The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-06-07
SPANISH VERSION OF IT.
The Merrimac Was "sunk by the Alert
Spaniards."

TPtufNfus.
London. June 6.-The Madrid corre-
~spondent of the Standard says: An
account received from Santiago OF de-
fensive preparations denotes that the
sharp lookout day and night for any
movement by the Americans continues.
D~etachments of 1000 regulars and 5000
volunteers. composing the garrison of
Santiago, under General Linares, have
been sent to the MORO and Punta
Gorda batteries. Both works have
been greatly strengthened and are
provided with krupp and Hontoria
guns. while La Socapa Is armed with
guns taken from the Relna Mercedes.
At the time of the attack by the Amer
icans. 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 sub
marine torpedoes. The torpedo boat
d%estroyers Pluton and Terror CFuror)
with steam up were on the watch.
several steam launches had been de-
tailed as scouts In the n~avigable chan
mel and outside the entrance to the
bay, and the Almlrante Oquendo and
the Cristobal Colon were ready to sup
port the forts, the former flying the
pennant OF the admiral.
cen ~ II = tibCh III tut H1ofH-
ing the scouts noticed two vessels
rapidly advancing toward the mouth
of the channel. The fort about the
same time opened up, just as the Mer-
rimac was we'll inside the passage.
The Spanish officers. having allowed
her to pass the first submarine mine de-
Tense unmolested. gave the signal TO
the land batteries and the submarine
battery at La Socapa and the destroy
- and lntnahaG IN Gnn an fhA MAepi
mac. which was sunk without COM
pletely blocking the channel. just as
Admiral Cervera appeared or the scene
with the Almirante Oquendo. The
cruisers boats saved the Americans.
Meanwhile the other American vessel,
supposed to be the battleship Iowa.
hastily retired. The Spanish suffered
no loss and no material damage. The
impression In naval circles at Madrid
is that the Americans merely wanted
to sink the Merrimac In the narrow
part of the channel in order TO block
the egress of the Spanish fleet, but IL IL
argued that the wreck can be easily
dynamited as soon as Admiral Ger
vera finds 1t necessary to force the
passage.
The AFFAIR is said to have caused
much enthusiasm at Santiago. where
several thousand regulars under Gen
eral Luco are expected, having sue
ceeded in crossing the river Cauto at
the beginning of the week. They are
now advancing by forced marches in
spite of the rains. On the whole. a
tough resistance will be made in case.
as is fully expected, the Americans re-
new the attack.
When the result of the Merrimac at
fair was known In Madrid the money
market became animated. while in po-
litical and financial circles c~uriously
conflicting impressions prevailed, some
fancying that the successive failures
of the Americans might have the re-
suit OF making the United States favor
able TO peace. Financiers. on the other
hand. are divided between patriotic
satisfaction and the feeling that the
drift OF the var means Its prolongation
and pecuniary sacrifice detrimental to
the Spanish credit. Most of the news
papers attach Importance to the anair.
since IL was shown that the Spanish
forces are not only on the alert. but
well able to hold the enemy In check