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It having been resolved to go out with the squadron for the port of Subic, not only for the defense of that important port but also as a strategic harbor for operations which may occur, the staff is placed in charge of the necessary orders from these headquarters. 

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(Spanish Admiral Patricio Montojo y Pasaron, photo credit: The life and letters of Admiral Dewey)
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As commandant of the Cavite arsenal I have nothing to say to your excellency concerning its defense, as the chief commander and officers will know how to defend the interests of the nation, trusting the valor, zeal, and intelligence of all those who, with the slight and feeble resources upon which we can count, will do everything possible to guard the honor of the flag and the navy. 


Go on, sir, in the ordering and equipping as much as you think necessary for the common purposes which concern our interests. 


You will use the telegraph to report to me all that you think important for your affairs in all departments, as well as the cable to communicate with the government. 


As long as possible communicate by way of Parañaque and Malate and also with the batteries of the coast by signals as well as by boats. 


If you need merchant vessels to equip with torpedo tubes, which may be effective in such vessels, you will also equip them, etc. 

<h3>
MONTOJO.
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One week later Admiral Montojo came in contact with Commodore George Dewey and his victorious fleet. The story of this last meeting, as viewed by the defeated admiral himself, is best told in his own words to his government at Madrid: 


"On the twenty-fifth of April, 1898, at 11 P. M.," says Señor Montojo, "I left the bay of Manila for Subic with a squadron composed of the cruisers Reina Christina, Don Juan de Austria, Isla de Cuba Isla de Luzon, dispatch boat Marques del Duero, and the wooden cruiser Castilla. This last could merely be considered as a floating battery, incapable of maneuvring, on account of the bad condition of her hull. The following morning, being at Subic, I had a conference with Captain Del Rio, who, though he did not relieve my anxiety respecting the completion of the defensive works, assured me that they would soon be finished."

"In the meanwhile the cruiser Castilla, even on this short cruise, was making much water through the bearings of the propeller and the opening astern. They worked day and night to stop these leaks with cement, finally making the vessel nearly water-tight, but absolutely impossible to use her engines." 


"On the morning of the twenty-seventh I sailed with the vessels to cover the entrance to the port of Subic. The Castilla was taken to the northeast point of the island of Grande to defend the western entrance, since the eastern entrance had already been closed with the Quintin and two old merchant vessels which were sunk there." 


"With much disgust, I found that the guns which should mounted on that island were delayed a month and a half. This surprised me, as the shore batteries that the navy had installed (with very little difficulty) at the entrance to the bay of Manila, under the intelligent direction of colonel of naval artillery, Señor Garces, and Lieutenant Beneavente, were ready to fight twenty-four days after the commencement of the work."


"I was also no less disgusted that they confided in the efficacy of the few torpedoes which they had found feasible to put there." 



"The entrance was not defended by torpedoes nor by the batteries of the island, so that the squadron would have had to bear the attack of the Americans with its own resources, in forty meters of water and with little security. Our vessels could not only be destroyed, but they could not save their crews. I still held a hope that the Americans would not go to Subic, and so give us time for more preparations, but the following day I received from the Spanish consul at Hong-Kong a telegram which said: Enemy's squadron sailed at 2 P. M. from the bay of Mirs, and according to reliable accounts they sailed for Subic to destroy our squadron, and then will go to Manila."


"This telegram demonstrated that the enemy knew where they could find my squadron, and that the port of Subic had no defenses." 


"The same day, the twenty-eighth of April, I convened a council of the captains, and all, with the exception of Del Rio, chief of the new arsenal, thought that the situation was insupportable, and that we should go to the bay of Manila in order to accept there the battle under less unfavorable conditions." 

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(Spanish cruiser Isla de Luzon, photo credit: The life and letters of Admiral Dewey)
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"I refused to have our ships near the city of Manila, because, far from defending it, this would provoke the enemy to bombard the plaza, which doubtless would have been demolished on account of its few defenses. It was unanimously decided that we should take position in the bay of Canacao, in the least water possible, in order to combine our fire with that of the batteries of Point Sangley and Ulloa." 


