Rensselaer Democrat, Volume 1, Number 5, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 May 1898 — MANILA AT HIS MERCY. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

MANILA AT HIS MERCY.

Yankee Commander So Notifies Navy Department. NOW REAR ADMIRAL DEWEY. President McKinley Thanks the Daring Hero and Promotes Him. DID NOT LOSE A SINGLE MAN. Spanish Fleet Destroyed Wilinut Loss to the United States. Having Disposed Of the Enemy’s Battleships, the Successful Naval Commander Turns His Attention to the Forts at Cavite. Which He Demolishes with His Gims-Hpniiiards Suffer a Doss of at Least One Hundred and Fifty Men—Only a Few of the American Tars Injured—s,oooTroops Sent from San Francisco. Washington special: • The exasperating silence of the deep was broken early Saturday morning when Commodore George Dewey, hero of the Philippines, flashed beneath the oceans those words for which 70,000,000 Americans had anxiously waited, in mingled hope and fear. Half encircling the earth, the message which officially reports one of the most remarkable naval victories of modern times was dropped into the palm of Uncle Sam before be had finished his eairiy morning nap. Notwithstanding the fact that everybody for several days had been in momentary ex'peetation of cable advices from Commodore Dewey, Washington was thrown into the wildest excitement early Saturday morning by the receipt of news announcing the ar-

rival of the McCulloch nt IlongKoug with dispatches for the government from Commodore Dewey, The publication of newspaper dispatches telling of terrible mortality among the Spanish and the escape of the American forces, men and ships, from serious injury added to the excitement and to the intense satisfaction with which the longexpected news was received. The State Department had the honor of ‘receiving the first news. It came in the shape of a cablegram of three words from United States Consul Wildtnan at Hong-Koug, and was as follows: “Hong-Kong. McCulloch. Wildman." That is the usual form in which uavn/ movements are reported by cable. The naval officials were promptly notified and awaited With intense interest the dispatch which soon came from Commodore Dewey. In brief. Commodore Dewey states that be silenced the batteries at Mnuilu completely, that lie cut the cable himself, and that he has the bay and everything else completely at his mercy. lie has, however, been unable to take possession of the town of Manila for lack of men. Dewey’s report further says that he destroyed esyen ships, that none of his men was kilied, uud few Injured, and that the American fleet was not injured At All. , Thanks of a Nation. By direction of tire President Secretary Long, ou receipt of Dewey’s rejiort of bis achievement, sent the following cable dispatch to the gallant Commodore: “Dewey, Manila: The President, in the name of the American people, thanks you and your officers and men for your splendid achievement and overwhelming victory. In recognition he has appointed you acting admiral, and will recommend A vote of thanks to you by Congress. “LONG."

KroKY OF THK BATTLE. Detail* of the Greatest Naval Victory the World Uaa Ever Known. Xew York special: A New York newspaper correspondent who was with the American fleet during the engagement cables from Hong Kong the story of the tight, as follows: When Commodore Dewey nrrived off Manila bay he decided to make a dash into the inner harbor. Frqth his flagship, the Olympia, he signaled the commanders of the fleet to follow him and with all lights out the squadron of sea fighters steamed into the bay with the crews at their guns. As they [Missed the fortifies tions at Corregidor the order of the vessels was as follows: Olympia, Baltimore, ltaleigh, Petrel, Concord, Boston. Eight o’clock had just struck when th< stately flagship steamed silently past tie frowning batteries that command the en trance to the bay, and in spite of the fact that the moon was shining brightly the fleet was well up the harbor before the Spaniards on watch were uware of its approach, Corregidor lay a mile behind them when the first gnu boomed its warning that the enemy was at hand. One heavy projectile screamed over the infloating ships and plunged into the water far away. This was followed by a second, which dropped astern. Instantly the Releigh, the Concord and the Boston accepted the challenge. A shell from the Concord described a long curve and apparently landed exactly inside the shore battery, which fired no more. Slowly the squadron edged its way toward Manila and the men, worn with long watching, were allowed to drop beside their guns for a nap on deck. So closely had the arrival of the fleet been timed that at break of day Dewey was within five miles of Manila. Here he sighted the Spanish squadron. Admiral Montejo’s flag was seem fluttering from the cruiser lteinn Christina. The vessels moved down to the attack in single tile at a uniform speed of eight knots, and as they passed in front of Manila three great batteries mounting powerful guns opened up at a distance of five miles. Suddenly the Concord’s guns boomed out a reply. For a moment there was silence and expectation. Commodore Dewey signaled not to attaek these batteries, for fear of sending, his shells into the crowded city. Veering up the bay, he passed slowly in front of Cavite, where two powerful submarine mines were exploded ahead of the flagship. The commodore coolly glanced at his watch as he stood impassively on the bridge and called the attention of one of his officers to the fact that it was exactly six minutes past 5 o’clock. As the mines let go a smile flitted over his face, because of the fact that the Spaniards in exploding the mines had misjudged the position of the flagship. As it was, tremendous volumes of water were hurled into the air. But there was no hesitation. Dewey evidently had no fear of the mines. He signaled the ships to steam ahead, and in a moment he was within range of the guns of the batteries of Cavite. By this time the Spanish gunners had got the range and the shells began bursting close aboard. The Spanish vessels also opened up with their guns, and the missiles flew all about the flagship, which was evidently the mark at which they were directing their fire. Aboard the American fleet the heat was intense. The men, stripped to the waist, stood at their guns waiting for the signal to open up. At nineteen minutes past 0 the starboard eight-inch gun in the forward turret of the Olympia belched forth a welcome to the dons at a distance of 5,500 yards. The tiring was taken up by the Baltimore and the Boston in turn, and shell after shell from their great guns was sent hurtling toward the Castilla and the lteina Christina. At first it was all guess work. The Spaniards, knowing the exact distance, tired rapidly. Their guns, ashore and afloat, were making it warm for the American squadron. Shot plunged and screnmed about the vessels, while the shells burst in the air, their fragments lashing the water till it splashed all about their hulls. Encouraged by the sinail amount of damage that was being done by the guns from the Spanish ships and batteries, the flagship turned atul steamed majestically

