Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1898-06-06
THE SPANISH STORY.
Madrid Version of the sinking of the NIer-
rimac.


London, June 6.-The Madrid cor
respondent of the Standard says:
IAN account received from Santiago
of defensive preparations denotes that
the sharp outlook day and night for
any movements by the Americans con-
tinues. Detachments Of 1000 regulars
and 5000 volunteers composing the
garrison at Santiago under Gen.
Linares have been sent to the MORO
and Punta Gorda batteries. Both
works have been greatly strengthened
and are provided with Brupp and
Hontoria guns, while La Socapa is
armed with guns taken from the Reina
Mercedes.
Eat the time Of the attack by the
Americans the La Socapa guns were
served by sailors from the ship while
she was anchored in a position to
sweep the entrance to the harbor.
THE Spanish stan had connected
with the shore works several lines of
submarine torpedoes. The torpedo
boat destroyers Pluton and Terror
(Furor), with steam up, were on the
watch. several steam launches had
been detailed as scouts In the navi-
gable channel and outside the entrance
of the bay, and the Almlrante Oquendo
and the Crlstobal Colon were ready to
support the forts, the former flying the
pennant OF the admiral.
Between 3 and A o'clock In the
morning the scouts noticed two ves-
sells rapidly advancing toward the
mouth OF the channel. The fort, about
the same time, opened up, just as the
Merrimnc was well inside the passage.
The Spanish officers. having allowed
her to pass the first submarine mine
defense uEmolested, gave the signal to
the land batteries, the marine battery
at La Socapl, and the destroyers and
launches to fire on the Merrimac,
which was sunk, without completely
blocking the channel, just as Admiral
Cervera appeared on the scene with
the Almlrante oquendo. The cruiser 5
boats saved the Americans.
Meanwhile the other American yes
sci, supposed to be the battleship Iowa,
hastily retired. The Spaniards suffered
no loss and no material damage, The
Impression In naval circles at Madrid
Is that the Americans merely wanted
to sink the Merrlmac In the narrow
part Of the channel in order to block
the egrcss OF the Spanish fleet, but IL
Is argued that the wreck can be easily
dynamlted as soon as Admiral Ceryera
considers II unnecessary to keep 1t
there as check to any attempt of the
Americans to force the passage.
THE affair is said to have caused
much enthusiasm at Santiago where
several thousand regulars under Gen.
Luco are expected, having succeeded
in crossing the river Cauto at the be-
ginning OF the work. They are now
advancing by forced marches In spite
of the rdinS.
on the whole, n tough resistance
Will be made in case. as Is fully ex-
pected, the Americans renew the at
tack.
when the result Of the Merrimac
aifalr was known In Madrid, the
money market became animated, while
In political and financial circles curl
ously conflicting Impressions prevailed,
some fancying that the successive fail
ures of the Americans might have the
result Of making the United States
favorable to peace. FGnanrlers, on tho
other hand. are divided between patri-
otic satisfaction and the feeling that
the drift Of the war means Its prolong-
alton and pecunlary sacrifices detrl-
mental to Spanish credit. Most of the
newspapers attach Importance to tho
armr since II was shown that tho
Spanish forces are not only alert. but
well able to hold ~ nemy In check"