While this lesson was in progress the Spaniards did their best to bring it to a close; but despite all efforts the _Wilmington_ was unharmed. There was absolutely no evidence of conflict about her when she finally steamed away, save such as might have been read on the smoke-begrimed faces of the hard-worked but triumphant and satisfied crew. [Illustration: ADMIRAL SCHLEY.] _May 13._ An English correspondent, cabling from Hongkong regarding the Spaniards in the Philippine Islands, made the following statement: “They are in a position to give the Americans a deal of trouble. There are twenty-five thousand Spanish soldiers in the garrison at Manila, and one hundred thousand volunteers enrolled. Scores of coasting steamers are imprisoned on the river Pasig, which is blocked at the mouth by some sunken schooners. “Mr. Wildman, the American consul here, tells me that, according to his despatches, a flag of truce is flying over Manila, and the people are allowed to proceed freely to and from the ships in the harbour. “The Americans are on duty night and day on the lookout for boats which endeavour to run the blockade with food supplies. The hospital is supported by the Americans. The Spaniards are boasting that their big battle-ship _Pelayo_ is coming, and will demolish the Americans in ten minutes.” On the afternoon of May 13th the flying squadron, Commodore W. S. Schley commanding, set sail from Old Point Comfort, heading southeast. The following vessels comprised the fleet. The cruiser _Brooklyn_, the flag-ship, the battle-ships _Massachusetts_ and _Texas_, and the torpedo-boat destroyer _Scorpion_. The _Sterling_, with 4,000 tons of coal, was the collier of the squadron. At eight o’clock in the evening the _Minneapolis_ followed, and Captain Sigsbee of the _St. Paul_ received orders to get under way at midnight. _May 14._ Eleven steamers, chartered by the government as troop-ships, sailed from New York for Key West. At San Francisco, the cruiser _Charleston_, with supplies and reinforcements for Admiral Dewey’s fleet at Manila, had been made ready for sea. At Havana General Blanco had shown great energy in preparing for the expected siege by American forces. The city and forts were reported as being provisioned sufficiently for three or four months, and Havana was surrounded by entrenchments for a distance of thirty miles. The troops in the garrison numbered seventy thousand, and a like number were in the interior fighting the insurgents. The condition of the reconcentrados in Havana had grown steadily worse. The mortality increased among this wretched class, who had taken to begging morsels of food. Nobody in Havana except a few higher officers knew that the Spanish fleet was annihilated at Manila, and the story was believed that the Americans were beaten there.