BATTLE OF MANILA.

Waikato Argus, Volume IV, Issue 292, 24 May 1898, Page 3

BATTLE OF MANILA.

VIVID DESCRIPTION BY AN EYE-WITNESS. MARVELLOUS ACCURACY OF THE AMERICAN GUNNERS. GALLANT CONDUCT OF THE SPANIARDS. HERIOC ATTEMPT TO CAPTURE THE AMERICAN FLAGSHIP. THE CHRISTINA'S DECKS STREAMING WITH BLOOD. SILENCING THE FORTS. (iIY ELECTRIC TELEGRAI'H— COPYBICJHT/. (Received May 23, 10.55 p.m.) Melbourne, May 23. A GRAPHIC accouut of the battle of Manila, written by an eye-witness, is published in the Argus. After entering the harbour, the signal for general action at close quarters was given from the Olympia. The Americans formed a fighting lino in singlo column, each ship 400 yards apart, steaming six knots. A puff of smoke from the Cavite shore batteries marked the first shot, but the excited Spanish gunners were unable to bear the strain of waiting for the advancing fleet and fired too soon, the shot falling far short of the fleet and went ricochetting harmlessly to the right. Other Bhots were equally ineffective. The Americans reserving their fire ciino grimly on. At 4500 yards the Olympia brought her broadside to bear, and opened the duel with eightinch guns. On reaching the end of the Spanish line the Olympia swung inwards, reducing the range this time to 3000 yards, and again opened a terrific cannonade. The perfect precision with which each following ship came round in the wake of the leader spoke eloquently of the cool and deliberate manner in which they were being handled. The accuracy and rapidity of the fire was marvellous, the sides of the American ships being a centinuous flame of fire. An unbroken stream of 2501 b shells was hurled upon the doomed Manila fleet. Five times the American squadron steamed thus up and down the ront, and shattered the Spanish lines. On each run the guns were served with an accuracy almost incredible. Realising that fighting under snch conditions meant certain destruction, Montiejo made an heroic effort to get to close quarters with the enemy, and picking out the American flagship by her pennant, made a gallant dash for the Olympia. The big American ship simply concentrated four big guns and ten five-inch quick-firers on the unfortunate Christina, and brought her up riddled through and through. Blood was running in streams qn the shell-splintered decks. A few minutes later on she took fire. The work of silencing the forts occupied thirty minutes. In the batteries the dismantled guns and dead gunners told of the awful havoc of the American fire.