The outcome of the Battle of Manila Bay, although having certain variables, was already doomed to defeat once blocked by the American forces. Without external material supplies after the blockade, the Spanish troops in the Philippines could only delay for some time. Ernst merely intended to seize this opportunity to cause some trouble for the United States, so he did not pay further attention.
Of course, there still was a possibility for a comeback: Spain could completely annihilate the main force of the United States Navy in the Caribbean Sea and threaten the mainland United States, but this possibility was even smaller. In the situation where the mainland navy preserved its strength and could not go all out, the fate of the Spanish navy would probably be similar to that of the Far East Empire.
...
June 5, 1889.
Bulawayo.
