The sun., 1916-01-09

vie destroyer dartea rortn nike so
many bloodhounds. As they came
rearer the gate of Olongapo the eight
searchlights on the shore. each hSring
at least one hundred thousand candle
power. threw lurd rays upon the
water Dodging the dazzling lights
with cousunmate skill our destroyers
sped on toward their goal.
or sudden three OF our destroyers
boldly attacked one of the scout cruis-
ers Of the enemy. II was deadly
blow which they dealt. for the cruiser
instantly went down to the bottom
of the sea, Surprised by this uneN-
pected attack the batteries Of the fort.
opened fire. hut the gunners knew
not where to aim. for our destroyers
still managed to avoid the search
lights. Able TO see no other warships
they mistook their own scout cruisers
, tor the assa!lsnts and centred their
fire upon them.
While the enemy's forts we're fight
ing his own cruisers three OF our de-
stroyers slipped into the hanbor and
| hurled torpcdoes with deadly effect
! against a number of the cnemy's :
| dreadnoughts. In the midst OF rush
| and confusion il was impossible to
ascertain the extent of damage they
| inflicted upon the enemy. but II seemed
certain that at least three of the tor
| pedbes dealt fatal blows TO as many
warships. Having attained their OBJ
ject our destroyers began to retreat
under the enemys gauntlet as quietly
as they had advanced.
BY this time, however. the sea was
covered with dazzling illumination
from which our destroyers found 1t nc
longer possible to conceal themselves
Not one of them could escape the hap
tism of fire. one succumbed to
fatal shot. while the second was
rammed by the enemy's destroyer
land was soon devour-d 10y the whirlinf
water only the third managed tC
escape, though not without SUSTAINING
serious damage. and Joined Vice-Ad'
m!ral Cyesugi's main squadron hefor,
the dawn.
When the curtain Of darkness wa.
lifted over the narrowing scene of bat
tie of the night preceding the mair
strength Of the American fleet, con
sisting at least OF twenty dread
noughts and cruisers and ten destroy
ers, was seen in magnificent array
outside the Olongapo harbor. II wa:
accompanied by several aeroplanes
which had no doubt informed tn,
enemy of the inferior strength Of Uye'
sugi's squadron. Knowing the foil,
} of engaging such an overwhelmingl,
, superior force OF the enemy uyesug
AT once ordered retreat.
The American fleet gave ho
chase. but our cruisers proved far too
swift Ia he overtaken by II. Durin,
: the Russo Japanese war the quicl
: movement of or battleships and cru!s
ers was "A marvel to the Russians. w
had established record in the velocit!
, OF our fighting craft. The American
: ships, seeing that It was impossible 4
get our ships within the reach OF thei
; guns, turned their course after "A pur
suit of two hours and apparently re
turned to the Olongapo harbor.
The initial success of our flynn
, squadron was a great encouragement
to us. Though we sacrificed two de
| stroyers and an aeroplane. the injur,
we inflicted upon the American squad
ron was immensely more serious. A
far as could he ascertained the enem
! lost dreadnought. battle cruiser
! an armored cruiser, three destroyer
: and an aeroplane
=
D A few days previous to the attac
, on Olonsapo harhor by our fyin
: squadron the main strength OF tn
e Mikado's navy, the united fleet. ha
. left Sasebo for the Philippines. Unde
Y the command of Admiral Kinoshit
= the main feet. consisting of almost
a hundred vessels. followed the usus
|. course toward Manila