May 14, 1898.]
which included the transports Nanshan and Zafiro, were selected as targets, but no harm was done, the first shot passing between the Boston and the McCulloch. The Concord was the first of our vessels to reply, her efforts being seconded by the McCulloch. Others followed suit. As it was dark we could not see what effect our firing had, but that it was effective enough was evident from the fact that the batteries were silenced and we proceeded on our way slowly up the Bay."
|
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
would surrender they were met by a long procession headed by a large cross and com. posed of priests, sisters of mercy, etc., who begged of them to leave the wounded in the hospital alone. Of course they were soon re- assured on that point. As a matter of fact we treated them in the best possible manner and | offered them every aid in our power. We got every little tug boat we could find in the bay and sent some 200 wounded to Manila.
4
"Throughout the battle the Spaniards showed that they were not deficient in bravery. The only reasou so little harm was done to us was that they fired wide. Had they been better trained a much different tale would have been told."
AMERICAN.
Baltimore, oruisor, 24 guns, 10,750 h.p. Boston, cruiser.8 guns, 4,030 h.p. Concord, gun-boat, 6 guns 3,405 h.p. McCulloch, gun-boat.
383
Olympia (flagship) protected cruiser, 14 guns. 17,313 6.p.
Petrel, gun-boat, 4 guns, 1,095 h.p. Raleigh, protected cruiser. 11 guns. The Nanshan and Zafiro, transports.
SPANISHI,
Argos, 508 tous, 600 h.p., 2 guns. Castilla, cruiser, 3,26 tons, 2,690 h.p., 22
Cebu, troopship, 532 tons, 600 h.p., 2 guns. Don Antonio de Ulloa, cruiser, 1.160 tons, 1,523 h.p., 13 guns.
Don Juan de Austria, cruiser, 1,159 tons, 1,500 h.p.. 13 guns.
Elcano, gunboat, 560 tons, 600 h.p., 7 gnus. General Alava, troopship. 1,300 tons, 1,000 h.p., 2 guns.
General Lezo, gunboat. 520 tons, 600 h.p., 6
guns.
"This had a great effect upon the inhabitants, "At about half-past four in the morning we One of them professed to be so much im. came upon the Spanish fleet in the harbour of pressed by it that he said,
When you go Cavite. Including four small gunboats there out take the narrow channel, as the broad guns. were about 14 ressols altogether drawn up in one is full of mines, while that is free. I line backed and flanked by the batteries of would not tell you this ordinarily, but
you have Cavite, which are very heavily mounted, the ord-behaved so well that I thought I would warn nance including several ten-inch guns. The you We subsequently found that this solici- Spaniards gave us a warm reception, and we soon tude for our safety was not sincere, the narrow found out that the Don Antonio d'Ulloa and channel being discovered, before any harm was the Reina Cristina (the flag-ship) carried much done, to be full of mines. heavier guns than we thought. They, how- ever, did but little execution, whilst the broadsides poured iu by our vessels
as they, headed by the Olympia, steamed across the mouth of the harbour, soon
made an impression. We first fired the port battery, and then came round and fired the starboard battery, repeating this operation four or five times. The second time we came round the Spanish Admiral came out in the Reina Cristina and gallantly assailed ns. We received him warmly, and I don't know how in the world he escaped with his life. While the old Admiral was standing on the bridge a shot from one of our vessels blew the bridge clan over, but the Admiral somehow escaped, for we saw him after wards calmly pacing the deck. Fiuding he could do no good he turned to get back
into the harbour, but before he could take shelter an eight-inch shell from the Boston struck his vessel on the stern and set her ou fire.
Later on she sank with some 200 men. The Admiral was among those who escaped. The Castilla was the next to take fire and the Don Antonio d'Ulloa followed. Two torpedo boats came out to attack our fleet, but our rapid-firing guns soon compelled them to beat a retreat. One was struck in her stern by a heavy shell and she sank immediately The other managed to get on to the beach and the crew were sured. By this breakfast time had arrived, and the Commodore gave the signal to haul off a short distance, not going to auchor, however, and the commanding officers held a consulation.
+4
were
The attack was resumed at about 11 o'clock. This time we directed our attention to the batteries, the Spanish fleet having been practically annihilated. The Baltimore took the lead. She had orders to attack the shore batteries, and she went and did the cheekiest thing of the whole day. The batteries mounted with 10-inch guns, a shot from one of which would, if it had struck her, have blown the Baltimore into atoms. The vessel, however, to the admiration of the whole fleet, went in full speed until she got close under the Latteries. Then she swung round and let them have it with a vengeance. It was wonderful to see her gallantly sail in the teeth of the guns and silence them.
"Not only the fleet but all the defences of any importance had by this time been destroyed. I shall not soon forget the sight which the harbour then presented. The smoking hulks of the Spanish vessels which had not yet sunk
were
seen to be strewn with corpses and wounded men, and bodies floated about in the water. I should think the Spanish lost about 1,000 men killed and wounded while on side not a man was lost and only one seriously
wounded.
our
"The hauling down of the Spanish flag at about a quarter past 12 was received with great cheering by our fleet. In the evening the Hugh McCulloch anchored right under the guns of the battery at Cavite.
Yes, it was rather a risky business, but you see the Commodore had intimated to the Spaniards that if they fired a single shot Le would lay the whole city in ashes, a threat
which had the desired effect.
