Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1898-05-26

monitors will follow the motions Of the
flagship and remain in column.
"Tle course, after Fort Canuelo is
brought into range with the west end
of Cabras Island, will be east by south.
Should nightfall come with the port
in the enemy's hands and the ships in
side, the cruisers will take up positions |
Just outside the harhor, the Mont
gomery to the eastward and the Detroit |
TO the westward, with their batteries
ready aud the men at the guns. They |
viii show no lights.
1.-THE other ships, in succession, will |
sweep the entrance of the harbor and |
the channel laeding into the anchorage |
with searchlights to keep the torpedo |
boat destroyers from coming out.
| "ln case the enemy should attempt |
to escape from the port, fire is to be
concentrated on the leading ship. |
| Should the attempt be made at night |
| tho searchlights in use are to he turned |
on her bridge aud coming tower and |
are to he held there =
Tbs fleet assembled off San Juan de |
Porto Rico about 3 o. clock on Thursday |
last and prepared for battle, stripping |
the decks and getting the guns, ammu-
milton and appliances for handling ths
wounded ready.
Rear Admiral Sampson had trans
ferred his flag to the Iowa, and the at
tack on the fcrts began at D. II, and
lasted three hours.
Although il waa known at San Juan
de Porto Rico that the American feet
was near. the Spaniards apparently kept
no lookout The soldiers in the forts
and the people in the town were fast
asleep when our warsnips approached.
1t was not yet broad daylight and
the coast of the island was yelled 10
unusual haze. A range of broken bills
came almost down to ths ocean, and
further inland, making sharp line
, against the sky, rose a tall range of
mountains. Overhead the sky was a
| deep blues but nearer the horizon were
great masses of cotton looking clouds
A ten knot easterly breeze was blowing
and long, heavy swell gave graceful
motion to the sea.
,, The plans of the Admiral were thor
oughly carried out. The feet steamed
majesticslly into the harbur and in
due course of time opened tremendous
fire upon the Notifications. Three
times the warships marie the circuit
outlined 10 tine official plan. The forts
withstood the first round; but this
Montgomery, from ner station near Fort
complete destruction.
0 SPANISH GARRISON RAN AWAY.
With glasses the officers of the Mont
. gomery could see the occupants of the
!, fort jumping over the walls and run.
ming away.
The Detroit, which went nearest 10
9 the MORO, had to train her guns at a
high angle. Her Shots directed at the
IT north side of the Moro, cut deep fur
rows in the face of the Notifications.
2 The Iowa, leading the fleet, delivered
!, her deadly missiles with great, &C.
y curacy upon MUrros northern walls.
u The rest of the fleet fired in order
y fret on Moro and then on San Carlo
y according to position.
~ On the second round the Spanish gun
- ners were thoroughly awakened ant
~ stood by their guns bravey, keepinl
up furious but aimless fire. From
their firm foundation and high eleva
20 ton they had splendid opportunit
~ to cripple our fiest; hut the Spanis
.. gunners seemed to lre regardless OF air
10 and as il only DESTROYS of emptyin
u. their magazines.
From The Associated Press despatch
10 boat we could see the American shell
1e TALL among the forto and among th
y; troops of the garrison, raising cloud
81 Of dust and causing fires to break GU
"a 1t was hoped the Spanish feet woul
rs emerge from the harhor AZ suon as til
ne firing began, and feeling OF deep dit
appointment spread through tbs flei
Vi when the lookouts reported the harbt
clear.
AT the end Of the third round tt
las monitor Terror failed to undsratand tt
to order to withdraw, and engaged Nor
ras Castle alone for half an hour.
led Is sesn from the dispatchboat of III
Associated Press, which occupied
TX, grand stand position, the squatty lit
oft monitor, in tacklng the towering for
ant was making magnificent display
sep daring. The Terror moved in as if i
ant tending to ram the forts and the Spa
pa ish gunners evidently became much e
is cited at her behavior, for they fir
10 rapidly and without taking any aim, I
at the TerrUr was not touched.
at From the dispatchboat every ehOt fir
by the Spaniarda could be seen. L
the flash aud smoke of their batteries We
ide followed by great splashings hundre
the of feet from the Terror. The shells
If the Spaniards on exploding would iii
it. columns of water GO feet high.
ide SPANISH MARKsMANsHIP WAS BAD.
off The sceue was intensely interestir
but it was not go exciting as had be
tout expected. The Spanish aim was
een astoundingly bad that absolutely
for anxiety was felt for our ships.
Iear In fact, when the Spanish forts fiji
one volleys which hid them in smoke,
the lowed q few seconds later by
nder geyser-like spouting and splashing
rom dangerously near the Terror. deris
If cheers went up from the uolored CT
urro of the dispatGhboat.
lem. The heavy swells somewhat affec
the the aim of the gunners of the Teri
edo for some of her shells struck the sea
har- front OF the forts. Finally the Ter
seemingly grew tired and she slo
gins, Withdrew, firing Us she steamed aw
the Then the SpaniardH became ain
III to frantic with excitement and bla
tor away at the monitor until she was /
0 get out of range.
o at. After the battle the Associated RI
dispatchhoat went among the fee
+ her inspect the damage done. The sal
ing a we're calmly cleaning the decks
or on polishing the guns. On board
. can Iowa a boat was struck and eau
same fire, IN exhaust pipe was dented,
1t in hridge-raling was shattered, and Il
nuelo men were slightly wounded, and
sland this was done by the solitary s
which struck the Iowa.
tack One shell which exploded on
] the New York killed man, wounded
anish others, shattered two seRrchlig
I