The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-06-14
CREDIT TO SUBORDINATES
PART PLAYED BY DEWEY MOD
ESTLY KEPT BACK.
No Commander, He Says, Was Ever
Served By More Loyal and Efic-
lent Officers-List of Vessels Sunk,
Burned and Captured-Ultimatum
to Manila's Governor.

!
Dewey, being its first mail advices iron
him since he reached Manila:
Flagship Olympia, Cavite, May A.
The squadron left Mrs Bay on Apri
81; arrived off Bolinoa on the morning
of April 80, and finding no vessels there
proceeded down the coast and arrived
off the entrance to Manila bay on thu
slime afternoon. The Boston and Con
cord were sent to reconnoiter.
| A thorough search of the port wa!
made by the Boston and the Concord
but the Spanish fleet was not found
Entered south channel at 1923
p. M, steaming in column at elgh
knots.
After half the squadron had passed
a battery on the south side of the chan
mel opened fire, none of the shots tax
| ing effect. The Boston and McCulloct
returned the fire. The squadron pro-
ceeded across the bay at slow speed
and arrived off Manila at daybreak
and was fired upon at Sis a. m. by
three batteries at Manila and two neal
| Cavite and by the Spanish fleet an
| chored in an approximately east and
west line across the mouth of BakoI
! bay with their in-shoal water in Cana
cac bay.
The squadron then proceeded to the
attack. The flagship Olympia, under
my personal direction, leading, fol-
lowed at distance by the Baltimore
Raleigh Petrol, Concord and Boston
in the order named, which formation
was maintained throughout the &C
ton. The squadron opened fire at Sal
a. m. While advancing to the attack
two mines were exploded ahead OF the
flagship, too far to be effective.
The squadron maintained a continu-
Gus and precise fire at ranges varying
from 5000 to 1000 yards, counter
marching in line approximately paral-
lei to the Spanish fleet. The enemy 5
fire was vigorous but generally inef-
fective. Early in the enga cement two
| launches put out toward the Olympia
with the apparent intention of using
torpedoeS One was sunk and the other
disabled by fire and beached before
an opportunity occurred to fire tor
pedoes.
AT a. m. the Spanish flagship Reina
Christina made a desperate attempt to
leave the line and come out to engage
at short range. but was received with
such calling fire, the entire battery of
the Olympia being concentrated upon
her, that she was barely able to return
to the shelter of the point. The fires
started in her by our shells at this time
were not eXtinguished until she sank.
The three batteries at Manila kept
up a continuous report from the be-
ginning of the engagement, which fire
was not returned by the squadron.
The first of these batteries was stu
ated on the south mole head, at the
entrance to the Pasig river. The sec
ond, the south bastion of the walled
city of Manila and the third at Malate,
about one-half mile further south. At
this point l sent a message to the gov
ernor general, to the effect that if the
batteries did not cease firing the city
would be shelled. This had the effect of
silencing them. At 7:30 a. m. ceased
firing and withdrew the squadron for
breakfast.
At HE a. m, I returned to the at
tack. BY this time the Spanish flagship
and almost the entire Spanish fleet
were on fire. At 1890 p. m, the squad
ron ceased firing, the batteries being
silenced and the ships being sunk,
burned and deserted At 12:45 p. m. the
squadron returned and anchored off
Manila, the Petrol being left behind to
complete the destruction of the smaller
guns which were behind the point of
Cavite. This duty was performed by
Commander f. p. Wood in the most
expeditions and complete manner pos
sible.
The Spanish lost the following yes
sells:
Sunk-Reina Christina, Castillo, Don
Antonio de Ulloa.
Burned-Don Juan de Austria, Isla de
Luzon, Isla de Cuba, General Leo.
Marquis del Duero, Ell Correo, Valesco
and Isle de Mindanao (transport.)
aptured-Rapido and Hercules
(tugs), and several small launches.
l am unable to obtain complete ac-
IF Iii
wounded, but believe their losses to be
very heavy. The Reina Christina alone
had $50 killed, including the captain,
and 80 wounded. l am happy to report
that the damage done to the squadron
under my command was inconsiderable.
There were none killed, and only seven
men in the squadron very slightly
wounded.
Several of the vessels were struck
and even penetrated, but the damage
was of the slightest, and the squadron
is in as good condition now as before
the battle.
1 beg to state to the department that
1 doubt if any commander-in-ch was
ever served by more loyal, efficient and
gallant captains than those of the
squadron now under my command.
Captain Frank Wildes, commanding the
Boston, volunteered to remain in COM
mand of his vessel although his relief
arrived before leaving Hongkong. As
sistant Surgeon Kindleberger, of the
Olympia, and Gunner Evans. of the
Boston, also volunteered to remain after
orders detaching them had arrived.
The conduct of my personal staff was
excellent. Commander 3. P. Lamber-
ton, chief of staff, was a volunteer for |
that position, and gave me most effic-
lent aid. Lieutenant Brumby, flag lieu |
tenant, ard Ensign w. p. Scott, aide |
performed their duties as signal officers |
n highly credible manner. The Olym- |
pia being short of officers for the bat |
terry, Ensign H. c. Caldwell, flag sec |
rotary, volunteered for, and was as
signed to subdivision of the 5-inch |
battery.
Mr.. ]. L. Stickney, formerly an of |
icer in the United States navy, and |
now correspondent for the New York |
Herald volunteered for duty as my
aide, and rendered valuable service. I |
iesire specially to mention the GOODNESS
IF Lieutenant G. G.. Callins, the navi-
gator of tina Olympia, who came under
ny personal observation, being on the
bridge with me throughout the entire
action, and giving the ranges to the
gums with an accuracy that was proven
~ the excellence of the firing. On
May 2, the day following the engage
nent, the squadron again went to Ca
rte, where it remains.
On the 3rd the military forces evacu-
tied Cavite arsenal, which was taken
possession of by landing party. On
he same day the Raleigh and Boston
occurred the surrender of the batteries
IN Corregidor Island, paroling the gar
ison and destroying the guns. On the
morning Of May 4, the transport Ma
lila, which had been aground in Bakor
3ay was tOWed off and made a prize.
:Iy's improved wild Cherry