New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-08-03
GUNS IN SANTIAGO HARBOR.
BATTERIES COMPOSED MOSTLY OF 3D.
sOLETE WEAPONS.
4 TWO DAYS TOUR OF NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
NORTH s.. 900 oco INEFFECTIVE IN
REDUCING THEM

ammunition thrown at the batteries defencin S
Santiago Ha-5or was absolutely harmless in It's
effect so Far as the reducing OF the batteries
was concerned. and while 1t may have gwen
the spaniards a wholesome respect for u.s. SIM
ply bore out the weli-known fact that II Is
waste ot time and money to lombard earth
works"
4 party o. naval officers, anxious to see the
effect of the four or five bombardments OK the
deferces Of the harbor oy the feet under Ad-
mlral Sampson. made a two days tour Of the
batteries finishing their work to-day. One or
them made the above quoted statement TO the
Associated Press correspondent accompanying
the party and the condition Of the batteries
bears it out. Entering the harbor on a steam
launch, the party made Il close inspection OF the
cruiser Rera Mercedes. sunk in the harbor the
nish. OF July a. the day after Schley sunk the
feet Of Cervcra
The Reina Mercedes les on her starboard side.
about half under water. The majority OF her
large guns have been taken ashore. but her
rapiG-fre guns were left. and torpedoes were in
her tubes She is not in the channel, and the
reason for this is very apparent She has at
east five big shell holes in her from the Massa
cnusetts and the Texas. and the way they are
placed Is splendid tribute to the fine gunnery
the narrow harbor mouth in the dark. or with
tie aid OF the Massachusetts, searchlight
A singular thing about the hits is that one
he's gore through the wardroom. and one just
forward Of IT, cleaning out everything. but just
missed the little room devoted TO devotional ser
vice. IN which was an altar with all the usual
adornments Of the Catholic Church.
FINE EQUIPMENT OF MINES
+I,a Marty dc
the two hundred and ten feet OF ascent with
some dificulty The path was strewn with am
inuni,ion for Mauser rifles, boxes containing 1t
lying sIl about in direst confusion. At the foot
OF the hill 20 the rear Of the Moro. where the
pnth Of ascent begins wei built and
equipped electric station, from which 10 set off
Tho mines IN the ha-bo~ entrance. Concealed
partially behind a blu the operator in this
house has a lookout. from which he gets a clear
look al the angle on which lie the mines con-
trolied b. his key Near him telephones
connecting with similar house on the opposite
shore When a ship crosses his line Of vision
no presses button that connects with the mine,
blu: {, does not explode When. however. II
crosses the vision OF the man opposite he presses
the o.hs button connecting the circuit. and a
ship on the angle o: these two sights receives the
bombs.
Eight contact mines were taken from the har
Dor IN the las. two days. and to-day Lieutenant
Commando. Delehanty began removing the cleo
tr;ca mines. The mine house was equipped
with the best @: electrical apparatus. and every
thing was in good condition. demonstrating
that IL W >Ul1 have been Impossible for the feet
TO enter the !iarhor without losing some ships
Lieutenant Commando Delenanty said to-day
that the electrical mines contained two hundred
pounds Of gunco:;on. more than four times what
the ordinary mines are filed With.
NOTHING BUT OLD BRONZE CANNON.
Arriving the hilltop. the party proceeded
at once TO the eastern battery. where a great
surprise awaited them. This the battery
close to Moro. which the commander Of the
Suwanee had reported 70 Admiral Sampson
containing several very dangerous modern guns.
and against which Admiral Sampson had four
times massed the flower Of the fleet the New
Srrk the Oregon. the Iowa the Scorpion. the
\ Massachusetts, and the Gloucester. and some
tNlos the Indiana. In rudely constructed
earthworks. but with excellent and deep rum
ways for the gunners to bring ammunition along
or mn for shelter. were four muzzle loading
bronze cannon and two csst-iron S-inch NOR
tors. They brave who stood upon
the parapets TO load these cannon and NOR
that they did not answer with much celebrity
The cannon are handsome old pieces, cast in
1871 and named after prominent Spaniards.
The mortars are dated 1895. and were evidently
cast at Havana They have no sighting ar
rangement and only point in direction; 30
that unless a ship entered their zone they
not dangerous. There were two little 3-pounder
feldp!eces also. but they were evidently brought
there TO repel an expected land Invasion. On
the MORO itself are two bronze cannon Of the
same make and several old-fashioned small
mortars. There was plenty Of ammunition. but
Ct old.fashioned kind the bombs having wooden
plugs and time fuses.
NO DAMAGE DONE BY BOMBARDING.
Although the feet had bombarded this place
three times and the Newt Orleans alone once
.here Ht;le damage done except the
dis.uouutins OF al cd gun and the destruction OF
the lighthouse and small frame house near.
Che damage al. done by the dynamite
shells OF the Vesuvius. and at night. The shell
had ,andod between TIE house and the light
house. and had torn up great hole. completely
demolished the house. leaving but a pile Of
debris and tore out the side Of the lighthouse.
The gun near by had evidently been wrecked
by the conclusion. Large quantities Of broken
American shells could be found about. and
number Of big shells that had not exploded
were gathered up and put together by the
Spaniayds.
The majority Of the shells landed In the earth
works just below the crest Of the hill, show
ing that the Americans fired well. but. outside
Of ploughing UP the earth. there was no result.
When the shells hit any buildings they created
great havoc. and traces Of many were visible
on the Moro and some Of the officers quarters.
where immense gaping holes were torn in the
stone work Old Morros drawbridge was shot
away. and whole wing. or tower, was
crumbling to pieces from the effects Of 49,
inch shell from the Oregon.
Coming down from Moro. which at the best
L. u.i.A IL H..