The morning news., 1898-08-07
SAN JUAN PORTO RICO.
NARROW ENTRANCE PROTECTED
BY MANY BATTERIES.
Port NatureIy HeaIthy-Militnry In
formation Collected by Our Gov
ernment Shows Obstacles TO BE

ernment shows Obstacles TO BE
Met.
military Notes on Porto Rico,' just
issued by the military Information divi-
sion of the war department for the In
formation of the army, has the following
description of San Juan:
The capital Of Porto Rico is situated on
the northern coast. on a long and narrow
island, separated from the main island at
one end by a shallow arm Of the sea, over
which is the bridge of San Antonio, con-
Meeting it with the mainland, which runs
out ht this point in a long sand spit, some
nine miles in length, apparently to meet
the smaller islands. At the other the isl
and ends in a rugged bluff or promontory
some hundred feet high and three-fourths
Of a mile distant from the main island.
This promontory is crowded by Moro
Castle, the principal fortiicat ton of the
town. The form of the castle is that of
an obtuse angle, with three tiers of bat
teries. placed one above the other toward
the sea, their fires crossing each other
Toward the city it has a wall, flanked by
two bastions of heavy artillery which
dominates all of the intermediate space,
which has the name of Moro, and also
part of the city and the north shore of
the sea. 1t has the usual barracks, large
water tanks, warehouses, chapel and the
necessary ofiices-all bomb-proof. A mine
descends from it to the seashore, through
the entrance Of the port, its issue being
defended by a battery. This enables
troops to enter and leave the castle.
There is a revolving lighthouse placed
on the top of the castle, rising to a hight
of 10 feet above the level of the sea.
Al the western end of the island on
which San Juan Is situated is the entrance
to the harbor. On the right bank is the
castle of San Juan de la Cruz, situated on
the Cenedo shoal, which is very dangerous
during a north wind, The channel is mar
row, with a rocky bottom, so close under
the headland that one can almost leap
ashore from a passing vessel. The water
here IS some thirty feet deep. To a mariner
unacquainted with the locality, or when a
"norther" Is blowing, this entrance is one
of difficulty and danger.
Northeast of the city is the well-con-
structed castle Of San Cristobal, facing the
ocean. 1t defends the city on the land side,
occupying the whole width of the islet from
The bay to the outer sea, pointing its fire in
all directions. Its structure is accommo-
dated to the nature of the ground, which is
uneven, sloping from the northern or outer
sea part to the bay. On the highest part
of the hill IS the ramp, through which the
castle is entered. 1t has two large bomb
proof barracks and everything necessary
in the way of office and storeroom. Upon
these barracks is erected the Caballero
Fort, with twenty-five cannon, whose FIRE
dominates the city and its vicinity on
land and sea.
elbow the castle is the drill ground with
batteries directed toward the sea, the land
and the drawbridge of the interior fosse.
Then follow three large ravelins-San Car
los occupying the top of the hill; Prin-
cipe, situated on the slope of the Cuesta,
and Principal on which is situated the
| drawbrldge of the second fosse giving
issue to the counter trenches, to the COW
cred way and to the field, which is reach
ed through the gate of Santiago. All of
these forlfcations are in great part cut
out of solid rock, and from the sea they
offer 10 the view three tiers of batteries,
one above the other, their fire being
thrown in all directions.
This castle is connected with Moro Cas-
tie on the north by wall of modern con-
struction, Ahere having been nothing on
that side until the end Of the past century
but a few batteries, owing to the knoWl-
NStNH'
dered unnecessary any greater fortihca-
ton to prevent a landing.
Starting from the southern part of San
! Cristobal Castle and following the edge OF
| The bay, a line of bulwarks is encountered,
! being those OF Santiago and San Pedro,
! the curtain being interrupted by the Es-
pana gate, after which follows the bui-
! wark of San Justo and the gate of the
| same name, WHICH forms an arch under
| the curtain. Then follows the half bull
| wark of San Justo, the bulwark of La
| Palma or San Jose, the Platform of Con-
! cepcion, TO the half bulwark and fortress
of Santa Catalina, the residence of the
Captain General. From the fortress oil
! the half bulwark of San Augustn to the
west is found the gate of San Juan, and
then the platform of San Elena
The San Cristobal outWorks consist of a
redan resting on the highest part of the
gacis of San Cristobal and called Fort
Abanico Qan), on account of having this
form Between The town and the San An
tonic bridge are three small advanced
! lines. One consists of running ditch
and the other two of loop-holed batteries
At the head of the bridge is situated the
! San Antonio fort.
on the extreme east of the islet and near
the bridge above mentioned there is a
small fort called Stn Jeronmo, which de-
| feuds the passage over the bridge.
Between Moro Castle and the north
| coast near Palo Seco there is in the mid
die of the entrance to the bay a small fort
called Cauuelo. Ii is ob,ong, well forti-
fed and by its position obge vessels at
tempting to force an entrance TO the port
10 pass little out of rife range between
its fire and that of Morro Castle. Former
ly, and in case of war, chain was thrown
out between this and MORO Castle to close
the entrance to the port.
After rounding the bluff one finds q
broad ana beautiful bay, landlocked and
with good depth Of water, which is being
increased by dredging. 1t is by far the best
harbor in Porto Rico, and probably as
good a one as can be found in the West In
dies.
However, it has its drawbacks The "bo-
ca, or entrance to the harbor is a ma IS
Of seething, foaming wafer In "a high north
erly wind. and presents an imposing spec.
tacle To see steamers of sixteen tc
eighteen feet draft enter into a severe
"norther' is a sight to be remembered, as
the great waves lift them up and seem
a.. 4.