44

41. Street in the Suburb of La Ermita. 42. Rosario Street in La Ermita. 43. Luneta Square in Manila. Hospital of San Juan de Dios. 45. Manila Cathedral. 46. Royal Street in Malate. 47. Royal Street in Santa Ana. 48. Monument of Don Simon de Anda y Salazar in the Malecon Square.

tant, uncertain, confused, and the doom that was upon them was announced plainly the one redeeming feature for them being in the personal bravery of the officers and men. The rottenness of the government of Spain provided the elements of defeat. The preparations by the Spaniards for the battle contrast effectively with those of the Americans. Admiral Montijo was "disgusted" to find nothing done at the vital point for the defense of Subic, and warned that the Americans were on the way, made haste to Manila Bay, where he planned his line of defense so as to be flanked by shore batteries, and yet to spare the city-a strategy afterward sharply resented by Admiral Dewey when he sent his compliments to the authorities in Manila with the message that another gun fired at an American ship and the city would be destroyed. The flanking batteries were of powerful German guns, several of them firing heavier metal than any in the American squadron, and they were well located to do hurt to our ships. Montijo's line had been formed with reference to them, and he had contrived to be in part protected by shallows. He had towed a ship that he calls a floating battery, from Subig, and sought to protect this machine with other vessels. The Americans stripped for the battle, their ships and themselves, throwing overboard all that was inflammable, sparing nothing that would splinter or burn. The Spaniards were much encumbered with fuel, and the fires kindled by our shells were inextinguishable. There have been doubts whether the Spaniards were surprised by the American visit. They certainly were not. Admiral Montijo

had two days' warning, heard the guns at the mouth of the harbor at midnight, and made full preparation for the shock that he knew was approaching. He gave the signal for the firing to commence, and the Americans were received by two shore batteries and a floating one and the entire Spanish squadron. The American reply was immediate, and the hour was that of daybreak. The victory of our ships was so thorough, and the loss on our side. so insignificant, that our countrymen have hardly ascertained how many things there were to think about, and with what efficacy the hard work was done, or through what strife with tribulations it was accomplished. The gunners found out in battle much they had not been familiar with, in handling their tools. The dreadful and beautiful machines they used were fashioned delicately as telescopes, and might in several particulars be mistaken for instruments of science of refined construction and nice adjustments. One of the words of caution to the men that the Commander-in-Chief made

impressive was that ammunition was not to be wasted. They were far from home, and in a protracted engagement might disarm themselves. It was an erroneous report that only fifteen rounds remained of the ammunition for the four-inch rapid fire battery that caused the remarkable intermission in the battle-and the celebrated recess. The boys, it will be remembered, wanted to finish the job before they had coffee, but the Commander-inChief insisted on breakfast all around, and not a minute was lost. First the smoke of the firing and the burning ships covered the scene of action, though the American ships were kept in motion. Second, the guns were so hot it was hard to work them. Third, the heat was excessive-May is the hottest month of the year at Manila. The rest was refreshing and reassuring to the Americans. They saw their victory, and poured in what Admiral Montijo calls "a horrible fire" that soon closed the conflict with the annihilation of the Asiatic squadron of Spain.

The resistance of the

At 12:40 the flagship signaled "Cease firing." Spaniards had ended. There were only the slain and wounded, the wrecks and ships on fire, the swarms of prisoners and fugitives, the burning houses at Cavite, the silenced batteries-a battle won whose proud story shall never fade, the American arms with freshly-wrought splendors on the seas, the flag of the Great Republic with brightened stars and stripes, the sound of American guns ringing around the globe, great news on the streets of the capitals. of all nations, another radiant chapter in our inheritance of glory.

Dewey's Cables during the Time He Held the Harbor with the City of Manila under His Guns-Dispatches Full of History and Rich in Personal Characteristics-Authentic Information from the Inside-The Official Story-Dewey's Unfavorable Opinion of Cubans-Capture of the City-Trouble with Aguinaldo-Our Ships and Crews.

During the days Admiral Dewey was on the way from Mirs Bay to that of Manila, the news got into circulation that something was to be expected from our Asiatic squadron. Our ships of war in time of war could not remain in neutral ports, and those on the coast of China had been ordered to assume the offensive in the Philippines, especially, it was the early public understanding, to "remove" the Spanish fleet, so that our commerce on the seas of Asia might not be assailed or obstructed. We had a very vigilant consul at Hongkong, who had been at pains to inform himself as to affairs in the Spanish archipelago, and was favorably impressed by the Filipino insurgents, and when Admiral Dewey departed on his important errand, his line of communications was "by tug" through the consulate. The first account of the action. in Manila Bay was from the defeated Spaniards, and in the course of explaining their misfortunes they confessed to disaster that at length included all the ships in that part of the world flying the flag of Spain, with the exception of a few gunboats scattered so far among the islands that they disappeared from all scenes of action. The immediate impression made by the loss of cable connection with Manila while it was relating the story that the navy of Spain had vanished in the Orient, so valiantly defended that the Americans were "compelled to maneuver repeatedly," was that the Spaniards had cut the wires so as to keep the extent of their broken fortunes to themselves. The cable was cut by order of Admiral Dewey, who selected a suitable place, took out a section of the cable, coiled it away and buoyed both ends. He first proposed to preserve the line for the use of both parties, but the offer was