Willmar tribune., 1899-09-27

position from which its FIRE could certainly
be effective.
Gas the Olympia turned to run parallel to
the Spaniards at distance of about 5000
yards (nearly two miles from the enemy
the Baltimore, following in it's wake, opened
with its forward eight-inch guns, and the
ships following opened as they reached the
same point and could bring their guns to
bear.
1.-The Raleigh was about 80 minutes under
fire before it could fire in return. Each of
the vessels of our squadron opened with all
guns, following the example of the Olympia,
as they came into position to do so.
1--WE swept by the Spanish fleet, heading
to the westward, until we passed them
and exchanged fire with the batteries on
Sangley Point, turning in succession, with
our heads to the northward, to avoid run
ming on the shoal in front of the latter bat
teries.
I'VE then steamed across the front of the
Spanish fleet, heading eastward, turned with
our heads to the southwark, and repeated
the first maneuver of going to the westward,
passing five times in front of the Spaniards,
three times heading to the west and twice to
the east, at each turn gradually edging near
er to the Spanish vessels. On the last run
the Raleigh fred with its guns elevated to
J, 400 yards, at which distance all of the Sec
ondary battery was also brought into play.
During the second run to the westward
two explosions took place in the water about
300 yards to the northward of the Spanish
fleet. These explosions were supposed by all
hands, from the general appearance of them
to be powerful mines.
During the second run to the westward
the Spanish flagship, Reina Cristina, got
under way and steamed about the anchor
1ge, evidently to avoid punishment. The
various Spanish gunboats or smaller vessels
followed its example. The Reina had been
under way but short time when steam was
observed issuing from its main escape pipes,
showing that it was badly injured.
"Soon after it apparently lost control of
itself, and one of the gunboats was seen to
shove its bow around and point it to the
westward, showing that its steering gear
must have been injured also.
."Lt continued to maneuver, being turned
by a gunboat for about half an hour, when
it became stationary, and it was afterward
found it had touched bottom and stuck.
It and the various gunboats being under
way and maneuvering without any order
often punched themselves in way most
satisfactory to the Americans, as with the
proper distance all our guns could fairly
hail projectiles aboard them without miss
ing shot. Several Of the Spanish gunboats
had lighters heaped with stone lashed on one
side, with the idea Of protecting the sides Of
the vessels from our projectiles. /.
BIS 81 Keeping up q terrible and well:directed
fire our squadron swept five times in front
Of the spaniards, and then, under signal
from the flagship, withdrew from action
going to breakfast as we got out from under
{ ire of the feet and the batteries Of Sangley
Point and Manila city. a conference was
immediately held On board the flagship,
where reports Of expenditures of ammuni.i
tioa Il and casualties were verbally made to-
Admiral Dewey
ss 3 slt was with a feeling sc the greatest