Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1898-07-13
THE COMMANDMENT ON SUN
DAY BY THE WARSHIPS.

On Board the Associated Press Dis
patch Boat Dandy, of Aguadores,
Cnba, July 10, via Port Antonio and
Kingston, Jamaica, July 1.-The
Brooklyn, Texas and Indiana, under
Commodore Scbley, began the bonn
bardment of the city of Santiago at
SIS this afternoon, in obedience to the
request from General Shafter conveyed
by a signal from the shore.
The warsh;ps lined up from east to
west quarter OF mile from shore
and fired over the limestone cliffs that
come down to the sea and hide the
city, five m lies away. The lombard
ment was continued for one hour
After thirty five shot, had b en- fred
from the S-inch guns. Commodore
Schley became convinced lat the
Brooklyn's fire was falling Snort and
ordered a cessation, permitting the
battleships to continue, they with their
large guns having longer range. The
shots were fired apparently with great
deliberatlon and at intervals Of two
minutes. The signals from the shore
announced that the shells fell thous-
and feet short and a little TO The left
Of the Spanish position. At dusk the
squadron cesed firing and Commodore
Schley sent q launch to the shore to ask
General Sbafter if he desired firing
continued during the night.
When the associated Press reporter
went aboard the the Brooklyn,
General Schley said he was ig-
norant of the purpose OF The
bombardment. The Associated Press
reporter read to him a message receiv-
ed at Juragua from a mounted courier
saying the armistice was ended and
that hostilities had been resumed.
Commodore Schley said:
General Shafter signalled to me to
begin the bombardment as soon as
could get into position. I doubted
from the start whether / could hit the
city. had to guess at its location
and be very careful not to iujure oui
own army, If I lombard tomorrow,
I shall have range marks on shore to
guide me and l shall take the ships
closer to the shore than to-day. The
water of Aguadores is SO smooth that
our craftsmanship was not affected by
the swaying of the ship. In firing to-
day, I gave the turrets the greatest
possible elevation by listing the ships.
But knew I would fall short. The
guns will carry more than FIVE miles,
but to throw shots over the cliff a
great elevation is required"
When the Dandy left Aguadores at
o'clock the warships were still In
position. During tie bombardment
the Dandy lay quarter of q mile be-
hind the line OF ships. When the
bombardment began heavy rain-storm
was in progress, with thunder and
lightning, but artillery fire could be
heard on shore, indicating that Gener-
al Shafter had resumed hostililities i'm
mediately on the endining OF the ar.
mistice.
Following the roer Of Commodore
Schley's guns could be heard the
shrieking Of shells as they sped on
their way to the doomed Spanish city.
Then came long echo from the hills
back Of Santiago, and sometimes peal
OF thunder prolonged the reyerbertlons
and gave the impression that the city
was bombarded from sky, sea and land.
The situation must have been ap-
pauling to the Spaniards, and if Gen
eral Shafter made the demonstration
for the mere effect which it would
have on the enemy he probably attain
ed his end.