Raid on Manila facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Raid on Manila
Part of the French Revolutionary Wars
Journey of Cooke around the Philippines in 1798
Date January 1798 Location Manila, Spanish Philippines Result British victory at Manila Spanish victory at Zamboanga
Belligerents
Great Britain	Spain
Commanders and leaders
Captain Edward Cooke	Rear-Admiral Ignacio Maria de Álava
Strength
Frigates HMS Sybille and HMS Fox	Defences of Manila
Casualties and losses
None at Manila; 6 killed, 16 wounded and a boat sunk at Zamboanga	3 gunboats captured at Manila; 1 killed and 4 wounded at Zamboanga

The Raid on Manila in January 1798 was a secret mission by the Royal Navy during the French Revolutionary Wars. Its main goal was to check how strong the defenses of Manila were. Manila was the capital of the Spanish Philippines. The British also hoped to capture a rich treasure ship called a Manila galleon. They also wanted to see how ready the Spanish Navy ships in the port were.

Spain had been an ally of Great Britain but became an enemy in 1796. A strong Spanish fleet in Manila could threaten British trade. This was especially true for the "China Fleet." This was a yearly group of merchant ships that sailed from Macau in Qing Dynasty China to Britain. This trade was very important for Britain's economy.

To keep these merchant ships safe, the British commander, Rear-Admiral Peter Rainier, sent a convoy to China. It was led by Captain Edward Cooke. His ships were the frigates HMS Sybille and HMS Fox. After his main mission, Cooke decided to check on the Spanish forces in Manila himself. He also heard that a treasure ship was expected, which would be a valuable prize. Cooke and Captain Pulteney Malcolm in Fox reached Manila on January 13, 1798.

While in Manila Bay, Cooke pretended his ships were French. He tricked Spanish officials into coming aboard and took them as prisoners. From them, he learned about Manila's defenses. He found out the treasure ship had already unloaded its cargo. He also learned that the Spanish fleet was being repaired and couldn't sail. Cooke then sent a team to capture three Spanish gunboats. After this, he released his prisoners and sailed south. He tried to attack Zamboanga but failed. Then he returned to Macau.

Why the Raid Happened: A Secret Mission

In 1796, after three years of the French Revolutionary Wars, Spain and France signed a secret agreement. This agreement meant Spain had to stop being allies with Great Britain. Soon after, Spain declared war on Britain. In the East Indies, this meant British forces faced a new threat. This threat came from the Spanish Philippines to the east.

Britain's Power in the East Indies

Britain was very powerful in the East Indies in 1796. They controlled important trade routes through the Indian Ocean. Their main ports were Bombay, Madras, and Calcutta. They had also captured parts of the Dutch East Indies in 1795. The French had only a few islands left in the region.

The Important China Fleet

Some of the most important trade routes started in Canton and Macau in Qing Dynasty China. Every year, a large group of merchant ships called the "China Fleet" sailed from Macau. These ships, owned by the British East India Company, carried valuable goods like tea to Europe. This convoy was extremely important for Britain's economy. For example, a convoy in 1804 was worth over £8 million.

In 1797, the French tried to attack this convoy. The British commander tricked them into thinking the convoy had powerful warships. The French admiral retreated, realizing his mistake later. There was worry that the French might try again in 1798. The Spanish, who had a strong fleet at Cavite near Manila, also posed a threat.

Plans for an Invasion

When Rear-Admiral Rainier learned that Spain would declare war, he planned a big invasion of the Philippines. He wanted to capture Manila, just like the British did in 1762. He worked with the Governor-General of India Sir John Shore. A large number of ships and soldiers were set aside for this plan.

However, in August 1797, news arrived that the war in Europe had ended. Britain now faced France and Spain alone. Also, there was a risk of a new war in India. So, the invasion of Manila was called off. But protecting the China Fleet was still very important. Rainier sent some of his ships to China to guard it.

The Convoy to Macau

In the spring of 1797, many merchant ships gathered in Bombay. They were preparing to sail to Macau to load goods and join the China Fleet. To protect them, Rainier sent the 40-gun frigate HMS Sybille. He also sent the 50-gun HMS Centurion. They sailed in July through the Straits of Malacca. Other warships joined them for the final trip to Macau. The convoy arrived safely on December 13, 1797.

Captain Cooke's Daring Raids

Scouting Manila's Defenses

With his convoy safe in Macau, Captain Cooke decided to scout Manila. He wanted to observe the port and the Spanish ships there. There were also rumors that the yearly Manila galleon was about to arrive. This ship carried a huge amount of silver from Acapulco across the Pacific Ocean. It brought money to the Philippines and then took goods back to New Spain. This journey was vital for the Spanish Empire in the East Indies.

On January 5, 1798, Cooke sailed with only Sybille and Fox. Fox carried a skilled linguist named Mr. Bernard. Near Luzon, Cooke's ships found a small Spanish merchant vessel. Cooke flew French tricolors to trick the Spanish ship. He captured the ship and questioned its captain. He learned that most Spanish ships in Manila were being repaired and couldn't sail. Cooke released the captain and his ship, but kept 3,900 silver dollars. The Spanish fleet had been badly damaged by a typhoon in April 1797. Cooke had disguised his ships well. Sybille looked like a powerful French frigate, and Fox looked like a smaller one.

