The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-04-29
COMMANDMENT OF MATANZAS

COMMANDMENT OF MA ANZAS
Key West, Fla. April 2S.-11:15 a. M
The bombardment of the forts of Matan
Eas by the United States cruiser New
York, the flagship of Rear Admira-
Sampson, the monitor Puritan and the
cruiser Cincinnati is eagerly discussed
here and every incident Of the affair is
weighed and reweighed by army and
navy officers and the newspaper men
The interest in the engagement is mixed
with delight at the fact that there are
no casualties to record on the American
side, not one of our ships being touched
of our fire upon the enemy but at pres
ent all information on this point is lack
ing.
From tho fact that the Spaniards opened
fire on our ships while the latter were
making a reconnaissance in force and
when the vessels were nearly five miles
out from the batteries. leads to the be-
lief that the enemy believed that all that
was necessary to induce the United
States feet to move further away was
for the batteries to open fire on them.
But if from former experience they had
reached this conclusion, they had found
that forbearance had reached the limit
and they must have been intensely aston
ished when the New York, being the
farthest west. but the nearest inshore,
opened fire with her batteries with a
NJ eFa mi Oh
and accompanied by her consorts, made
such excellent practice with her guns
that in eighteen minutes every Spanish
gun was silenced.
It would have been worth years pay
to any one to have seen the effect of the
last shot fired, that from the Puritan
Pinch gun, when a mass of stones,
earth and abattis went sixty feet into
the air. falling in the rear Of the spot
where a Spanish gun had been few
minutes before.
There must have been many casualties
on the Spanish side, since the rapid-fire
guns were used on the war ships as well
as those Of the large calibre. 1t seems
to be the general opinion that the Span
iards had nothing heavier than S-inch
guns and that they had very poor gun
ners.
However. just before the Spanish bat
teries were silenced. one gun on the west
side of the harbor seemed to be getting
the range of the flagship. several shots
striking near the New York and on both
sides of her. If the purpose of the recon-
noissance and the subsequent cannonad-
ing was necessary TO secure a landing
place for the United States troops such
purpose has been well accomplished for
no doubt exists that the Spanish batter
les at Matanzas are not likely to prove
insany way dangerous. They have been
silenced for good. or at least for a long
err time than will be necessary to ef-
feet a landing.
Washington. April 2s.--Intense interest
was shown at the navy department today
in the published reports from the flag
ship New York and from Key West Of
the engagements at Matanzas yesterday
noon between the shore batteries and
three vessels Of Admiral SIMPSONS fleet.
The navy department itself had absolute
ly no report from any OF its agents or
any OF the officers of theb lockading fleet
of this affair. 1t of course could not be
expected that news could be had from
Havana, with a Spanish censor manning
the end Of the cable there
The fact that Admiral Sampson had
not made any report to the secretary.
Notwithstanding he must have had thu
same opportunity TO communicate with
Key West as was enjoyed by the press.
led the officials Of the department to be-
lieve that the affair was not OF great con-
sequence. Indeed. they said II was in
conceivable that any very extensive dam
age could have been inflicted upon prop
erly placed batteries at the distance re-
ported. varying from two and half to
four miles. in the short space OF eighteen
minutes, during which It is said the en-
eagement lasted.
= member of the strategic board. who
Is Of course thoroughly conversant with
the plans OF Admiral Sampson. so far as
they have been generalized. was author
ity for the statement that the admiral
had no intention whatever at this time
to lombard the Matanzas battery. To
do so now would be bad strategy and of
little avail. for in the absence Of any
landing force. the admiral would be un-
prepared 10 take advantage ~ the vic
tory he might gain through a reduction
OF the forts and the Spaniards might
have ample opportunity over night 10
repair In a large measure the damage
indicted on their fortified tions. II was
stated positively that Admiral Samp-
sons purpose was simply to ascertain n
any shore batteries existed AT Matanzas
and II so 10 draw their FIRE and ascertain
their character. and then 10 retire beyond
range. In other words, II was simply
naval reconnaissance. In the event that
during his observation the admiral dis
covered that new defenses were under
construction on shore. he would IL was
said. Of course not Jose the opportunity
to cripple them by throwing a few shells
into the earthworks and endeayoring 70
knock over a gun or two. II was The
general belief at the department. how
ever. that Mstanzzs vas soon 10 be re-
duced and made a base Of operations in
the campaign against Havana.
II VS. also stated to Re the presidents
purpose TO keep IN mind throughout the
war the awful condition Of the recoacen- /
TRADES. who are most numerous in and
around Matanzas. Unless relief is eN-
aandAd TO them they viii uudou btedly