The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1898-05-20
SAN JUAN SHELLED.
Adm. Sampson Bombards the Place
and Soon Silences a Fort.
POPULACE FLEE TO THE INTERIOR.
The Spanish Steamer Rita Captured by the
YaIe-The Opinion In London-Noth-
ing Heard fromAdm. sampson
Yet Mt Washington.

PORT Az PRINCE, May t3..-The Amer
lean fleet under Rear Admiral Samp-
son bombarded San Juan de Porto Rico
yesterday. The following are the de-
tails of the bombardment thus far re-
ceived The bombardment began in
the morning. Rear Admiral Sampson,
with nine warships, arrived before San
Juan just before sunrise. At signal
the battleship Iowa fred the first shot,
which took effect. Then the battle
ship Indiana opened fire; in a few min
utes Moro fort was reduced to heap
of ruins. The fort made little effort
TO respond and was silenced almost
Immediately. The Spanish steamer
Rita was captured by the United States
auxiliary cruiser Yale, which took her
crew on board. Thousands of the
population and the foreign consuls
sought refuge in the interior of the
island.
THE OPINION IN LONDON.
LONDON, May 13.-The bombardment
of San Juan de Porto Rico is held here
to indicate that Rear Admiral Samp-
son has pretty accurate knowledge
of the whereabouts of the Spanish
squadron, at any rate that it is too far
distant to interfere with his proceed
ings. No definite news, however, is
yet obtainable as to the locality of
Adm. Cervera's fleet, although it is be-
lieved to be at the Canaries, waiting
to join the Cadiz ships at some pre-
determined rendezvous. The news is
fully expected of the fall of San Juan
and that Adm. Sampson has sufficient
force handy to land and hold the place.
If so his feat will be regarded as al
most as dashing as Dewey's. II is sup
posed that the news that the lombard
ment has begun was dispatched by
some one who had command of the
wires at San Juan or permission to
send a message. The Spanish reports
recently have said that the San Juan
forts had been much streng thened;
but, looking to the state of affairs at
Manila, little credit is given to this
report and it is judged that Adm.
SIMPSONS task will not be very diff
cult The Cardenas and Cienfuegos
affairs are not regarded as very seri-
Gus, except as showing that an inva-
sion of Cuba will not be walkover,
although if San Juan has fallen it will
be utterly impossible for the Spaniards
to do much TO prevent the invasion.
NOTHING HEARD FROM SAMPSON.
WASHINGTON, May 13-The setback
received by the American blockading
squadron in the engagement in Car
denas harbor yesterday and the loss of
five lives on board the torpedo bont
Winslow had SOLDERING effect on the
element in the navy which is crying
out for rapid action and efforts at
destroying batteries with unarmored
ships. There probably will be some
sort of inquiry instituted to as
certain the responsibility for
sending such unprotected shells
as the Winslow against fortified ports.
1t is miraculous in the opinion of the
older officers at the department that
the damage and loss of life were con-
fined to the Winslow, for the other
boats with her were very little better
off in the matter of protection, and
scarcely any of them could resist the
fire of n small rifle 1t is likely that if
such work as was attempted at Carde-
mas is to be done hereafter, the task
will be assigned to more formidable
craft Notwithstanding the multitude
of rumors that came from all parts of
the West Indies as to the bombar
ment of Juan de Porto Rico, and other
sanguinary engagements between
SIMPSONS battleships and the Spanish
forces, the navy department was in of
fetal Ignorance of any such event. At
the close of office hours it was said
that nothing had been heard from
Adm. Sampson.
CT ONu TN CrrnnTNrC nrAnu