A Tricky Dinner on Sybille

On the afternoon of January 13, 1798, Sybille and Fox entered Manila Bay. They sailed past the fortress of Corregidor without being challenged. The next morning, they anchored between Manila and Cavite. From his ship, Cooke could see the Spanish fleet. Their ships were damaged and being repaired at Cavite. These included large warships and frigates. To Cooke's disappointment, he also saw the Manila galleon, Marquesetta, being unloaded. Another valuable merchant ship was stuck in the harbor. The Spanish had learned that a British frigate was nearby. So, they quickly unloaded the valuable cargo from the treasure ship.

Fox was the first British ship to anchor. A Spanish guard boat approached it. Captain Malcolm, like Cooke, spoke fluent French. With Bernard translating, he convinced the Spanish officer that they were French ships. He said they were looking for supplies and Spanish help for their missions. The officer offered supplies but said no Spanish ships could sail until March. Cooke then joined them on Fox, pretending to be a French officer named Commodore Latour. The Spanish officer was completely fooled by the trick and the fake French uniforms.

Cooke invited the Spanish officer below deck. They drank wine and made toasts, even one to "the downfall of England." For an hour, the officers drank. Malcolm and Cooke learned many details about Manila's defenses and the Spanish fleet. Then, a second boat arrived with more Spanish officers. This boat was from the Spanish commander at Cavite, Rear-Admiral Don Ignacio María de Álava. Each time, the Spanish officers were taken below deck. Their crews were captured at gunpoint and also taken below.

In Malcolm's cabin, the captured officers were told they were prisoners. They were promised release before the British ships left. Meanwhile, the crew of Fox put on the Spanish sailors' clothes. They rowed the Spanish boats to the nearby Pasig River. There, they had learned, three heavy gunboats were moored. The British teams surprised the Spanish crews. They captured all three gunboats without a fight. These gunboats were well-armed, with large cannons and smaller guns.

The harbor captain arrived shortly after, angry about the captured gunboats. Malcolm spoke to him in confusing French and brought him to join the other captured officers. His crew was also imprisoned. At 4:00 PM, Cooke and Malcolm hosted a big dinner for their captured officers. They also sent food and grog to the Spanish sailors. About 200 Spanish sailors were now prisoners on Fox. After dinner, Cooke allowed all the captives to return to shore. He kept the captured gunboats.

The Attack on Zamboanga

Cooke sailed his small fleet past Corregidor on January 15, heading south. Four days later, in a storm, one of the gunboats broke free and was lost with its twelve crew. The frigates then scouted Mindanao. On January 22, they reached Zamboanga. Cooke raised Spanish flags to try and trick the local officials into giving them food and water. But Sybille got stuck on a sandbank at the port's entrance. This made a Spanish guard boat suspicious. The Spanish captain asked for the names of the British captains. When he got no answer but rifle fire, he alerted the town.

With the defenders ready, Cooke gave up his trick. The next morning, after Sybille was free, he ordered his ships to fire at the fort protecting the harbor. This didn't do much damage. Later, the Spanish found over 450 cannonballs. Malcolm then tried to land soldiers to attack the fort from land. The boats came under heavy fire. One boat was hit by a cannonball, killing two and wounding four. Another boat got stuck on a sandbar. With his forces in trouble, Malcolm called off the attack. About 250 villagers with spears also ambushed and drove the British from the beach. After an hour of fighting, both frigates pulled back. The British had two dead and one wounded on Sybille, and eight wounded on Fox. The Spanish lost one man killed and four wounded.

Cooke's frigates needed repairs. He moved away from Zamboanga and spent three days fixing the ships. Then he sailed north. He sank the two remaining gunboats because he didn't think they would survive the trip back to Canton. Four days later, on January 27, the ships stopped at a village called "Pullock" to get fresh water. On the beach, a boat party from Sybille was attacked by local tribesmen. Two British sailors were killed, and nine were captured and dragged into the forest. Cooke complained to the local leader, and the captured sailors were eventually rescued. However, Sybille and Fox had already sailed for China to escort the merchant convoy back to India.

What Happened Next

Captain Cooke's risky mission showed that the Spanish forces in the Philippines were not an immediate threat. The mission cost 18 lives. Admiral Rainier later said he was happy with the results. Some historians believe that if Cooke's ships had joined with another British frigate, they might have destroyed the damaged Spanish warships. However, the other captain was less imaginative than Cooke. Another historian felt the mission had "no glorious outcome" and was disappointed that the treasure ships weren't captured.

The China Fleet of 1798 sailed safely without further attacks. Later that year, the British frigate Resistance was destroyed by an accidental explosion. Most of Britain's naval forces were busy in the Red Sea. This left gaps in British control of trade routes. A French frigate and corvette were able to reach Manila later in the year. They joined the repaired Spanish fleet. In February 1799, this combined French and Spanish force sailed to Macau. They surprised the British defenses. The British commander, Captain William Hargood, attacked them. The Franco-Spanish force retreated and disappeared that evening. The combined fleet then split up. The China Fleet was not attacked again until 1804.

The French frigates that Cooke had pretended to be, Forte and Prudente, were sent to attack British trade in 1799. Prudente was captured by HMS Daedalus in February 1799. Forte was intercepted by HMS Sybille (Cooke's ship) on February 28 near Balasore in Bengal. In the battle, Forte was captured, but Captain Cooke was badly wounded. He died on May 25, 1799.

Images for kids

• 

  Journey of Cooke around the Philippines in 1798