FORCES OF THE BELLIGERENTS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIX, Issue 103, 3 May 1898, Page 5

FORCES OF THE BELLIGERENTS.

LISTS OF WAR VESSELS

FACTS ABOUT MANILA

A STKONCi DEFENCE PROBABLL

(From the Sydney " Daily Telegraph.")

Manila is a port that will be invested by a foreign force only after hard lighting. That, there is ample material for hard fighting at that point is evidenced by tho fact that the American squadron iv the China seas, which has been ordered to make the attack, consists of seven war vessels, while the Spaniards have over a. dozen ships on thu Philippine station. The on trance to the harboiirat Manila is fortified, and the channels, which aro most, intricate, could easily be made'almost impregnable by means of mines. There are also extensive land forces at Manila, which should bo mora than a match fur any body of marines which could be landed in.m 'the limited squadron of American boats, (i is doubtful, however, whether the Spanish trooiisoii the islands will have siiflicient equipment or ammunition to withstand an American attack. The American warships at Hon"koilg, which have been ordered to attack Manila, are :— FLU.SIHP. Olympia, 5.570 tons, 14 guns, 17,313 h.p., speed 21.ij knots. Commander, Rear- | Admiral Dewey. cruisers! Jiostou, 3,189 tons, _J guns, 4,030 li. p.; 27'J men. Concord, 1,700 tons, II guns, 3,513 h.p. ; i.V> men. Raleigh, 3,200 tons, 2.1 ~'uus, 10,000 h.p, HI NBOATS. Monocaey, 1,370 tons. C guns, 850 b.i>. : 12tJ men. ' Petrel, \{Y> torn, 1 guns 1,005 h.p. Vorktown, 1,710 ton-, lo L'uns, 3.405 h.p. \ I he Spanish Hqiuulron at the Philippine Islands consists of the following vessels : CRUISERS. t'astilla, _!,_.>(.() ton*, 22 ;.;uns, 2,000 h.p. Don' Antonio de t Uua., 1,100 tuns, 13 guns, 1..VJ3 h.p. Don Juan de Austria, 1,1.50 tons, 13 guns, i/iiiO h.p. lsiu do bu/uii, I,ols ions, pi "iiii-, 2,000 h.p. f'rtna Cristina, '.1,."i2d tons, 21 "tins: 3,072 h.p, Velascu, 1.152t0nw, l.Ottf) h.p. 7 guns. Isla.de Cuba, IJMS tons |q gmw, 2,000 h.p. CUN BOATS. Aryo's ,Vk tons, 2guns, GOO li.p. Bianco, SGO tons, '" guns, IJOO h.p. General Lezo, 520 tun-, 0 guns, 000 h.p. Marquis del Duero, SUU tons, 5 guns, 550 h.p. There are also 24 small river 'gunboats. TROOPSHIPS. Cebu, 532 ton*, 2 gun*, 000 h.p. Ceneral Alava, 1300 tons, g •'uns, 1 000 h.p. * Manila, 1,000 tons. •_' jmhis, T".'i h.p. Manila, the capital ot the Pbiliipptncs, is a very brisk town, and but for its intricate approach would be a comparatively easy prey to a foraging force. There are one first dais lighthouse and three others to guide the shipping into the mouth of j the river, where the vessels lay. A night j attack by warships could he made almost impossible by the extinction of the ! lights in the harbour, as, without their ■ aid, it would be impossible to approach the city. 'Ihe navigable channels could also j be laid with mines, and thus made practically impregnable, Considerable damage | could, however, be done to the city by a ■ bombardment from the sea.

A local resident, Mr Laurence Phillip, who spent some lime in tiie Phillipines, gave a representative of this journal some interesting information about the place yesterday. "In my opinion,'' he said, "it will be iinposfible lor the American vessels to take .Manilla unless they subdue the forts, of which there are two. The town is divided into two portions. Rinruido is the old site, on the north of the river, and is nearest to the sea coast, which is about a mile distant. The business portion of th; city is on tin. oUier side of the river. A tremendous earthquake wrecked liinauda some 10 years- ago, but there arc still some fine (lovernrnent buildings standing there. All the finest churches are in that section.

" One fort is close to the coast, on the river bank, and commands the harbour. Most of itsjjtins are, however, old-fashioned and practically useless. They have four modern guns of the most improved type, ami, with the otlfor facilities and natural advantages, should be able to make a most determined defence.

" On the .Manilla side of the river, and almost in the centre of the town, is another fort In a commanding position. This fort is better armed. Both forts are well garrisoned by half-caste soldiers oHicercd by Spaniards. Clmsequcnt on the rebellion, there arc very extensiuc forces in tho Islands, but owing to their luck of proper equipment and ammunition, If the Americans get in they will easily become masters of the place. " Ylo-Ylo, another of the islands inhabited by Spaniards, is about one day and a half's sail from Manila, and would be a rich prize. It is a rich tobacco-growing centre. The place is very badly fortified, and could easily betaken. DEFENCE PREPARATIONS. •News conies to hand by the China Navigation Company's .steamer, Taiyuan, yesterday, to the effect that Manila was being fortified against possible attack. The placing of heavy guns along the harbour wrhgoing on, and supplies of heavy ordnance and gun fittings were to be seen going through the streets. Those preparations (says the Hongkong " Telegraph "), are very ominous, and we await further developments in the cmbroglio.