The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-06-10

7:45 o'clock a. m. until nearly II o'clock
ten Of the American warShipS main
tained a steady and carefully directed
fire against Ell Morro castle and the
batteries at Punta Gorda, Socapa and
CincOreales, in addition to lombard
ing the Spanish fleet in the harbor.
The percentage of effective projectiles
was very large.
1t appears from the best information
obtainable at this place, the cable sta
+ tiOn connecting with Santiago de Cuba
! that immense damage was inflicted on
the enemy. The Spaniards admit that
the bOnlbardment from the American
fleet was most destructive About / 500
projectiles are said to have been fired
by the American warships, and it
seems that the responsive fire from
the Spanish forts and ships was
| scarcely felt at all by the Americans
The Spanish batteries are understood
to have been virtually silenced and Ell
MOrro and the Notifications at Socapa
and Punta GOrda are reported to have
| been demolished by the three hours
uninterrupted hammering of the
! American fleet
The American attack is next said to
have been specially directed against
AguadOres, q small coast town a lit
tie to the east of the entrance of San
tiago bay.
The idea of the American admir-
| al, 1t appears, was to land troops and
siege guns there. after reducing the
defences of the place and thence maks
close assault upon Santiago which,
in view OF the present condition of it's
fOrtifications, may be expected to yield
very soon after the beginning Of such
an attack. Heavy cannonading was
opened upon AguadOres at about mid
day yesterday.
The latest advices received here from
Spanish sources do not indicate the
duration Of the fire or whether Ameri-
can troops and siege guns were actual
| ly landed at Aguadores, but, from the
| information obtainable, it cannot be
| doubted that the net result of Mon
! days fighting was extremely disastrous
to the Spanish defense.
AN ATTACK FROM THE LAND.
1t is also understood here that the
Cuban troops maintained throughout
the greater part of yesterday an attack
by land on Santiago and the Spanish
reports say the garrison lost heavily
in killed and wounded.
The military commander of Santiago
de Cuba acknowledges the following
severely wounded among the land
forces: Colonel Ordonez, Captain San
chez, Lieutenant Yrizar, of the artil-
| lery, and Perez and Garcia, both Span
ish officers, whose rank is not mention
ed. The Spaniards also admit the loss
of twenty-one infantry soldiers severely
wounded and say one soldier was killed.
But it is believed that the losses of the
Spaniards were much more heavy.
In the naval force, the Spaniards say
that the officer who was second in COM
mAd of the partly dismantled Spanish
cruiser Reina Mercedes and five sail
| ors and an ensign were killed. The
Spanish sailors wounded, it is asserted,
number sixteen men.
The loss on the American side, the
Santiago reports say, is not known.
The Spaniards acknowledge that a
great deal Of damage was inflicted on
the Spanish cruiser Reina Mercedes and
they say Morro castle shows great,
gaping breaches in it's walls.
SPANIARDS DEFEATED BY OUR
INFANTRY.
Later in the day, it appears, landing
or American troops was effected near
Daiquiri, some distance east of Aqua
dores and near the railroad station
connecting with Santiago. Later an
engagement took place between the
American forces and column OF Span
ish troops which had been sent against
the landing party. The accounts of
the battle Obtainable here, being from
Spanish sources, do not set forth the
result, and, therefore, it is to be in
ferred that the Americans were victo-
rious, and that is the belief which pre-
walls here.
There is a report current at Cape
Haytien that the first class armored
Spanish cruiser Maria Teresa was sunk
yesterday by the fire of the American
ships.
1t is said that only five hundred
American troops were landed at Dai-
quiri, or possibly at Aguadores, the two
places being seemingly confused in the
reports received here. 1t seems to be
admitted that the fire of the American
soldiers vas so effective that the Span
iards We're compelled to flee from the
fortifications they were defending.
PROBABLE JUNG TION WITH IN
SURGENTS.
Copyright by Associated Rress)
Cape Haytien, Hayti June Ito .. m.
According to the latest adviees from
Santiago de Cuba, dated Mundar at
midnight, Ih:, Commandment Whicl b.
gan at 7:45 a. n. yesterday and con-
tinued until 10 o'clock in the morning,
was resumed again for a short time
about midnight. 1t was then believed
that the Americans had effected juno
tion with the insurgents near Daiquri.
some distance east Of Aguadores and
near the railway line to Santiago.
London, June S-A dispatch to the
Daily Mail from Cape Haytien says:
The American victory at Santiago de
Cuba has cleared the way for the en-
trance If Admiral Sampson and the
destruction of the Spanish fleet. AS
Santiagos land defenses are reported