The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-06-24
Spaniards Obliged to Retire at Bal
quiri in Consequence of a Flank
ing Movement by the Enemy.
TWO SMALL TOWNS BURNED
BERRACO AND sIBONEY SHELLED BY
THE AMERICAN FLEET.
The Official Dispatches from Cuba
Said to Have Created an excel
lent Impression" in the Cortes.


MADRID, June 23 p m.-News of seri-
Gus fighting near Santiago de Cuba has been
received here Admiral Ceryera cables that
the situation is critical and the governor of
Santiago admits the Spaniards have been
obliged to retire, but Spanish victory is
claimed. An official dispatch from Santiago
de Cuba. dated June %, to-day, says: 1.-The
concentrated it's landing forces in front of
Puerto Berraco, lying eastward of our left
which extended for eight leagues along the
coast"
Another official dispatch from Havana
says: 'The commander at Santiago de Cuba
announces that the American squadron has
to dsembark at Baiquiri and at Puenta
Berraco. An American war ship has shelled
and destroyed a small wooden fort near
Cienfuegos. Seven Spaniards were slightly
wounded
The minister of war, General Correa, 1t is
announced, has received an official dispatch
from Santiago de Cuba, announcing that
"the Americans first attack on Puenta Ber-
raco has been repulsed after hard fought
and bloody engagement"
Puenta Berraco is situated a short dis
tance from Baiquiri where the United States
troops landed yesterday. 1t is nearer the
coast and therefore more completely under
ha orr of from which
it can be judged that 1t is highly improbable
that the army has been repused, as an
nounced in Madrid.)
4:S0 D. m.-Cable dispatches received at
Madrid from Admiral Cervera say the
crews of the Spanish war ships at Santiago
have Joined the land forces in order to take
part in the defense of the city. He adds
that the situation is critical but later dis
patch affirms that the Spaniards have vic
toriously repulsed the enemy"
A dispatch from the Governor of Santiago
de Cuba says: 1.-The attack on Seboney and
Baiquiri continued until nightfall. The
enemy was repulsed, except on the left at
Baiquiri, where the Spaniards were obliged
to retire in consequence of fianking move
ment upon the part of the enemy. who
landed several kilometers east of Baiquiri.
The Spanish forces retired in good order
into the mountains. Seboney and Berraco
were destroyed by the American Shells
6 D. m-During the afternoon a semi
official note was issued Sin order to avoid a
misunderstanding pointing out that
merely the Spanish relief retired and took
up a position in the mountains, owing to
the Americans landing nine kilometers east
of Baiquiri, where there were no Spanish
troops, and endeavoring to outfiank the
Spanards." The note then points out that
this part of the country is very unhealthy
and that yellow jack is rampant"
The Spanish official dispatches are an
nounced to have created an excellent i'm
preston here, as indicating the immense
difficulties of the advance on Santiago de
Cuba" The dispatches were read in the
Senate here to-day, whereupon the senators
made patriotic speeches. Senator Rodri-
guero declared Europe and the whole world
is committing the greatest and most hor-
rible crime of humanity in allowing
Spain to be crushed by brutal weight of
numbers" Continuing, the senator dilated
upon the grave danger to the Latin and
Slav races "if Europe tolerates Anglo
Saxon preponderance." The budget was
then adopted, which will permit the govern
ment to suspend the sttings of the Cortes.
The newspapers talk of a possible change
of Ministry next week.
A later official dispatch from Havana,
signed by Admiral Manterola, confirms the
earlier announcements and says: "The
Americans bombarded the battery at Ell
Morro and the other batteries defending
Santiago bay from Z o'clock until II in the
morning.