Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1898-06-04
Echiey and Sampson Attack
Cervera's Fleet.
FORTS RIDDLED WITH SHELLS
The Spanish Guns in MORO Castle
Replied Vigorously.
cHRvERA HAD TRIED TO ESCAPE.

Sent Out His Torpedo Boat Destroyers to
Destroy or Put the American Fleet to
Fight-They Were Discovered BY Search
Light and Driven Back-The Battle Fol-
lowed q Few Hours Later-our Naval
Officials at Washington Discredit the
Story of the Fight.
Cape Haytien, Hsyti, June -Four
teen American warships and two tor
pedo boats began a terrible attack on
the defenses of Santiago de Cuba har-
Dor yesterday afternoon, Admiral Ger
vera's feet taking part in the defense
OF the city.
Admiral Sampson is said to have
Joined Commodore Schley on blockade
at noon. and the move was at once
begun. Five American warships pass
ed down through the Windward pas
sage early In the morning, and these
were probably SIMPSONS boats, the
flagship New York being reported from
Port au Prince. Hayti. as having been
one Of the second feet.
The forts of Morro Castle, La Zocapa
destruction. The cable between San
tiago de Cuba and Cape Haytien is
working. but Santiago is panicstricken
and most of the populace is hiding in
the hills back OF the city. The cable
operator at Santiago has only been at
his post at intervals.
The attack of the Americans began
at o'clock in the afternoon and the
shelling OF the forts was kept up until
S:46, when the sound seemed to indi-
cate battle at sea-
The result is undoubtedly an Amer
lean victory. but the details Of the end
OF the fight have not come.
Admiral Cervera, short of provisions.
and knowing that fight was newt
able, Monday night determined to
make desperate effort to escape from
the harbor. About midnight he sent
out the torpedo boat destroyers Furor
and Pluton to attack the American
feet, hoping that under the cover of
night the destroyers, with their White
head torpedoes, could sink the flying
squadron, or at least put it to flight
He moved his cruisers up toward the
harbor's mouth, ready to fee il the
mission OF the destroyers was success
ful. The small boats were discovered
by the searchlights of the American
ships, which have played on the har-
bor's mouth every night, and, under a
streng IRE. were compelled to turn
back. Admiral Cervera's effort to es-
cape had failed completely. and his
ships returned to their anchorage about
daybreak.
About noon yesterday the American
sQuadrons drew nearer the harbor in
line of battle. On the nagsb Brook
lyn, with Commodore Scbley. was
Emilio Nunez. a Cuban pilot. who
knew the harbor perfectly, and who
Had been brought over from Jamaica
by the auxiliary cruiser Harvard.
What ships Sampson took down arc
not known. but with Schley were the
Brooklyn, the Grst class battleshins
Massachusetts and Iowa, the second
class battleship Texas, the protected
cruiser Minneapolis, the unarmored
cruiser Marblehead, the auxiliary
cruisers Harvard, Yale and St. PanI
and the gunboat Vixen. The weaker
bosts did not take part in the heavy
Ashting, the big battleships doing most
OF the work.
The squadron steamed slowly toward
Morro Castle, that occupies the pro-
monotory at the right OF the entrance.
and taking up a position about two
miles on shore began q bombardment.
The big guns of the battleships started
terrific sheliing, throwing a missile
every minute with great precision. The
shells fell short at first, but the range
was soon found, and for 40 r-ainutes
nearly every shot fired tore great hoIes
In Morro's stone walls. The MORO
is on a high hill, but the American
guns were elevated with seeming little
difficulty.
The Spanish guns in the castle re-
piled vigorously. The fortifcations
there are stronger than popuIarly sup
posed, and their strength showed. The
Spanish gunners fought bravely, but
their aim was poor.
Admiral CerVera's feet heard the
noise of battle and steamed down near
the narrow entrance, and the Vizcaya,
Almirante Oquendo, Infanta Maria
Teresa and Cristobal Colon began to
reply to the fire of the American com
bined squadrons.
Half mile past MORO. on the left
side and at bend In the channel, are
the batteries OF La Zocapa, and the
Spanish guns thundered forth volley
after volley on the American ships
Seeks. some Of the shots taking effect
Farther IN tho harbor is the fort of
Punta Oor6a, and the guns here also
entered into action. There are hills
between these two forts and the sea,
but with known elevation and distance.
the Spanish gunners we're enabled to
reach the American ships.
The cable operator at Santiago wires
that the bombardment OF the forts
ceased at 3:45.
Soon after there was terrific cannon
aiding heard farther out, presumably at
sea. This continued for some time,
when about $50 the firing ceased CON-
nletsly. 1t q fhQrght that Admiral