"From the 2nd to 13th November, the following have beea the operations of the fest now anchored at Sula. The port continues blockaded. On the 5th the gunboat Mindoro left for a cruise to the N. W. At Paticol, a lage near Point Drangupit, she was fired on by the natives and replied with shell and find fired on hers On her way back to the dispersing the party of natives who fleet, on passing close to Batuolo, she was again fred on and replied as before. Sailing to the W. she captured two proos with six men, neat the island of Tabau. On the sth ashe made for the S. W.; she captured another prac with two men, and fired at several jes of men seen on shore. The gunboat fole left the fleet on the 4th to reconnoitre the coast, and was fired on as she passed Paticol; on the 6th, passed Bolipompong, pul, and other islands without meet yything; on the 8th, passed Drangupit_wit the usual firing; on passing the fort of Datto Daniel one shot passed close to the bows the gunboat. The Arayat left the fleet on the 9th for a cruise, heading for the E. and N. On her way, fired about twenty shots at various fortified places, being always replied to. On the 1th gave chase to a bran, which refused to surrender and was therefore fired on and sunk, drowning all the crew, while the gunboat was severely cannonaded from the Shore. On the Lith the forts of the Sultan and Datto Daniel fired on the Vencedora and. Constancia, and were replied to with shell and ball. At first our vessels Jay about OF cable'. lengths of—and as the balls began to come close, although doing no damage, they. increated the distance to 9 cables, Even at this distance the enemy's shots passed over ips, and one-shot destroyed ® boat in tow the Vencedora, giving the man of ita great fright. The stern the Constancia was useless on this occasion, for.. from where she was anchored it could not reach the shore. It was the same with the, and both ships used only their bow guns, which Vewzedora, although her gun is" 68-pounder are rifled and carry far. Between them 25 shells and 8 shots were thrown. 'The firing was extremely good; from the topmast we saw the shells bursting in the forts. In the evening the distance from the forte was increased to 14 cables' length—and oven at this distance one shot from Datto Daniel's fort Vencelora, Talling about 40 yards to seaward.
assed. between the main and foremast of the The population of Sulu are greatly disturbed. They have bumed all the Chinese town in front of the forts to prevent this being an obstruction. We are told many of the islands are entirely abandoned, all. the people having come over to help the Sultan. The fleet in Sula consists of the following -vessels: oorverte Fencedora, schooner Constancia, gun—boats Mindoro, Filipino, Albay and Avayat."
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.