Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1898-05-07
ADMIRAL DEWEY'S FLEET
WAS VICTORIOUS
--."---
Wins g Brilliant Victory Over the
Spanish Fleet in the Phil
ippines.
SPANISH FLAGSHIP Is BURNED
Her Fate Is Shared by the Castillo
and 0the Vessels Are
Sunk.
SPANISH FLAGSHIP IS BURNE0
TWO ENGAGEMENTS ARE FOUGHT
Owing 90 n Donblo Spanish Censor
ship Details of the Engage
mcnt Arc Mcagrc and
Hard to Obtain.

Washington, May 3.-The first bat
tie Of the Hispano-American war has
becn fought, and victory lies with Adj
miral Dewey's squadron under the
stars and stripes.
For days the people Of Washington,
in ommon with the people throughout
the country, have been awaiting news
from the Philippine islands, as every
thing pointed to n battle at Manila
that might be a decisive conflict Of the
war. When the news came, indicating
n great victory for the American squad
ron, the enthusiasm of the people let
loose and the streets OF the city have
ruDg with cheers throughout the night.
The first news OF the battle received
in Washington came in n brief cable
gram to the Associated Press from
Madrid about s o'clock last evening.
As the night wore on the cable contin-
ucd to sing the news Of victory for the
squadron Of Admiral Dewey and the
interest grew into tremendous excite
ment.
Thus far no official advices have been
received by the government, but the
| Associated Press dispatches were
transmitted TO the president and Off
Gals OF the administration as rapidly
as they were received.
The president, in company with sew
eral Of his advisers, read the bulletin
In the library of the white house early
i'm the evening, but later in the night
he went to his Office on the second
| floor, where until a late hour he contin-
ued to pcruse every dispatch with the
deepest interest. The news was evil
IDENTIFY of the most gratifying character
to him, but no statement could be OBJ
tanned at the executive mansion con-
corning the battle or its possible con-
sequences.
Officials of the navy department were
rcticent in discussing the conflict in
the absence OF official information, u
they make no pretcnse OF concealinS
their great qualification. II has beer
known for days at the navy depart
ment that n conflict at Manila was in
cvitable, and while no great fear Of the
result was experienced, there was yet
a deep concern in the heart of every
official. The news removcs n great
weight from the minds of all.
Navy and army officials received with
intense joy the adyices telling OF the
victory OF Admiral Dcwcy's fleet. Their
satisfaction that the defeat of the
Spanish had been overwhelming was
strengthened by reason of the news
coming first almost wholly from Mad
rid. The absence of any statement OF
specific injury TO the American vessels
in the Madrid adviccs was construed
as convincing Indication that they had
not suffered appreciable injury, ana
this was especially pleasing to all.
Not only was the preservation OF the
American ships and men considered In
itself n happy outcome, but was com-
mented upon as indicating clearly that
Admiral Dewey and his associate oil.
GERS and the men under their command
had discharged ~splendidly their sew
Cral duties in directing and executing
the fight. In this connection it was
pointed out as little less than marvel
Gus that the American squadron es-
capped without severe injury because,
Notwithstanding the disparity in the
naval forces, the Spanish fleet, assisted
by the shore batteries, should have
been able to inhict severe damage to
the foe before itself being destroyed.
Its failure TO do so was applicable only
upon the hypothesis Of perfect and
swift work by the Americans.
viii Shorten the War.
An opinion freely expressed last
night by naval officers is that the very
decisive victory will mean probably an
early end to the war, without further
naval battles of Importance. The
American fleet, il is suggested, is now
supreme in the waters Of SPANS Pa
ciiic possessions and the indications
are strongly toward the slipping
Of the Philippines from her control.
1t was said that only by quickly
Yielding to our demands in Cuba could
the loss possibly be averted. Spain, it
was argued, was confronted with Il sit
uation which promised naught save
disaster IN case she elected to force
more fighting. The superiority of Il
superior fleet has been demonstrated
in the Pacific and the same, it is con
tended, would be inevitable in the At
lantic, in case the clash came. From
whatever point of view it is taken the
policy of more fighting upon the part
of Spain promises nothing more but
misfortune.
Se%nator-elect McComas, of Maryland,
struck a keynote of the expected re-
suit of the ~cannonading ut Manila
when he said that it was likely TO have
u tremendous effect not only on Spain
but throughout Europe. He expressed
the belief that il would turn the tide
of European sentiment toward the
States.
In official circles it is regarded as al
most certain that trouble of a most
critical nature will confront the Sagas-
government within SPANS w Dor
1t is pointed out that thesSpan.
people have been led to believe that
their navy was invincible and the Bit
ter disappointment that will ensue
over the result of the first engagement
Of the var is likely to precipitate inter
nal d~issension, if not a revolution.
Another result of Admiral Dewey
victory, il is thought, may he action ON
,Iits Iihnnrn TIitC uurrH