Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 19, Number 68, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 May 1898 — VICTORY IS OURS. [ARTICLE]

VICTORY IS OURS.

Asiatic Squadron Engages Spanish Fleet Off Har- j bor of Manila. ! ' * _ . a- , -• » ’ I Desperate Conflict Results Which Ends in Crushing Defeat | for the Enemy. Two Choice Vessels Burned, One Blown Up and Several Others Are Sunk. \ Spaniards Said to Have Lost Fully 2,000 Men —Americans in Control of Harbor Entrance. .* _! I Oar Lou Not Thought to Be Heavy j —News Sifted Through Spanish J Sources Fails' to Enumerate It. j b. VviAsl- '* I * J Madrid, May 2. —There has been a tremendous naval battle off Manila, the capital of the Philippine islands, between the ships of the United States under Admiral Dewey and the Spanish fleet under Admiral Montejo. Official advices from Manila report a serious reverse for the Spanish arms. The first naval engagement of the war appears to have resulted disastrously to the fleet under command of Admiral Montejo. Commodore Dewey appeared off the Bay of Manila late Saturday night and at five o’clock Sunday morning engaged the Spanish squadron had been awaiting the attack. The opposing fleets were engaged for several hours and the heavy guns of the land fortifications at Cavite protecting the harbor kept up a steady fire on tbe American warships. Span lull Losses. Bosses of Spanish vessels are: Second-class cruiser Don Juan de Austria, blown up and sunk. Her commander killed. Cruiser Reina Maria Christina, flagship, set on Are by shells. Burned and sunk. Her commander killed. Cruiser Castilla, burned and a complete wreck. Cruiser Mindano, severely damaged. Cruiser Ullao, damaged and put out of action. 1 Late official telegrams to the government 6ay that several other warships were sunk to avoid their falling into the hands of the enemy. It is unofficially stated that the Spaniards have lost 2,000 men. The American squadron retired, having sustained severe damage, but a few hours later renewed the attack, when the Spanish fleet retired into the inner harbor. Commodore Dewey controls tbe entrance to the bay. No American vessels were burned or sunk, so far as known. The fact that Dewey’s fleet did not pursue the fragment of the Spanish squadron into the harbor is regarded as a victory for Spain by enthusiastic loyalists. Cable dispatches from Manila continue to give details of the fight between the fleets, none being favorable to Spain.

Story of the Battle. Three a. m.—Fuller details are coming in abopt the tremendous combat at Manila. These indicate that the American fleet remains in the harbor, but that the.forts and what remains of the Spanish fleet are keeping up a resistance. The insurgents have attacked from the land side of the city, but have been held in check. The ministry adults severe Spanish losses in the fleet, but claims a virtual victory, as the city of Mnnila has not capitulated. The killing of the captain of the Reina Maria Christina and the loss of the ship are greatly deplored, as she was the most powerful of Spain’s warships in Pacific waters, and the captain hue a record for distinguished gallantry. The Attack. it seems that the American squadron was sighted off Subic Saturday evening. Apparently its commander expected to find the Spanish fleet there, but Admiral Montejo hud retired to Manila and the protection of the forts of the bay. So Commodore Dewey kept on and passed the fort* at the entrance of the bay just before dawn. There was some firing from the batteries, but the squardon did not reply, and there has been no report whether the shots took effect. Kirin* Become* General. When morning came the Cavite fortlfleationsopened flreandat once the flagship Olympia fired her eight-inch forward guns in reply. From this the firing became general. Admiral Montejo, in the Reina Maria Christina, went boldly to meet the foe. He was soon engaged with the Olympia, a cruiser of much superior force, and though he Inflicted some injury his ships was set on fire and crippled by the Olympia's heavy fire. The Second En*asreinem«. In the second attack the Baltimore, Olimpia, Concord and Boston made straight for the crippled Spanish ships, firing their heavy guns with great rapidity. The Spanish gunners stood nobly to their guns and answered shot for shot. But weight was on the American side and soon the large cruiser Castilla was on fire and all the efforts