"I immediately ordered Del Rio to concentrate his forces in the most strategic point of the arsenal, taking every disposition to burn the coal and stores before allowing them to fall into the power of the enemy. I sent the Don Juan de Austria to Manila to get a large number of lighters filled with sand to defend the water line of the Castilla (which could not move) against the enemy's shells and torpedoes. At 10 A. M., on the twenty-ninth, I left Subic with the vessels of my squadron, towing the Castilla by the transport Manila." 


"In the afternoon of the same day we anchored in the gulf of Canacao in eight meters of water. On the following morning we anchored in line of battle, the Christina, Castilla, Don Jlan dle Austria, Don Juan de Ulloa, Luzon, Cuba, and Marques del Duero, while the transport Manila was sent to the Roads of Bacoor, where the Velasco and Lezo were undergoing repairs. 


"At 7 P. M. I received a telegram from Subic an nouncing that the enemy's squadron had entered the port at three, reconnoitring, doubtless seeking our ships, and from there they sailed with course for Manila. 


"The mail steamer Isla de Mindanao arrived in the bay. I advised her captain to save his vessel by going to Singapore, as the enemy could not get into the entrance probably before midnight. As he was not authorized from the transatlantic he did not do so, and then I told him that he could anchor in shallow water as near as possible to Bacoor. 


"At midnight gun fire was heard off Corregidor, and at two on the morning of the first of May I received telegraphic advices that the American vessels were throwing their search lights at the batteries of the entrance, with which they had exchanged several shots. I notified the commanding general of the arsenal, Senor Soston, and the general-governor of the plaza, Captain Senor Garcia Pana, that they should prepare themselves. I directed all the artillery to be loaded, and all the sailors and soldiers to go to their stations for battle, soon to receive the enemy." 


"This is all that occurred from the time I sailed to Subic until the entrance of the American squadron in the bay of Manila." 


"The squadron being disposed for action," adds Senor Montojo, "fires spread, and everything in proper place, we waited for the enemy's arrival." 


"All the vessels having been painted a dark gray color, had taken down their masts and yards and boats to avoid the effects of projectiles and the splinters, had their anchors buoyed, and cables ready to slip instantly." 


"At 4 A. M. I made signal to prepare for action, and at 4:45 the Austria signaled the enemy's squadron, a few minutes after which they were recognized, with some confusion, in a column parallel with ours, at about 6,000 meters distant; the flagship Olympia ahead, followed by the Baltimore, Raleigh, Boston, Concord, Helena, Petrel, and McCulloch, and the two transports Zafiro and Nanshan."


"The force of these vessels, excepting transports that were noncombatant, amounted to 21,410 tons, 49,290 horsepower, 163 guns (many of which were rapid-fire), 1,750 men in their crews, and of an average velocity of about seventeen miles. The power of our only five effective ships for battle was represented by 10,111 tons, 11,200 horse power, 76 guns (very short of rapid-fire), 1,875 crew, and a maximum speed of twelve miles." 


"At five the batteries on Point Sangley opened fire. The first two shots fell short and to the left of the leading vessel. These shots were not answered by the enemy, whose principal object was the squadron." 


"This battery had only two Ordonez guns of fifteen centimetres mounted, and but one of these could fire in the direction of the opposing fleet." 


"In a few minutes one of the batteries of Manila opened fire, and at 5:15 I made signal that our squadron open fire. The enemy answered immediately. The battle became general. We slipped the springs and cables and started ahead with the engines, so as not to be involved by the enemy." 


"The Americans fired most rapidly. There came upon us numberless projectiles, as the three cruisers at the head of the line devoted themselves almost entirely to fight the Christina, my flagship. A short time after the action commenced one shell exploded in the forecastle and put out of action all those who served the four rapid-fire cannon, making splinters of the forward mast, which wounded the helmsman on the bridge, when Lieutenant Jose Nunez took the wheel with a coolness worthy of the greatest commendation, steering until the end of the fight. In the meanwhile another shell exploded in the orlop, setting fire to the crew's bags, which they were fortunately able to control." 


"The enemy shortened the distance between us, and, rectifying his aim, covered us with a rain of rapid-fire projectiles. At 7:30 one shell destroyed completely the steering gear. I ordered to steer by hand while the rudder was out of action. In the meanwhile another shell exploded on the poop, and put out of action nine men. Another destroyed the mizzen masthead, bringing down the flag and my ensign, which were replaced immediately. A fresh shell exploded in the officers' cabin, covering the hospital with blood, and destroying the wounded who were being treated there. Another exploded in the ammunition room astern, filling the quarters with smoke and preventing the working of the hand steering gear. As it was impossible to control the fire, I had to flood the magazine when the cartridges were beginning to explode."