"The inhabitants seemed to have got it into their heads that when we got in we should kill everybody, and in consequence when a boat's crew from the Petrel went ashore to see if they
|
|
"And what about Manila ?"-" Well, it is practically in our hands. All the ressels and forts have been destroyed, but the town had not surrendered when we left, but I expect it has done so by this. It was abont three o'clock on Sunday afternoon when we anchored off Manila. The forts at the entrance of Manila harbour surrendered on the day following."
|
Have you any idea what is going on in Manila now?" No, but
the place
is hemmed in by the insurgents. We could see their lines of fires ou the hills around the city. | We cannot tell what may have happened. The reason the Commodore did not want to take the place was that there were some 150,000 to 200,000 people there and supplies are short. If take the place we are responsible for protecting and feeding the people and we can- not do it as yet."
We
"Hade you any idea whether the insurgents will attack the European population?"-" 1 don't think so. The commodore would not allow it. I think if the insurgents started to massacre he would interfere and let them have it."
"By the way, what about the cutting of the cable on Monday night? I suppose the Spaniards are responsible for that"-"Oh no, it was cut by the orders of the Commodore, the Zafiro being told off to this duty. We sent for the manager of the Telegraph Company, intimating that we wished to send a message, but the antho- rities would not let him come, and as we thought they might be sending all sorts of alarmist telegrams we thought it better to cut the cable. I believe the last message sent was one from the Spaniards to this effect :
Spanish fleet badly disabled. Americans withdrawn to bury the dead?"
·
Have you seen anything of the Esmeralda !"- Yes, she hore in sight just as we were starting the attack on Cavite for a second time. The Commodore seut down the Hugh McCulloch to order her to anchor and have no communication with anybody until they received permission."
When is she coming out?"-- "I could not say. Our fleet has practically blockaded the place and won't let anyone out."
And she will not be able to leave for some time?"I don't think so,"
How is it you did u start sooner ?”- Well we were coaling from the Zafiro and had other things to do. We started for Hongkong at about one o'clock on Thursday afternoon. We had a beautiful voyage, and going at the rate of 14 knots did it in 48 hours."
"Did you come across anything on your way"-"We met a gunboat which we took to be a Sparish vessel, but we found out that she was the French gunboat Bruix."
'Hare you seen anything of the Immortalite?" "I think we passed lier yesterday. There is ulso a small British guubut (Linnet) at Manila."
We may add that the American Commodore having accomplished the primary object of his expedition now awaits further orders, despatches being sent off on Saturday asking for instructions
THE FLEETS ENGAGED. The following may be taken as practically a correct list of the vessels engaged :—
|
Isla de Luzon, protected cruiser, 1,048 tons, 2,200 h.p., 10 guns.
Isla de Cuba, protected cruiser, 1,048 tons, 2,000 h.p., 10 guns.
Manila, troopship. 1,900 tons, 750 h.p., 2 guns.
Marqués del Duero, gunboat, 500 tons, 550
guns.
b.p..
Reina ('ristina, cruiser. 3,520 tons, 3,972 h.p.,
guns.
Velasco, cruiser, 1,152 tons, 1,600 h.p., 7 guns, ANOTHER STORY OF THE FIGHT.
Olympia, gives the following narrative of the Dr. Kindelberger, of the U. S. flagship oporations of the American fleet-The doctor says the fleet left Mirs Bay on the 27th ult. for Mauila, going first to Cape Bolinao. When on the coast of the Philippines and after looking in at Subic the Boston and Concord were sent ahead. Then the ships entered Manila Bay between, midnight and I am, on Sunday, May 1st. The fleet entered in line, the Olympia leading between El Frayle and Corregidor in the Southern Channel, the former place having two 8in. guns mounted, which the American fleet subsequently destroyed. Several shots were tired at the ships from the batteries beyond El Frayle but all carried high and missed. The that two torpedoes were fired at the fleet, but Boston and Raleigh replied first. It was said nobody seems to have known anything about them. The fleet then steamed slowly up the bay in line and finally circled round towards Cavite, the fight beginning at 5.30 a.m. ou the lat inst. The fleet made two circles, cach ship firing in turn, the batteries and Spanish ships replying. There were about 11 Spanish ships off Cavite but all were not fighting. The American ships drew
off at 8 a.m. to allow the men time for breakfast. and a council of war was held. At 10.30a.m. the Baltimore and Olympia were ordered in to silence the batteries on a sandy point near Cavite and they did so. The Spanish ships mounted as many guns as the American, and were well equipped. The only disadvantage they had was in the Castilla being a wooden vessel. No- casualties occurred in the American crews but the Spanish suffered severely afloat and ashore. The Boston was struck by a shot which set one of the officer's rooms on fire. The Baltimore had a ricochet shell fall on her deck, but it was spent and did no damage. The Petrel and Concord were not hit, but the Olympia was hit 13 times altogether. The American sailors worked their guns very well and acted just as coolly as if at target practice. A number of hospital patients (Spaniards) were taken from Cavite by an American tng and veyed to Manila. The Spaniards are des-· cribed as fighting their ships and forts very well, It is reported that the Spanish captured a small coal laden sailing ship off Iloilo. There was a small Spanish gunboat up the river at Manila, another at Iloilo, and one at Bolinao when the McCulloch left, but no trouble was expected from them. Admiral Dewey has sent in an ultimatum to the Spanish antho- rities that if any more shots were fired at the fleet he would bombard the town.
con-
THE CITY OF PEKING 11 PURCHASED. The P. M. steamer City of Peking has been purchased by the Government of the United States and it is believed that she is to be em.