cf the Crew to extinguish the tfl&ze I were unavailing. Cruiser Scuttled. j The Americans continued to pour | their fire upon the devoted vessel, and jto prevent the magazine from explod- | ingr she was scuttled and the crew made' for the shore in their boats or upon i pieces of the shattered spars. Blown to Pieces. j The Don Juan de Austria was even ■ less fortunate. She, too, was crippled I by the shots of the Americans and in her helpless condition could not es--1 cape the storm of shot and shell. Suddenly her magazine exploded. A great , cloud of smoke, from which flames seemed to leaf), was seen to rise above the ship and she was seen no more. The cruisers Mindano and Don Antonio de Ulloa were in the thick of the combat and sustained a heavy fire for an hour. Then they were able to draw away under the forts, though suffering serious injury. Spanish Courage. No greater show of courage was ’ made by any of the heroes of Spain I than by those on the smaller gunboats. Peeing that they were apt to fall into | the hands of the enemy they sunk ~.their vessels or set them on fire and risked their lives in the waters of the ! boyAdmiral Montejo*! Report. Madrid, via Paris,- May 2. —The time ; of the retreat of the American squadron i behind the merchantmen was 11:30 a. !m. The naval bureau at Manila sends j the following report, signed “Montejo, Admiral:” “In middle of the night the American squadron forced the forts and before daybreak appeared off Cavite. The night was completely dark. At half-past seven the bow of the Reina ; Maria Christina took fire and soon after j the poop also was burned. At eight o’clock, with my staff, I went on board the Isla of Cuba. The Reina Maria Christina and the Catilla were then entirely enveloped in flames. The other ships having been damaged, retired into Baker bay. Some had to be sunk to prevent their falling into the hands of the enemy. The losses are numerous, notably Capt. Cadarso, a priest and nine other persons.”

Governor General*! Report. The following is the text of the official dispatch from the governor-gen-eral of the Philippines to the minister of war, Lieut. Gen. Correal, as to the engagement off Manila: “Saturday night, April 30, the batteries at the entrance to the fort announced the arrival of the enemy’s squadron, forcing a passage under the obscurity of the night. At daybreak the enemy took up positions, 1 opening with a strong fire against Fort Cavite and the arsenal, j Our fleet engaged the enemy in a brilliant combat, protected by the Cavite and Manila forts. They obliged the enemy with heavy loss to maneuver repeatedly. At nine o’clock the American squadron took refuge behind the foreign merchant shipping, on the east side of the bay. | “Our fleet, considering the enemy’s superitority, naturally suffered a se--1 vere loss. The Marla Christina is on fire and another ship, believed to be the Don Juna de Austria, was blown up. “There was considerable loss of life. I Capt. Cadarzo, commanding the Maria Christina, is among the killed. I cannot give further details.” Excitement in Madrid. The town is greatly excited by- the serious news from the Philippines and there is an immense gathering in the Celle de Sevilla. The civil guards on horsebuck were called out to preserve order and all precautions have been taken. There is much muttering, but up to the present nothing more serious has occurred. Notwithstanding the severe damage the Spanish ships sustained naval officers here consider that further operations by the American squadron will bfe conducted under great difficulty, owing to their having no base where they can repair and recoal or obtain fresh supplies of ammunition. Another account says the Mindano and Ullao (or Ulloa) were severely damaged in the second engagement. Ministers speak of “serious but honorable losses.” Claim! Spanish Victory.

! Admiral Bermejo, minister of marine, joined the cabinet council Sunday evening and informed his colleagues that the Spanish force had gnined a victory in the Philippines. He asserted that he found difficulty in restraining his joyful emotions. 1 The official dispatch does not mention the destruction of any American 1 vessel, although it says that the United States squadron Anally cast an anchor , In the bay behind the foreign merchantmen. Reanlt a* to American* In Doobl. ! London, May 2. —While it is quite clear that the Spanish squadron has suffered a crushing defeat, the dispatches leave unclear the intensely interesting question whether the American squadron has suffered ihaterial damage. All news thus far comes from Spanish sources, but it seems evident that Commodore Dewey has not cßptured Manila. Unless he is able to make another attack and capture the , town he will be in an awkward position, having no base upon which to retire and to reflt. Probably, therefore, the United States squadron will be obliged to make for San Francisco, as the entrance to Manila bay was heavily mined with torpedoes. Reliable neta.ll* Laekln*. j Reliable details cannot be had until Commodore Dewey’s squadron is able to communicate with Hong Kong. There is, however, a suspicious frankness about the Spanish dispatches that savors of a desire to break unpleasant uews to the Spaniards. It is not unlikely, therefore, that Commodore Dewey may be able to renew the attack. Dewey’* Plnek. j Commodore Dewey displayed great pluck and daring in making for the inner harbor. According to private advices received from Madrid, United States cruisers Olympia, Raleigh and