"Amidships several shells of smaller calibre went through the smokestack, and one of the large ones penetrated the fireroom, putting out of action one master gunner and twelve men serving the guns. Another rendered useless the starboard bow gun. While the fire astern increased, fire was started forward by another shell which went through the hull and exploded on the deck." 


"The broadside guns being undamaged continued firing until there were only one gunner and one seaman remaining unhurt for firing them, as the guns crews had been frequently called upon to substitute those charged with steering, all of whom were out of action." 



"The ship being out of control, the hull, smoke-pipe, and mast riddled with shot; the confusion occasioned by the cries of the wounded; half of her crew out of action, among whom were seven officers, I gave the order to sink and abandon the ship before the magazines should explode, making signal at the same time to the Isla de Cuba and Isla de Luzon to assist in saving the rest of the crew, which they did, aided by others from the Marques del Diero and the arsenal." 


"I abandoned the Reina Christina, directing beforehand to secure her flag, and accompanied by my staff, and with great sorrow, I hoisted my flag on the cruiser Isla de Cuba. 
"After many men had been saved from the unfortunate vessel, one shell destroyed her heroic commander, Don Luis Cadarso, who was directing the rescue." 


"The Don Antoniio de Ulloa, which also defended herself firmly, using the only two guns which were available, was sunk by a shell which entered the water line, putting out of action her commander and half of her remaining crew." 


"The Castilla, which fought heroically, remained with her artillery useless, except one stern gun, with which they fought spiritedly, was riddled with shot and set on fire by the enemy's shells, then sunk, and was abandoned by her crew in good order, which was directed by her commander, Don Alonzo Algado. The casualties on this ship were twenty-three killed and eighty wounded."



"The Don Juan de Austria, very much damaged and on fire, went to the aid of the Castilla. The Isla de Luzon had three guns dismounted, and was slightly damaged in the hull. The Marques del Duero remained with one of her engines useless, the bow gun of twelve centimetres and one of the redoubts. 


"At eight o'clock in the morning, the enemy's squadron having suspended its fire, I ordered the ships that remained to us to take positions in the bottom of the Roads at Bacoor, and there to resist to the last moment, and that they should be sunk before they surrendered." 


"At 10:30 the enemy returned, forming a circle to destroy the arsenal and the ships which remained to me, opening upon them a horrible fire, which we answered as far as we could with the few cannon which we still had mounted." 


"There remained the last recourse to sink our vessels, and we accomplished this operation, taking care to save the flag, the distinguishing pennant, the money in the safe, the portable arms, the breech plugs of the guns, and the signal codes."

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(The wreck of Isla de Cuba, photo credit: The life and letters of Admiral Dewey)
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"After which I went with my staff to the Convent of Santo Domingo de Cavite, to be cured of a wound received in the left leg, and to telegraph a brief report of the action, with preliminaries and results."


"It remains only to say that all the chiefs, officers, engineers, quartermasters, gunners, sailors, and soldiers rivaled one another in sustaining with honor the good name of the navy on this sad day." 


"The inefficiency of the vessels which composed my little squadron, the lack of all classes of the personnel, especially master gunners and seaman gunners; the inaptitude of some of the provisional machinists, the scarcity of rapid-fire cannon, the strong crews of the enemy, and the unprotected character of the greater part of our vessels, all contributed to make more decided the sacrifice which we made for our country and to prevent the possibility of the horrors of the bombardment of the city of Manila, with the conviction that with the scarcity of our force against the superior enemy we were going to certain death and could expect a loss of all our ships." 


"Our casualties, including those of the arsenal, amounted to three hundred and eighty-one men killed and wounded." 


The Reveille, published by the cadets of Norwich University, in its issue following the Battle of Manila, contained two accounts of that glorious victory, one written by Lieutenant-Commander George P. Colvocoresses, of the Concord, and the other translated by him from the Diario de Manila of May 4. In a letter accompanying these articles, the lieutenant-commander bore testimony to the affectionate interest with which Admiral Dewey regarded his early training school.

The story of the Battle of Manila Bay as told by the defeated Spanish Admiral Patricio Montojo