The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-05-08
Copyright. 1888, BY tn. Associated Press,

Copyright. 1898. by the Associated Press)
HoNG-KoNG. China, May THE United
States dispatch boat Hugh McCulloch,
which arrived here to-day from Manila
with dispatches from Commodore Dewey
for his government, brought the first news
from the Philippines since the cable was
cut last Monday evening. 1t is learned
that the order of battle assumed by the
Spanish last Sunday was with all the small
craft inside Cavite harbor behind stone and
timber breakwaters. and the larger ships
cruising of Cavite and Manila. No patrol
was established. nor was any searchlight
placed at the entrance to the bay.
On Saturday night the American ships
crept inside the bay without being seen un-
til the Hugh McCulloch's funnel emitted
spark. Then few shots were exchanged
with Corregidor island. but the fleet never
stopped or slowed down opposite the city
until dawn. The Spanish ships then opened
fire. supported by the Cavite forts. The
Hugh McCulloch remained at some distance
and the enemey's shells passed but did not
touch her.
The cruiser Baltimore suffered the most
of any Of the American ships. Five or
ten shots took effect on her. but none of her
officers or crew was seriously hurt. Only
few slight injuries were suffered by the
American feet. the worst of which resulted
from an explosion of ammunition on the
deck Of the Baltimore. The other ships of
the feet were practically unhurt.
One hundred and fifty Spaniards were
killed and many were wounded. The cruiser
Reina Cristina was the worst damaged of
the Spanish ships, and 1t Is believed that
she was sunk. The other ships of the Span
iards were quickly riddled by the american
fire. Two torpedo boats from Cavite were
quickly forced to return to that place for
shelter.
The Cavite Arsenal. exploded and forty
Spaniards were killed. The forts made a
nominal resistance. The main battery,
however. did not capitulate until the fleet
concentrated its fire, and then it became
silent. The Spaniards at Manila are still
defiant.
An oficer of the McCulloch says the
Olympia led the squadron into the bay
through the channel, and the feet had
passed corrigedor island before the Span
fired from the battery, to which the Ra-
leigh, the Boston and the Concord retorted
and the battery was almost Immediately
reduced to silence. The squadron then
slowly proceeded up the harbor. and when
day broke the town of Manila was seen
ships steamed separately along in front of
Manila, but without opening fire until the
Spanish cannon from the batteries around
the town began TO drop shells and solid
shot In the water around the squadron.
Then the Concord fired few shots. more
or less. as she passed, but the other ships
proceeded silently towards Cavite.
when nearing Baker bay sudden up
heaval of the waters occurred little dis
tance in front of the leading ship. and
quickly following this a second water spout
denoted that the spanards had fired a
couple of mines or torpedoes. but their ef-
forts to blow up the ships we're absolutely
unsuccessful Almost Immediately the guns
in the Cavite battery burst into heavy
cannonade. The shells fell in the neigh
borhood of the Olympia, but majority Of
them fell short and were badly aimed The
squadron then drew nearer in towards the