The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1898-06-09
AMERICAN VICTORY.
MARIA TERESA SUNK AND SANTIAGO
FORTS SILENCsD.


Land and sea-News Coming as 1t Does
from Spanish Sources, Seems to Indi-
cate American Success.
Cape Haytien, June s-Further ad-
vices from Santiago indicate the sue
cess of the American arms IL, Mondays
engagement.
1t is reported here that the first class
armored Spanish cruiser Maric Teresa
was sunk by the fire of Tine American
fleet.
1t appears that landing OF Ameri-
can troops was effected near Daiquiri,
some distance east of Aguadores, and
near the railroad station, connecting
with Santiago de Cuba. Later an en-
gagement took place between the Am
erican force and column of Spanish
troops which had been sent against the
landing party. The accounts of the bat
tie obtainable here, being from Spanish
sources, do not set forth the result,
Therefore it Is to be inferred that the
Americans We're victorious, and that
is the belief which prevails here.
The fighting before and in the vicinity
ef Santiago de Cuba continued the
greater part of Monday, from 745 a. m.
until nearly IL o'clock. Ten of the Am
erican warships maintained steady
and carefully directed fire against El
MORO Castle and the batteries al
Punta Gorda, Socapa and Cincoreales,
in addition to bombardIng the Spanish
fleet in the harbor. The percentage of
effective projectiles was very large.
1t appears from the best information
obtainable at this place (the cable sta
tion connecting with Santiago de Cuba)
that immense damage was inflic. I'D on
the enemy. The Spaniards admit that
the bombardment from the American
fleet was most destructive. About six
teen hundred projectiles are said to
have beer fired by the American war
ships, and it seems that the responsive
fire from the Spanish forts and ships
was scarcely felt at all by the Ameri-
cans.
Fortihcatlons ddIed.
The Notifications near the entrance o.
the harbor are described as being rid
died with solid shot, and shattered by
the explosion of the immense shells
fired by the American battleships. The
Spanish batteries are understood to
have been virtually sllenced, and FL
MORO and the fortificatlons at Socapa
dhi L unld are TtDOTltu 10 nave
been demolished by the three hours
uninterrupted hammerfig G- the Amer
lean fleet.
The American attack is said to have
been specially directed against Aqua
dores, d small coast town little to the
east Of the entrance of Santiago bag.
The Idea Of the American admiral, it
appears, was to land troops and siege
guns there. after reducing the defences
of the place, and thence make a deter
mined and more close assault upoa
Santiago de Cuba, which, in view of the
present condition of it's fortifica tons,
may be expected to yield very soon af-
ter the beginning of such an attack.
From the information obtainable il
cannot be doubted that the net result
of Mondays fighting was extremely
disastrous to the Spanish defences.
Cubans Attacked by Rear.
1t is also understood here that the
Cuban trops maintained throughout the
greater part of Monday an attack By
land on Santiago de Cuba. and the
Spanish reports say the garrison los.
heavily in killed and wounded.
The military commander of Santiago
de Cuba acknowledges the following
killed among the land forces:
Colonel Ordonez, Captain Sanchez.
Lieutenant Yrizar Of the artillery. and
Perez and Garcia, both Spanish off,
GERS. Their rank is not mentioned, how
ever.
The Spaniards also admit the loss Of
twenty-one infantry soldiers severely
wounded and say one soldier was kill
led. But 1t is believed the losses of the
Spaniards were much more heavy.
In the naval force the Spaniards say
that the officer who was second in COM
mand of the partly dlsmantled cruiser
Reina Mercedes and five sailors and an
ensign were killed. The wounded
Spanish sailors, 1t Is asserted, number
sixteen men.
The loss on the American side, the
Santiago de Cuba report saws, is un-
known.
The Spaniards acknowledge that a
great deal of damage was inflicted OH
the Spanish cruiser Reina Mercedes.
and they say Morro Castle shows grea.
gaping breaches in its walls.