two other vessels, the names cf which are not given, entered the harbor. No dispatches give details as to the vessels actually engaged on either side. It appears to be incorrect that the American Bhips finally anchored behind the merchantmen on the east side of the bay. It should be the west side. Prbbabiiities pdiut in the direction of the second engagement having occurred through the Spaniards trying to prevent the landing of the American wounded. Went/Down with Hi! Ship. London,jZ/Mpy 2.—A special dispatch from Madrid says the Spaniards fought splendidli, the suilors refusing to leave the burnmg and sinking ships. The captain of the Reina Christina went down with the vessel. Another Madrid Special says the minister of marine claims a victory for Spain because the Americans were forced to retire behind merchantmen. Don’t Set Well. London, May 2.—Dispatches from .Madrid dated 2:20 a. m. say- the city is although the mounted guards are patrolling all the main streets. At the theaters, cases and in front of the newspaper offices the people loudly lamented the unprepnredness of Manila to resist the American warships, whose attack had long been expected. The Madrid authorities are determined vigorously to suppress all street demonstrations. ~ ’ Culls It Complete Spanish Defeat. Lisbon, May 2.-f—Reliable news is received here that the Spanish fleet was complete’*,' defeated off Cavite. Following is a complete list of the ships belonging to the two fleets engaged : The United States Ships.

The Olympia, first-class protected cruiser. 6,800 tons, launched 1592, speed 21 knots: battery, four elg'ht-inch rifles, ten five-inch rapid-fire guns, 14 six-pounders, six onepounders and four machine guns. Baltimore, second rate, 4,600 tons: speed. 2U.6 knots; battery, four eight-inch, six six-inch rifles, four six-pounder rapid fire, two three-pounders, two one pounders, two 1.8- two 1.4-lnch and two machine guns. Boston, second rate; 3.159 tons; speed, 16 knots; battery, two eight-inch, six six-inch rifles, two six-pounder rapid fire, two threepounders, two one-poundera, two one-point eight-inch, two one-point four-inch ar.d two machine guns. Raleigh, second class; speed, j. 9 knots; battery, one six-inch and ten five-inch rap-W-fiVe rifles, eight slx-pounders, four onepounders and two machine guns. Concord, third rate; 1,700 tons; speed, 17 knots; battery, six six-inch, two stx-pound-er rapid fire, two three-pounders, one onepounder and four machine guns. Petrel, fourth rate, 890 tons; speed, IS knots; battery, four six-inch guns, two three-pounder rapid fire, one one-pounder and four machine guns. McCulloch, revenue cutter. Nanshan, collier. Zaflro, supply vessel. The Spanish Ships. Reina Marie Christiana, 8,520 tons: built 1S86; speed, 17 knots; battery, six 6.2-1 neh Honorlta guns, two 2.7-indh and three 2.2lnch rapid-fire rifles, six 1.4-lnch. and two machine guns. Castilla, 3,312 tons; built 1&81; battery, 5.9- Krupp rifles, two 4.7-inch, two 8.8inoh, four 2.5-lnch rapid fire and two machine guns. Velaaco, 1,152 tons; battery, three 6.9inch Armstrong rifles, 2.7-inch Hontorias and two machine guns. Don Antonio de Ulloa and Don Ju&n de Austria, each 1,130 tons; speed, 14 knots; battery, 4.7-lnch Hontorias, 8.2-lnch rapid fire, two 1.5-lnch and two machine guna. General Lezo and El Cano, gun vessels, 521 tons; butlt 1S86; speed, 11.5 knots. The General Lezo has two Hontoria rifles of 17-inch caliber, one 3.5-lnch, two small rapid fire and one machine gun; the El Cano, three 4.7-inch guns, two small rapid fire and two machine guns. Marques del Duero, dispatch boat; SCO tons; one smooth bore, 6.2-lnch caliber, two 4.7-lnch. and one machine gun. Isla de Cuba and the Isla de Luzon are both small gunboats. They are of 1,030 tons displacement, and carry four 4.7-lnch Hontorias, two small guns ar.d two machine guns. Isla de Mlndarao, Companla TransAtlantic, of Cadiz, armed as cruisers; length, 876.6; beam, 42.8; gross tons, 4,196; speed, 18.5.