Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-05-02
TEE MAY-DAY BATTLE

| The Story of the Destruction of Montejos
squadron as Told by Admiral Dewey.
Washington, May Admiral Dew
ey's official report of the battle of Ma
Mia bay on May 1, 1898, is as follows:
"The squadron left Mrs bay on April
o. Arrived off Bolinao on the morn
ing of April 80, and finding no vessels
there, proceeded down the coast and
arrived off the entrance to Manila bay
on the same afternoon. The Boston
and Concord were sent to reconnoiter
Port Subic. A thorough search of the
port was made by the Boston and Con-
cord, but the Spanish feet was not
found Entering the south channel at
1880 p. M, steaming in colAmn at
eight knots. After half the squadron
had passed a battery on the south side
of the cha6nel opened fire, none OF the
shots taking effect The Boston and
McCulloch returned the fire.
''The squadron proceeded across the
bay at slow speed and arrived off Ma
Mia at daybreak and was fired upon
at 5: Is a. m. by three batteries at Ma
Mia and two near Cavite, and by the
Spanish feet anchored in an approx
mately east and west line across the
mouth of Baker bay, with their left IN
shoal water in Canacao bay.
THE squadron then proceeded to the
attack, the flagship Olympia, under my
personal direction, leading, followed at
distance by the Baltimore, Raleigh,
Petrol, Concord and Boston, in the or
der named, which formation was main
tanned throughout the action. The
squadron opened fire at 5:41 a. m.
While advancing to the attack two
mines were exploded ahead of the flag
ship, too far to be effective. The
squadron maintained a continuous and
precise fire, at ranges varying from
5000 to 1000 yards, counter-marching
in line approximately parallel to that
of the Spanish feet. The enemy's fire
was vigorous, but generally ineffective.
EARLY in the engagement two
launches put out toward the Olympia
with the apparent intention of using
torpedoes. One was sunk and the other
disabled by our fire and beached before
an opportunity occurred to fire torpe-
does.
cat 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 she'll at this time
were not extinguished until she sank.
The three batteries at Manila had kept
up a continuous report from the begin
ming of the engagement, which fire was
not returned by the squadron. The
first of these batteries was situated on
the south mole head, at the entrance to
the Pasig river; the second on the south
bastion of the walled city of Manila
and the third at Malate, about one-half
mile further south.
cat this point I sent a message to
the governor general to the effect that
il the batteries did not cease firing
the city would be shelled. This had the
effect of silencing them.
cat 7:30 a. M I ceased firing and
withdrew the squadron for breakfast.
At 11:16 a. m. returned to the attack
BY this time the Spanish flagship and
almost the entire Spanish fleet were in
flames. AT 1890 D. m. the squadron
ceased firing, the batteries were silenc-
ed and the ships sunk, burnt and de-
serted. At 12:40 p. m. the squadron
returned and anchored off Manila, the
Petrol being left behind TO complete
the destruction of the smaller gunboats
which were behind the point at Cavite.
This duty was performed by Com
mander E. P Wood in the most expe-
ditious and complete manner possible.
''The Spanish lost the following YES
sells: Sunk-Reina Christina, Castillo,
Don Antonio De Ulloa. Burned-Don
Juan de Austria, Isle de Luzon, Isle
de Cuba, General Leo, Marquis del
Duero, Ell Correo Velasco and Isle de
Mindano (transport). Captured-Rapi-
do and Hercules (tugs), and several
smaller launches.
81 am unable &c obtain complete ac-
count of the enemy's killed and wound
ed, but believe their losses to be very
heavy. The Reina Christina alone had
$50 killed, including the captain, and 80
wounded. | am happy to report that
the damage done to the squadron under
my command was inc0nsiderable.
There were none iAlled and only seven
men in the squadron 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.
Il beg to state to the department that
I doubt if any commander in chief was
ever served by more loyal efficient and
gallant captains than those of the
squadron now under my command"
THE PUBLIC DEBT