The Lamar register., 1898-06-01

Early in the morning OF May IL Rear
Admiral Samrson's ships approached
San Juan. the Amcr,cln consul at Cape
Haysien having informed the admiral
that he had heard a report thar thirteen
Spanish warshins had been seen head
ing for Puerto Rico.
sAmpson'. Pian of Action
The attack ON the forts was planned
so that our warshlrs could be in ro-
sition to meet the Spanish vessels
should they emerge from the haTbor
The following is tae effieiai plan OF
action issued 10 the American fleet;
"The squadron will psss near Sali-
mas Point. ard then steer about east
10 pass just outside the reefs of Caoras
island The column is TO be formed Is
follows.
The Iowa. nasship; Indiana. New
York. Amphitrite. and Terror Tho
Detroit is to 90 ahead of the Iowa. dis
4ant one thousand yards. The WAN
patuck to keep 10 the Iowa's starb-ard
bow. distant five hundred yards The
Detroit and wampatuek TO sound cen
sstantly, after land IS closer. and to inn
mediately signal II ten fathors or less
Is obtained. showing at night red
light over the stern and at daytime a
red flag AFT. The Montgomery TO re-
main in the rear OF the column, stop
ping outside OF the IRE from Moro
and on the lookout for t5r-edo boat
'destrpyers, II Fort CanueIo fires she
'is to be silsnced. The Porter win take
station under cover OF the Iowa on ths
port side The Niagara 10 remain
westward. OF Salinas Point whTe
approaching a sharp lockout is 70 be
kept on the coast between Salinas
Point and Cabras island fer trrpsdo
boat destroyers. When near Cabras
island. onc-haIf to one mile. the Detroit
will rapidly cross the mcush OF the
harbor and be close under MORO 20 the
westward. screened from the FIRE OF
Morru's westward battery. II the old
guns on the north side OF MORO fire Il
is to silence them. These two cruisers
are to keep on the lookout espe tally
for Spanish torpedo boat q stroyers
coming out of the har6er. The Por-
ter. when the action begins. will crcss
the harbor mouth behind the Iowa aud
close under the clir TO the eastward CT
the Detroit and torpedo any spanish
cruiser boats trying to get out OF The
harbor. but it is not TO ATTACK destroy
erS The wamrauck viii tow one of
It's boats with It's mast shipped. dying
n red flag and having boats anchor
on board the tug so arranged that Il
can stop the boat and anchor at the
same time. II IS TO anchor the boat
in about ten faihoms with Fort Can
-uelo and the western end OF Cabras is
land in range There VIII be two OBJ
tects for attack. the batteries On the
MORO and the men-of-war IL 81 is
clear that Spanish vessels are lying in
port FIRE is to be opened on them rs
soon as they are discernible over Ca
bras island, the motions of the fiazship
being followed in this regard II !,
should become evident. however. that
neutral men-of-war are IN the Ire OF
fire flag OF truce will probably be sent
In before the vessels are opened. The
Porter is 10 bold itstlf In readire for
this service.
Orders to spare Hospitals
Care must be taken to avoid rik-
Ing the hospitals on Cahrss is aud. II
It becomes necessary to silezcs the
MORO batteries a port on OF the FIRE
will be directed with this obie,t. But
the principal object is 70 Gstroy the
ships. After passing The hsrbor mouth
the Iowa will turn little TO starboard
toward the town. and viii ihan turn
with starboard helm and aglin pass
to port. and after passing Cabras Is
land to the westward, Il will tu again
with a starboard helm and ra;s as at
first. Should this plan be changed and
II be decided to hold the ships in front
of the entrance the signal 'stop.' viii
be made at the proper time. Tha In
diana, New York. and monitors will
follow the motions of the flagship and
remain in column. The ccurEe after
Fort canueio is brcugnt into range
with the west end of cabras island will
be east by south. Should nightrall
come with the pert in the enemy's
hands and the shfrs inside. the cruisers