Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 19, Number 69, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 May 1898 — ACCOUNT OF BATTLE. [ARTICLE]

ACCOUNT OF BATTLE.

Details of Kaval Conflict Received British Colonial Ofltce. « London, May 3.—The details of thfe battle of Manila have been received at the British colonial office. They came in two cable messages, received Sunday evening, the substance of which has just been furnished by the officials of the colonial office. The first cable dispatch announces that the United States fleet entered Manila harbor at daybreak Sunday stationing Itself opposite the city. A fort opened fire on the American ships, whereupon they shifted their position to one near Cavite, in Manilla bay, engaging in a fierce figlit against both the fort* and the Spanish fleet. The engagement here lasted two hours und resulted in the annihilation of the Spanish fleet. The Spaniards fought bravely against superlorforce and suffered heavy losses. Four hundred Spanish are reported killed, Including two commanders. Their loss by fire is also probably very greut. The Spaniards would not give in, and when the American fleet returned to Cavite some shots were fired from the forts on shore, but our ships poured in such a terrible cannonade that further resistance was impossible, American Craft Uninjured. The American ships were apparently uninjured. Commodore Deyvey's attuck was well carried out. The maneuvers of his squadron were a beautiful sight, and the navigation of the bay by our ships was a remarkable feat of seamanship, avoiding, as they did successfully, the numerous shallows. All is now over at Cavite. Commodore Dewey awaits the deoision of the governor-general of the Philippine! before commencing the bombardment of Manila.

Refused to Surrender. Commodore Dewey requested the British consul, E. E. Rawson Walker, to convey a message to the Spanish gov-ernor-general demanding the surrender i.f all the torpedoes and guns at Manila and the poaaeaalon of the cable offloes, saying that unleaa these terms were compiled with he would proceed to bombard the city. The second cable dispute* received by the oolonial office announced that the Spanish governor-general had refused to surrender the torpedoes, guns nnd oable offices and that he had prevented the agent of the telegraph oompuny from conferring with Commodore Dewey. * Another Account. London, May 3.—The Madrid correspondent of the Times, describing the engagement at Manila, says: "The Olympia, the Boston, the Raleigh, the Concord, the Petrol and the Monocaey entered the bay under cover of darkness by the smaller and safer Bocachlca ohannet. The forts st Corrogldor Island rsvs ths alarm by firing on the Intruders, but they seem to hsve Inflicted no serious damI ago. The American squadron moved up the bay s/id at three o’olock In the morning appeared before Cavite. Here, lying under

the shelter of the forts, was the Spanish squadron. “Admiral Montejo, a few days before, went to Subic bay to look for the enemy, but learning that they were vastly superior 1U force, had prudently returned and placed his ahips under the protection of the forts. This was his only chance of hteeting the enemy on something like equal terms; and It did not suffice: “Soon the Americans opened fire. The Spaniards replied vigorously and the combat continued without Interruption for four hours, during which the Don Antonio de Ulloa was sunk, the Castilla Maria Christina and the Don Juan de Austria were seriously damaged. One or two of the craft were scutttled by their crews to escape capture. Others took refuge In a small neighboring creek emptying into Baker bay where, presumably, the American ships were unable to follow them. But not one surrendered.” . Weyler Willing to Lead. London, May 3. A special from Madrid says Gen. Weyler declares himself ready to return to Cuba and under-

take leadership ip an aggressive warfare against the United States and to head an army of invasion. tied Petroleum Bomba. Madrid, May 3.—lt is said here that the Americans used petroleum bombs, which set on fire a number of native hruts at Manila during the engagement. Washington, May 3.—Naval officials are inolined to discredit the statement in dispatches from Madrid that Admiral Dewey employed petroleum bombs in a reduction of the city of Manila. In fact, no definite information could be obtained that the American squadron Is supplied with such instruments of destruction. It is regarded as quite likely that, in the event of a bombardment of the city, the bursting of shells would start serious fires, and perhaps

result In a conflagration; but that Admiral Dewey u*ed bombs with the express Idea of firing the olty, Is deemed utterly Improbable, unless he wt»» pressed to extreme measures, which it not thought to be likely. The belief prevalent in official olrsles that if a fire occurred the Spaniards, confronted by the Inevitable fall of the city, themselves applied the torch, thereby carrying into effect the threat which they have made concerning both Manila and Havana, that the cities should never fall into the hands of the American* except as heaps of smouldering mins. Krcllnw In Condon. London, May 3.—tn the house of parliament, st Ihe hotels, which are beginning to be full of American tourists, at all the government offices, nnd particularly at the admiralty, the bril-

liant defeat of the Spanish fleet by the Asiatic fleet of the United States at the battle of Manila was the one subject talked of throughout the day. Tie United States embassy was the center of interest for all London. There was a continuous line of callers requesting information, the majority being Americans. The United States ambassador, Col. John Hay, is overjoyed at this demonstration of the prowess of the American navy. , „ To Protect the 'Germans. " London, May 3. —A German warship has left Kiao Chou for Manila. This, with the Irene, now en route from Nagasaki, will make three German warships in the Philippines. Last official statistics show about 100 Germans in Manila. Montejo Admits Defeat. * Madrid, May 3.—A dispatch to the

! Liberal from Manila says Admiral ' Montejo, the Spanish commander, acknowledges that the Spanish fleet has been completely demolished. He adds that the crew of the Spanish warship Mindanao has been saved. Dewey’s Latest Demand. Madrid, May 3.—El Liberal says Commodore Dewey, of the United States squadron in the Philippines, has demanded the surrender of all Spanish vessels in the Archipelago, threatening to bombard the ports if the demand is refused.