up within 2,000 yards of the enemy’s vessels. At this range even the quick-firing six-pounders were found to be effective and a perfect storm of projectiles was poured in upon the unfortunate Spanish fleet. Three vessels were set on fire and their men were forced to abandon the guns. Satisfied with the work thus far accomplished Commodore Dewey gave the signal and the fleet steamed slowly out of the range of the batteries in order that the crews, which had been continuously at the guns for more than two hours, could go to breakf.xst. For three hours they remained out of range of the enemy’s guns and then the sigual for action again fluttered at the halyards of the flagship. This time the Baltimore was given the place of honor. She opened up with her guns on the Spanish ships and batteries as coolly as if at target practice. The replies were slow and irregular. The Raleigh, the Boston, the Concord and the PetreJ were directed to break into the inner harbor and destroy every hostile ship in sight. The gunboat Petrel, with

her light draft, was enabled to move up within 1,000 yards. With her guns going as rapidly as they could be tired, she created awful havoc among the vessels still flying the Spanish flag. In the meantime the Reinn Christina had been burning fiercely and had been abandoned. The Ullon, which had also been deserted, lurched suddenly and sank beneath the waters of the bay. A few minutes later the Spanish flag on the arsenal disappeared and was replaced by a white ensign that fluttered bravely in the wind. The signal was then made to the Petrel to finish the destruction of the vessels in the inner harbor. Dewey’s orders on approaching Manila had been to capture* or destroy every Spanish vessel in sight. Within six hours after the Olympia steamed past the fortifications at the entrance to the harbor the orders had been implicitly obeyed. Not a Spanish vessel remained in the hands of the enemy. About 400 Spanish were killed or went down in the ships, and perhaps GOO or more wounded.

HAS NO EQUAL. Dewej's Feat Without a Parallel in in History. The officials of the Navy Department were simply amazed at the extent of the mortality inflicted upon the Spanish admiral by Admiral Dewey—for, from the moment when Secretary Long sent his dispatch of congratulation, the commodore became an admiral. Never before, save where some terrible accident, such as the blowing up of a ship had occurred, was there any record of such a result. The opinion was expressed by strategists that with superb judgment Dewey absolutely smothered the fire of the Spanish batteries and ships under the weight of his metal before they had an opportunity to make any effective response. Admiral Dewey speaks of the Spanish sick and wounded hospital “within our lines." There can be but one interpretation placed upon this, namely, that the admiral has occupied Cavite, a considerable town about seven miles toward the mouth of the bay from Manila. He has thus, supposing he goes no farther, secured a naval base for the naval fleet which will serve through the remainder of the war at least. An important feature of Admiral Dewey’s cablegrams is the statement that he destroyed the fortifications at the bay entrance. This refers to the strong forts at Corregidor Island lying at the entrance to the bay and insures the admiral against any interruption in the line of communications with the outside world. As soon as the news in the cablegrams had been fairly absorbed by the officials they turned their attention to the future. It . was already in contemplation to send some troops to relieve the squadron of the necessity of occupying Manila and the forts if Admiral Dewey should call for them. Secretary Long stated that without waiting further the Government would send troops to re-enforce Admiral Dewey with all promptitude. Secretary Alger and Gen. Miles were communicated with on the subject and they immediately planned all necessary arrangements for the sending of an expedition from San Francisco.

TO OCCUPY THE PHILIPPINES. Troops to Be Sent Thereto Hold What Has Been Taken. Washington special: The administration has decided to occupy the Philippines with a strong military force us soon as possible. For this purpose, Pacific slope troops will be used, and it is expected that at least 5,000 will be en route within the next ten days. There does not seem to be any doubt as to the government's purpose to hold these islands pending a final settlement with Spain, when they will be used as a collateral to secure the payment to the United States of a war indemnity. High officials are of the opinion that hone of the powers will seriously dispute our right to make such final disposition. In any event, this

government will be prepared to contest any point whieh may be raised on this score. Commodore Dewey’s great victory has thrown a burden on the United States. What shall be done with the Philippines ultimately? If the United States holds the islands this governnent at once becomes a factor in all the controversies of the Orient. Many prominent pußlic men are adverse to this if it can be avoided. The plant for the Manufacture of smokeless powder at Santa Cruz, Cal., lias an order for 150,000 pounds for shipment to the Philippines.

CAPTAIN GENERAL AUGUSTIN.

U. S. CRUISER CHARLESTON. Will carry troops and supplies to Dewey.