The age-herald., 1898-07-22
NAVAL BATTLE
 OF SANTIAGO Mill Probably Be Produced in Birming-
 ham WITH GORGEOUS FIREWORKS
Ships and Forts To Be Reproduced in
 Miniature.
WILL DRAW THOUSANDS OF VISITORS
President Lesser of Carnival Society Interested = J. A. German, Who Constructed the Mardi Gras Floats, To Be in
 Charge of the Work.

"The fight between schley and cervera' is the gorgeous spectacle that the citizens of Birmingham will in all probability have the opportunity of witnessing within the next two or three months.
 J. Anthony German. who so successfully built the floats and conducted the carnival parades last February, arrived in the city on Wednesday from Omaha, where he has been engaged in making floats for the par ades at the exposition. and is getting the citizens of Birmingham interested in his gorgeous display of fireworks, initiating a naval engagement.
 The idea is to have the display at some one of the lakes or parks around the city A big force of men will be put to work constructing the forts which guard the en- trance to Santiago harbor. Two squadrons of batteships, cruisers and torpedo boats. one of Simpsons and the other of Ger vera's, will also be constructed
 Each of the ships, as well as the over hanging batteries, will be bountifuly sup piled with the most brilliant of modern fireworks and with such ammunition as this spectacle is assured such as has never been witnessed in the south
 Five or six years ago Birmingham had a spectacle similar to this, known as "The Last Days of Pompeii," which was pre- sented at the fair grounds.
 But the proposed naval battle of Sam tiago, if it is presented at all, will be on much grander scale than was the exhibi- ton mentioned above. MT. German has succeeded in getting President Emil Less CT, of the Carnival society, interested and MT. Lesser never undertakes anything which he does not make a decided suc- cess. It is proposed to raise between $5, 900 and $1O,OOO for this purpose and spend it lavishly in perfecting every detail of the spectacle.
 To Be Widely Advertised
 A regular bureau of publicity will be established and the occasion, which will probably last for several days, will be widely advertised. By means of the re- duced rates, which the railroads are sure to offer the promoters of the enterprise are confident that thousands and thousands of people will visit Birmingham.
 In speaking of the matter yesterday, MT. Lesser said that one of the main reasons which induced him to take part in the en- terprise was that 1t would be a fitting cele- bration in which the people of this city should indulge after the citizens of Aaba ma shall have passed the Birmingham amend ment on August 1, thereby putting this city on an equality with the other big cities of the south in the matter of public schools and other municipal enterprises.
 The Carnival of 1899
 MT. Germans visit to this city is also In connection with the Mlrdi Gra4s carnival of 1899. He has plans with hIrn of the floats which he wishes to submit tc the Carnival society. However, MT. Lesser stated yes- terday that the committee would probably not be called together for month or more yet, on account of the hot weather, and especially on account of tho proposed spec tacle of fireworks.