hurt. Some ammunition on
the Baltimore's deck exploded, and that
was the worst thing that happened to the
entire American squadron.
The batteries at Cavite, meanwhile, had
opened fire, and upon them Admiral Dewey
ordered terrific pounding from the Olym-
pia's and the Baltimore's eight-inch guns.
Two Spanish torpedo boats that tried to
run out from under the forts were quickly