468
THE STEAMER “PASIG" RAIDED.
EXTENSIVE SEIZURE OF ARMS AND AMMUNITION.
WERE THEY FOR MANILA ?`
10th May.
(June 11, 1898.
squadron, serving as it would as a basis of operations from which to surpise the enemy's squadron in the Bay of Manila, or as
R
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
Mendez Nunez in the glorious combat of Callao, and they must have recurred to the mind of Admiral Montojo, who was present on that occasion as navigating officer of the means of dividing the enemy's forces, frigate Almansa, thirty-two years later when he of which one portion would be required to commanded the Spanish squadron on the bloody blockade the Bay. of Manila and the other day of the 1st May in the waters of Cavite, the port of Subic, so that they could have been a day, which, notwithstanding the disaster of attacked in detail without anseless sacrifice of our defeat, ought to add another laurel to the our squadron and its men. It was so resolved On Wednesday it was reported that the Canton
crown our navy has earned by its glorious combats. at a council of the naval commanders presided steamer Pasig had been purchased from Mr.
This has been recognised by our beloved country, over by the Admiral. The deception suffered Tsang Sam Yung, and that it was understood which immediately telegraphed to our Admiral on arrival at the port of Subic, which, not- she was about to ply between Manila and Hong-glorifying the valiant sons that shed their blood withstanding the accumulation there of all kong. In view of this aunouncement some commotion was caused in the city during the for the honour of the flag. The same is recog. possible material, was completely undefended, nised by all sensible persons, and, lastly, every on account of the want of time, showed that if day when it oozed out that the vessel had been
one knows that even the enemy's Admiral him our fleet remained there it would be completely raided by the police and a large quantity of self, by sending to ous bis congratulations upon destroyed without being able to offer the least arms and ammunition seized. The full particu- the heroic defence maintained for three hours by resistance. The squadron was therefore obliged lars will not be divulged unfil the matter is
our squadron, manifested his surprise that there to return to the Bay of Mauila, the defence investigated at the Magistracy, but the follow should have been any defence at all by a squadron of the Arsenal being determined upon and ing is the story told to us It was understood
which he expected would have surrendered with all the resources possible being utilised, includ- that the Pasig was bound for Tientsin
out firing a shot in view of the superior fordoing, the cruiser Ulloa, under repair and with arms and ammunition for the Chinese
with which it had to fight. In the opinion of without movement, and. the Castilla; which Government, and We are
that informed
all Spaniards the feet fulfilled its duty, but at was making. so much water through her the Harbour the requisite permit from
the risk of being tedious-which may be excused seams that she had to be grounded in a Master had been obtained. In the meantime for the affection entertained for the navy-I convenient position in order to assure her co- however, the suspicions of the police were aroused, and after enquiry they came to the cannot resist the temptation to publish a few operation in the battle. Casite was the only notes founded on the statements of friends of position for our squadron, which awaited only conclusion that Manila and not Tientsin was
the profession and which I believe will set right its own sacrifice for the honour of the country the destination of the vessel. Accordingly on
any mistaken opinions that may be held by and the navy, drawing away the tide of battle Wednesday night the Harbour-Master and re-
the most ignorant in such matters. I repeat from Manila and thus saving the population presentatives of the Police Force visited the
that it is not my desire to vindicate our from probable total destruction by the artillery vessel. They went alongside again yesterday.
of the enemy's squadron. and took possession of some 200 or 300 rifles squadron, to which I render a tribute of ad- miration and respect, while history in due time which were on board and several thousand will inscribe in one of its most brilliant pages rounds of ammunition., The cargo also in-
the bloody and glorions naval battle of Cavite cluded some ten tons or more of ice, a fact which confirmed the police in the view that the vessel intended going to the Philippines rather
than to the north.
+6
Yesterday afternoon Inspector Kemp and Ser- geant Kerr, of the Water Police, made a fur. ther inspection. On presenting themselves some. thing of a scene took place between them and Who are you?" asked the lat- Captain Ellis. ter. "I'm an inspector of the Water Police," replied Inspector Kemp. The Inspector wore a white uniform coat and blue trousers and Ser. geant Kerr a full police nuiform. The Captain however, told the Inspector he was not in uni. form, and then asked to see his warrant. Having satisfied the captain on this head, another al- tercation ensued when the police were about to commence their search, the captain declaring that the Inspector should not enter his cabin. Ultimately he was mollified, and after doing their duty the police departed.
We await a full explanation of the affair with interest.
THE BATTLE OF CAVITE.
FROM A SPANISH POINT OF VIEW.
