Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1898-06-02
HEAVY SHOT FOR MORRO.
Battered by Big Guns-Smaller Ones
Shell the Shores.

Inc Eiring Began at l.. Nj. and was Kept
Up for Two Hours-The Forts Responded
in Lively Fashion, but Little or No
Damage Was Done to Our Fleet ~
| Cape Haytien, Hayti, June IA de.
! spatch which has just been received
from Santiago de Cuba, says that the
American squadron, under command
of Commodore Schley, which has been
blockading the port for number of
days, bombarded the Notifications,
the evident intention being to reduce
them in order to get at Admiral Ger
vera's squadron at anchor in Santiago
Bay.
The American fleet comprised four
teen vessels, including the Brooklyn,
the flagship of the squadron; Massa-
chusetts, Texas, Iowa, Marblehead,
Nashville, Scorpion, and two torpedo
boats.
The despatch says that among the
attacking vessels was one which
seemed to be the New York, flying the
flag of Admiral Sampson.
When the firing began many of the
| men in the city whose sympathies
have been with the insurgents started
for the insurgent lines, which are but
a short distance from the town, to
offer their services.
The fighting began about = o'clock,
when the signal to begin the battle
was displayed on the Brooklyn. This
seems to refute the statement that
Admiral SnmpSon v-oc nrocnnt fn,,
had he been with the fleet he would,
by his rank, have been in command
Owing to the height of the hill on
which the Moro Castle is situated at
the entrance to the harbor, it was i'm
possible for the Americans to run in
shore and elevate their guns to a suf-
ficient height to do any damage to the
old Notifications. Consequently the
big ships with the heavy rifles stood
some distance off shore, from where
they could pour in a more effective
fire, while the smaller vessels, nearer
the shore. devoted themselves to at
lacking the sand and mortar batteries
on the short beneath the Morro
The firing was apparently directed
principally against the Moro, the
Fort of La Socapa, on the opposite
side of the entrance, and Punta Gorda
some distance from the entrance, but
which could be reached by an almost
straight fire from the sea.
The forts replied bravely to the fire
of the enemy, but, as far as can be
learned, did not appear to do any
great damage.
The despatch intimates that some
of the Spanish warships took part in
the engagement, but this cannot be
verified.
Whether or not the Americans en-
tered the bay is not known. 1t is re-
ported here that they did, but this is
doubted, as it is scarcely to be sup
posed that Commodore Schley would
attempt to run the. forts through
channel known to be filled with both
electrical and contact mines.
Judging from the reports of the fight
that have been received here, it is
almost certain that little, if any, dam
age was done to the Americans.
1t may be that Commodore Schley
did enter the harbor for a short dis
tance, countering as he went, and is
now awaiting Il more favorable op-
portunity for proceeding up the bay
and engaging the Spanish warships.
During the fighting number of
troops were hastily despatched from
the city, and it is Judged from this
that the Spanish losses in the batteries
must have been heavy, and that the
artillerymen We're needed to man the
guns.
The despatch says that the Ameri-
cans We're compelled to retire after the
battle had lasted about two hours,
but this Is doubted here, as it is known
that the fortiticatiOns at Santiago are
hardly strong enough to cope salts
factorily with such a powerful squad
ron as that commanded by Commo-
dore Schley.
Further details of the fighting are
lacking. They are awaited here with
intense interest. 1t is supposed that
some of the despatch boats accom-
panying the American squadron will
cable the details of the engagement
from Kingston as soon as possible
OF course all the information that has
reached this point is from Spanish
sources
CASToRrA.