Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1898-04-29
MATANZAS BOMBARDED.
Every American Shot Found Mark.
SPANIARDS' PROJECTILES DROPPED HARMLESSLN
TIE MATEK NEAk OUR ELAGSMIH

Key West, april 2S.--Shortly after the
dinner hour yesterday three vessels of
Admiral SIMPSONS fleet engaged in
successful effort at bomharding, en-
tirely destroying the Spanish batteries
in position and in course of construction
at the entrance of Matanzas. None of
the ships was struck owing to the poor
craftsmanship of the enemys gunners.
As the New York Puritan and Gin
cinnati were accommodating for the pur-
pose of locating ana destroying the de-
fences, the flagship was fired upon. With
out moments hesitation, the admiral
gave the long-awaited signal and the
New York steamed fearlesslN in between
the two big batteries, and was soon baz-
ing away with both broadsid's. The
Puritan steamed in behind the New
York and engaged the fortiiiCatlons ON
Point Maya, while the New York went To
starboard close up to land, and poured
her shells into Rubal CaNa. The cap
tain Of the Cincinnati which had re-
NAMED well astern under orders, now
signalled for permission to engage,
which was given and that vessel soon
turned her guns into the fort GA the west
side of the bay.
The batteries fired vollcy after volley
of explosive shells, but most of them fell
far and wide OF the mark. 1t took the
three ships just Is minutes to silence the
batteries. The last shot fired by the
Spanish came from Point Rubal Cava.
The Puritan replied with one of her 70
inch guns. The shell struck the battery
with wonderful accuracy, and blew up
.sg.
the Spaniards to renew the engagement.
the three ships withdrew, leaving both
batteries in ruins.
All told, the United States ships fired
Sc shots at the forts. This is by actual
count from the Somers y. smith; the
forts fired probably % shots. Having
demolished the Spanish batteries, the
ships then Immediately stood out to
sea. Not a she'll had struck one Of them.
but there had been three narrow misses
of the New York. The Spanish fired a
schrapnel once which had burst above
the ship, a shell had struck just i'm front
of her, and another struck just aft. The
fact that the Spaniards failed to strike
such a large target as the New York.
towering. as she does, like house out
of the water, was taken as excellent evil
denCe that they are not good marks
men. on the other hand every shot that
the New York fired after she got the
range was pitched right into the bat
teres.
The bombardment developed that the
largest pieces mounted by the Spanish a
Matanzas are S-inch guns, and the best
opinion is that there We're not more than
five or six guns there. But far more
important than the destruction Of the
MatanZas batteries is the conclusion
| about the future which may be drawn
| from the bombardment. This conclu-
| sion is that Havana is absolutely at the
mercy of the United states fleet when
| ever we choose to open fire.
Rear Admiral Sampson. when asked
II he was satisfied with the results, said;
| 81 am; l expected to be-"
The half completed earthworks and
battery We're apparently ploughed up by
the shells All the ships engaged showed
excellent craftsmanship throughout the
engagement and when they were firing
| at the shortest range nearly every shell
took effect. The forts which We're bonn
| barded We're on low point and We're con-
| sidercd merely earthworks. They did
not make a good target, yet when the
big guns were fired at the shortest range
! portions of the forts could be seen fly
ing in the air at every shot.