The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-06-08
AMERICAN FLEET
CLOSE IN SHORE.

When the Ships Turned Their Por. Batteries
Upon the Forts the Firing Became Long
Reyerberating Crash Of Thunder, and the
Shells Raked The Spanish Batteries With
Terrible Effect--Fire Broke Out in The Cata-
Iina,Fort, While The Estrella and Cave Bat
teries Were'Rendered Useless.
copyrighted 1898 by Associated Press
On board the Associated Press Dis
patch Boat Dandy, off Santiago de
Cuba. Monday, noon, via Kingston, Ja
maica, Tuesday, June 7.-(Noon.) Tho
American fleet this morning engaged the
Spanish batteries defending the entrance
of the harbor of Santiago de Cuba, and
after three hours bombardment, 81.
lenced nearly all the forts, DESTROYED sew
eral earthworks. and rendered the Es-
trella and Cave batteries, the two princi-
pal Notifications, useless.
The fleet formed in double column, six
miles off MORO Castle. at 6 o'clock il
the morning and steamed slowly three
thousand yards off shore, the Brooklyn
leading. followed by the Marblehead.
Texas and Massachusetts, and turned
westward. The second line. the New
York leading, with the New Orleans,
Yankee, Iowa and Oregon following.
turned westward. The Vixen and Su-
vance were far out on the left flank,
watching the rihemen on shore. The
Dolphin and Porter did similar duty On
the right flank. The line headed by the
New York, attacked the new earthworkS
near MORO Castle. The Brooklyn coli
unn took up Il station opposite the Es-
trella and Catalina batteries and the new
earthworks along the shore.
The Spanish batteries remained silent
1t is doubtful whether the Spaniards
were able to determine the character of
the movement owing to the dense fog
and heavy rain which were the weather
features this morning.
Suddenly. the Iowa fred 12-inch
shell, which struck the base of Estreiia
battery and tore mp the work.
Instantly firing began from both Rear
Admiral SIMPSONS and Commodore
Schley's columns and a torrent of shells
from the ships fell upon the Spanish
works.
The Spaniards replied promptly. but
their artillery work was of a very poor
quality, and most of their shots went
wide. Smoke settled around the ships
i'm dense clouds. rendering accurate aim
ing difficult. There was no manoeuver-
ing of the fleet. the ships remaining at
their original stations and firing steadily
The squadrons were so close in shore
that it was difficult for the American
gunners TO reach the batteries on the Hill
tops. but their firing was excellent
Previous to the bombardment. orders
were issued to prevent firing on Moro
Castle. as the American Admiral had
been informed that Lieutenant Hobson
and the other prisoners of the Merrimac
are confined there. In spite Of this
however. several stray shots damaged
Moro Castle somewhat. Commodore
Schley's line moved closer III shore, fir
ing at shorter range
The Brooklyn and Texas caused havoc
among the Spanish shore batteries,
quickly silencing them. While the lar
ger ships were engaging the heavy bat
terles. the Suwanee and the Vixen
closed with the small in-shore battery
opposite them, raining a rapid fire of
shots upon it and quickly placing the
battery out of the fight.
The Brooklyn closed to eight hundred
yards. and then the destruction caused
hy her guns and those of the Marble
head and Texas was really awful. Tn
few minutes the woodwork of Estre,o
fort was burning and the battery was
seneed. firing no more during the en-
gagement.
Eastward. the New York and New Or
leans silenced the Cave battery in ouic,,
order and then shelled the earthworks
located higher mp.
Later. the practice was not so acclI-
rate. owing to the elevation of the guns.
MANY of the shells, however. landed.
and the Spanish gunners retired
Shortly after Q o'clock the firing
ceased. the warships turning in order te
hermit the use Of their port batteries
The firing then became long reverbernt-
ing crash Of thunder. and the SHELF
raked the Spanish batteries with terrible