SPANISH DEFEAT AT MANILA.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 10060, 11 June 1898, Page 7

SPANISH DEFEAT AT MANILA.

EXPLANATION BY THE ADMIRAL,

(Br Telegraph.)

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

(Pbb Alameda, at Auckland.)

MELBOURNE, June 4. The steamer Ching-Tu has arrived at Thursday Island, and from there has been telegraphed a statement made by Admiral Montiojo regarding the fight between the American and Spanish fleets in Manila harbour. The statement is as follows :—

Shortly after five o'clock on Sunday morning, just as day was dawning, he observed the American squadron sailing in line across the bay towards Cavite. As the ships approached he prepared to receive them. After they had got past Corregidor Island he fired on each ship as it came within range. The Americans did not reply. All the Spanish ships were anchored in Cavite Bay. The best of them were the Reina Christina and Don Juan de Austria and the Castilla, all old, and the last-named a wooden cruiser, unable to steam owing to a breakdown of her engines. The two others, the Velasco and the Don Antonio de Ulloa, were helpless, as they were undergoing repairs. "Although," he says, "Irecognised the hopelessness of fighting the American ships, we were busy returning their fire. The Reina Christina was repeatedly hit, but shortly after half-past six I noticed that the ship was on fire forward. The steering gear was damaged, and the vessel being unmanageable was subjected to a terrific hail of shell and shot. The engines were struok, and I (estimated that she had seventy hits about the ,hull and superstructure. The boilers were not hit, but the pipe to the condenser was destroyed. A few moments later the after part of the ship was on fire. A shell from the Americans had penetrated her hull and burst with deadly effect, killing many men. The flag lieutenant reported the disabled state of the ship, which it was impossible to remain on any longer, and I transferred the staff to the Isla de Cuba. The Reina Christina was then one mass of flames." Subsequently Admiral Montiojo sought shelter behind the pier at Cavite, and recognising the futility of further fighting, prepared to disembark, and gave orders for the evacuation of the remainder of the ships, the last signal to the captains of the vessels being, " Scuttle and abandon your ships, jto prevent the guns being of use to' the Americans."

The captain of the American ship Boston afterwards said to the chief of Admiral Montiojo's staff, " You combatted us with four very bad ships, not warships. There was never seen such brave fighting under such unequal conditions. It is a great pity you exposed your lives in vessels not fit for fighting." Admiral Dewey sent Admiral Montiojo a message by the English Consul saying that in peace or in war he would have pleasure in grasping him by the hand and congratulating him on the gallant manner in which he had fought. In reply to a question, Admiral Montiojo said that the responsibility of the disastrous defeat of the Spanish squadron lay with the Government of Madrid. Ever since he had assumed command on the naval station he had been requisitioning the Government for ships and torpedoes, but nothing came. He constructed some torpedoes, but did not have proper material, and the torpedoes were useless. The Minister of Marine had promised to send supplies, but they never came. He knew from the first that his squadron would be destroyed, as the Americans had men-of-war, whereas his ships were incapable of fighting with any chance of success. (I-USSS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) WELLINGTON, June 10, Negotiations were taking place between the United States Government and the New Zealand Shipping Company for the purchase of the cargo steamer Waikato, and also for a full cargo of frozen meat, but the price placed on the latter was too high, and tbe negotiations fell through.