In the Comercio of the 2nd June there is published an apology and vindication of Admiral Montojo and the Spanish fleet defeated at Cavite by the United States squadron on the 1st May Setting aside the question of courage, which is not in dispute, the apology seems to resolve itself into a most complete condemnation of the naval administration on the grounds of ignorance, incompetence, and negligence. The Admiral seems, according to this account, to have been unacquainted even with the condition of the port of Subic, a most important position only a few hours' steaming from Manila, his headquarters. As to the relative strength of the two squadrons, the damage actually inflicted on the Baltimore shows that the Spaniards might have made the visitors pay much more dearly for their success had the fleet been handled with moderate intel- ligence. The fact of some of the vessels being found in a state of unpreparedness after the long notice that had been given that their ser- vices would probably be required speaks for it- self. The article (which is signed with a nom de plume) is as follows:---
At all times and in every page of the national history recording the actions of our navy, there stands out resplendently as an emblem of gal- lantry and symbol of greatness a personal valour and firmness of honour which may well be term- ed heroic. The glorious combat of Trafal- gar and the more recent one of Callao are suffi- cient in themselves to prove this. "I prefer honour without vessels to vessels without honour" were the words that immortalised the heroic
a
When the sad 1st of May opened it was seen that the American squadron had forced the weak obstacles that the Navy, utilising there- Our Admiral was not ignorant of the slightest for the material and men from the vessels movements of the North American squadron under repair, had placed at the entrance to the from the time that it arrived in Hongkong Bay. The enemy's squadron, with its Admiral in March last, leaving in Yokohama and in the van, and proceeding at full speed and Shanghai the families of the commanders with good information, forced the large channel and officers. Everything led to the belief and directed itself to take possession of our that it was preparing for war and would vessels under the mistaken impression that the assuredly come to Manila, especially the par- Spauiards would deliver them up without the chase of the English steamers Nanshan and least resistance. Great was the surprise Zafiro for which they paid $400,000, with 4,000 of the Commodore on seeing that the tons of coal, stores, and munitions. The addi- Spaniards, far from surrendering, were disposed tion to the squadron of the cruiser Baltimore, of to sell their lives dearly. The battle commenc great fighting power, and of the Helene anded at five in the morning and went on until ucCulloch, of great speed, was known. It was eight, when the enemy retired to the centre of known that the American squadron, composed the Bay to get up more ammunition. The of eight men-of-warand two transports were cly cruisers Castilla and Cristina were completely waiting in Hongkong, where it had engaged burst, the valiant. Captain Cadarso being killed persons well acquainted with the Archipelago, and the crews reduced by one half; the Ulloa for the arrival of the Consul from Manila, ia was ashore; and Admiral Moutojo hoisted his order to descend upon us with the primordial flag on the Isla de Cuba. This vessel and all the idea of destroying our squadron and arsenals 80 others that remained of the squadron having as to do away with the only peril that could received serious damage and not a gun. remain threaten the valuable trade that the United ing serviceable they retired under the Arsenal, States conduct with. China and Japan.
where, the Admiral understanding the instincts of the enemy, he ordered that, having defended themselves as long as it was possible, they should in the last resort be run ashore before being abandoned when they no longer had the means of resisting the least attack of the enemy.
The American force, as already stated, con- sisted of eight men-of-war and two transports, aggregating 30,000 tons, 43 guns of 12.5 to 20 c.m., about 100 guns of less than 12.5 cm., 30 torpedo tubes, and about 2,000.men. The Spanish squadron, including the so-called cruisers Ulloa. and Castilla, the first ander repair and both without movement, numbered seven, with a total touuage of 12,000, 27 guns of 12 to 16c.m., 45 guns of less than 12c.m., 14 torpedo tubes (the torpedoes for which had been taken out to de- fend as far as possible the entrances to the Bay). and 800 men. With respect to the speed and armour of the respective squadrons it is impos- sible to make a comparison; suffice it to say that some of the enemy's ships had a speed of 20 knots and none less than 16, while amongst ours the speediest did not exceed 13 knots and two of them were without any morement at all, and that the enemy's vessels were all protected, while of ours only the cruisers Cuba and Luzon, which are more properly speaking gunboats of the first class, were protected, and that only slenderly. This slight comparison will give an idea of the difference between the American aud Spanish squadrons.
It
appears that foreseeing what would happen, and conscious of the defenceless condition of the squadron and the ports of the Archipelago, the naval commander-in-chief repeatedly since the middle of last year requested His Majesty's Government to provide him with two or even with one ironclad with which he could assume the offensive, and he even had an idea of attack- ing the ports of the Californian coast. From this point of view, and supposing the port of Subic well defended, this was naturally indicated as the point to be protected by the Spanish
At half-past eleven, having got up their ammunition and with renewed strength, the American squadron returned in front of the Arsenal, already in great part destroyed through having been the mark found by all the pro- jectiles which passed over our small bat gallant squadron. From half-past eleven to three the enemy continued the bombardment, there being not a single gun to answer them, and fire, destruction, and death spreading on every hand. In this trying and unsupportable situation a parley was solicited, from which it appeared that the sole desire of the enemy's Admiral was the total destruction of the vessels in the Arsenal, which as above stated, were already ashore. The conditions were acceded to by our Admiral, who consulted with the Commander of the Arsenal, in order to avoid the complete. destruction of the establishment, and town and the further loss of life.
The demands, which had appeared definite and confined to the cessation of opposition, did not end there, however, for the following day new demands were made, the time allowed for compliance being very short, requiring the evacuation of the arsenal and town of Cavite, under pain of a renewal of the bombardment until everything was destroyed and burnt, with- out taking into consideration the international treaties respecting hospitals, the wounded. sick, old men, women, and children. It was demanded that all the Spanish forces shonld be considered prisoners of war under
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