Manila Bay, the Scene of Admiral Dewey’s Victory.
2d. They surprised the Spanish squadron, the commander of which probably supposed that they would not come in without some preliminary reconnoitering. Although there were heavy guns on Corregidor, they ran into the bay in the night, without regard to torpedoes, and appeared at daylight in front of Cavité.
3d. When the engagement began they shot straight and true, in consequence of long drill, and every shot told somewhere, while those of the Spanish ships and batteries seem to have been very wild.
The history of the engagement is rendered more curious by the fact that Dewey’s squadron retired for a time, after partial destruction had been effected, to the other side of the bay, for the purpose of giving his men breakfast, as they had been at quarters for twelve hours or more. Although he does not say so in his report, it was also probable that he wished to give the opposing force an opportunity to realize that they were beaten and should surrender. As they did not do so he resumed the engagement and finished the matter—destroying the rest of the vessels and compelling the surrender of Cavité.
That evening he sent the following dispatch:
Manila, May 1st.
“The squadron arrived at Manila at daybreak this morning, immediately engaged the enemy and destroyed the following vessels: Reina Christina, Castilla, Don Antonio de Ulloa, Isla de Luzon, Isla de Cuba, General Lezo, Marques de Duero, El Cano, Velasco, Transport Isla de Mindinao and another vessel, and water battery at Cavite. Squadron is uninjured. Only few men slightly wounded.”
Geo. Dewey.
To return to the details of the action at Manila. On the 25th of April, 1898, Congress declared that a state of war existed. The Spanish Minister, Polo y Bernabe, had demanded his passport on 20th in consequence of the Cuban Intervention Resolution by Congress. An ultimatum, embracing the provisions of the Intervention Resolutions, was forwarded to Madrid on the same day. The next day Spain gave Mr. Woodford his passport, thus severing all diplomatic relations between the two governments.