The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-06-01

Copyright, 1898, by the Associated Press)
Port au Prince, Hayti, May 81
About O'Clock this afternoon a squad
ron, composed of u warships, of which
the cruiser New York displayed the flag
of Admiral Sampson, and a number of
torpedo boats, began a bombardment
with heavy guns of the forts and the
harbor of Santiago de Cuba. The Amer
lean fire was directed principally
against the forts md the harbor.
The forts of MORO castle, La Socapa
and Punta Gorda. suffered especially.
The cannonaG-lg was very persist
ent, ana cannot have failed to be de-
structive. It lasted until 3:45 .. m.
The town, which is situated near the
inner end of the harbor, escaped dam
age.
At 3:45 p. m. the cannonade diminish
ed. About 3 o'clock cannon discharges
were heard at a distance presumably at
sea- continuing for some time, when
the firing ceased completely.
The Spanish authorities maintain
strict silence as to the number of vic
Tins. who were apparently numerous.
REPORT FROM HAVANA.
Cape Hayti, May 31.-Advices just re-
ceived from Havana say that since 2
o'clock this afternoon the American
meet at santiago SuDd mas DtGn Cctu-
nonading the batteries of MORO castle,
La Socapa and Punta Carda.
At the same time, it is added, the
American ships have been engaged with
the Spanish warships. The firing was
extremely heavy. At 3:45 p. m. the
cannonading became less heavy against
the Notifications, but was more accen-
tuated in the locality where the fleets
were engaged
Moro castle is at the entrance of the
harbor of Santiago de Cuba, La Secapa,
also shown on the maps as La Zecapa
castle, is a short distance inside the
harbor entrance, and Punta Carda is
situated on a point well inside the har
Dor of Santiago de Cuba, showing that
The American fleet has entered the har-
Dor, according to Havana advices, and
has engaged the Spanish fleet in those
waters.
GAO p. NAT this hour the Santiago
cable is still working from Santiago.
Private messages intimate that there
has been a severe fight between the
American fleet and the outer fortifica-
ticns and the Spanish fleet. The fight
lasted the greater part of the after
noon. The advantage appears to have
been with the Americans. According
to the latest advices. the conflict is still
in progress.
HIS p. m.-According to advices from
Spanish sources II American warships
and two torpedo boats were engaged in
the combat at Santiago
4 careful fire was directed against
the batteries of Moro castle until 3:45
I. m when discharges of cannon be-
gan to be heard at sea off the port
These discharges continued until
o'clock and then entirely ceased.
From the Spanish account it is i'm
possible to judge as to the exact merits
of the encounter.
London, June IA dispatch to the
Daily Mail from Kingston, dated Tues
lay, says: A large American squad
ron, supposed to be Rear Admiral
SIMPSONS, was seen today of Port An
tonic on the north coast of Jamaica,
25 miles northwest of Morant Point, on
the eastern extremity of the island.
DIsCREDITED AT WASHINGTON.
Washington. May 3L-Naval officials
absolutely discredit the news from
Cape Haytien 10 the effect that Com
modore Schley forced the entrance to
Santiago bay and engaged the Spanish
fleet in the harbor.
While no official adYices have been re-
ceived from Schley since the battle is
reported TO have occurred, naval Off
Gals declare with positiveness that il is
not only improbable, but, under the cir
cumstances. almost impossible that an
attempt should have been made by the
American commander TO force an en-
trance to the bay.
The latest official advices received
from Commodore Schley were con-
tanned in cablegram which came late
this afternoon. and in that the commo-
dore gives no indication OF an inten-
ton to try to enter the harbor of San
tiago. While the contents of the dis
patch were not made public, the Guile
tin issued upon it by the navy depart
ment indicates that Commodore Schley
is still endeavoring to determine lust
what Spanish vessels are in the harbor.
The bulletin follows:
Commodore Schley's fleet has sighted