The Mena star., 1898-06-22
AW FUL DESTRUCTION
The Americans Destroy Santiago's
 Forts with Deadly Results.
A Large Number of spanish Soldiers Be- lieved to Have Been Kiiled-Pre- pairing to Burn the City of
 Caimanera.

careful inspection of the Notifications along the crest of the hills defending Santiago harbor since the lombard ment Thursday morning shows the American gunners spread wreck and ruin everywhere. Some of the batter ies were demolished beyond repair. The vultures which circled over the hills as thick as swallows around a chimney for hours after the firing ceased furnished gruesome evidence of the fatality among the Spanish sol diers. Hundreds of troops could be seen from the ships digging in mounds of earth piled up by the explosions of the projectiles from the heavy guns for bodies while their heads were famed by the wings of the black scavengers of the battlefield. There were two spots, one on the east and the other on the west of the har- bor entrance, which were denuded of the foliage. The hill tops seem literally blown away. These marked the places where the 200-pound charges of gun cotton thrown by the Vesuvius landed.
 There was evident demoralization among the Spanish troops during the bonn bardmen Officers could be seen, with drawn swords, driving the men to the guns, but even then they could not be forced to stay so long as our guns were directed on them. The 15 minutes night work of the Vesuvius had shattered their nerves. It is be- lieved by some that the 13-inch pro- jectile fired from the Texas, which was reported to have exploded the powder magazine in one of the western batteries, did not fall in the battery, but went beyond and blew up one of the ships in the harbor.
 From the foretop of the Brooklyn, 2,9Oo yards distant. the men in the grounds could be noticed, but minute later dust and flying debris would take tbelr places and when the smoke raised away only spot of red earth could be seen-guns and gunners had been swept away. It was the most deadly and destructive bombardment of the war thus far. Scarcely shot from the big guns of the squadron went astray. The aim of our gunners was superb and not only were the forts annihilated, but the batteries on Cnyo smith, up the harbor were de- stroyed. Had all the ships used smolSeless powder, as did the New Orleans, there would remain no signs of guns or Notifications to indicate that there had ever been any defenses there. There were no casualties on our fleet, though our ships held fixed vonsitinn Tho ha1 ohi,,c, er,,n ners never worked with more enthusi- asm.
 Win Apply the Torch.
 OFF GUANTANAMO, June 20.-Cuban scouts reported yesterday that the in- habitants of Caimanera have strewn the streets with straw and oil, with the intention of destroying the city and fleeing to the hills. Caimanera lies four miles up the bay from Camp McCalla under the guns of the Amer ican ships and the situation is desperate. Starving and famine stricken, convinced of the ulti- mate triumph of the American arms and without faith in the protection of the Spanish soldiery, the people are believed to have determined to leave their houses in ashes behind them and seek safety in the hills to the north. The situation of the besieged is fear ful one. The people are eating horses and mules and are securing the hills for fruits and herbs. Occasionally brief bombardments by the American fleet leaves the helpless citizens terror stricken, no preparations for defense being made. It is also stated that the Spanish gunboat at Caimanera has been loaded with inflammables and will be burned with the city, her com mander declaring that she will never become an American prize.
 Telegram from Commodore Watson.
 WASHINGTON, June 1.-The navy de- partment yesterday received a tele- gram from Commodore Watson, com manding the northern blockading squadron, reporting the failure of Capt. Ludlow's mission to Havana, to effect the exchange of Constructor Hobson and the Merrimac's crew. Commodore Watson's telegram was as follows: Captain general says Span ish governmen has refused to ex- change prisoners"
 A Reason for Refusing to Exchange.
 LONDON. June 21.--The Madrid cor respondent of the Times says: "Spains refusal to exchange Lieut. Hobson and his companions of the Merrimac is easily explained and justified. With out any intention of acting as spies they must have seen many things in or around Santiago about which the American naval and military authori- ties would gladly have information"
 Gen. Miles to the Front.
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