The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-06-01

About . o'clock this afternoon am Ameri-
can squadron composed of fourteen war
ships OF which the cruiser New York
displayed tho nag of Rcar-Admiral samp-
son .aud 20 number of torpedo boats. be-
g-u @ b1mblrdment with heavy guns of
The fortilcations of the harbor Of san
tago DE Cuba.
Th American fire was directed prin-
c.paAy against the forts and the harbor
The fortihcatIons OF Moro Castle Ia
Zecapa and Pmta Gordo suffered espc-
cially. The cannonading was very per-
sistcnt and cannot but have been de-
structive. The firing lasted until 3.45
The town, which is situated near the IN
uer snd of the harbor, escaped damage.
FIRING AT SEA.
AT 345 the cannonadng diminished.
Later cannonading was heard at a dis
tance. presumably at sea. for time,
then the firing ceased coms.etoly.
The Spanish authorities maintain strict
silence as to the number of the victims.
but they were apparently numerous
From Spanish sources it IS said that
fourteen American Warshlps and four
torpedo boats were engaged i'm the bonn
hardmcnt of Santiago a very careful
fire was directed against the batteries
or Moro Castle until 3.l5 i. M.twheu dis
charges of cannon began TO be heard 1T
scl OF the port. These discharges cone
tnued until 4 o'clock and Then entirely
ceased.
From tho Spanish account it is inn
possible 90 judge as to the exact merits
of the encounter
THE FLEET ENGAGED.
CAPE HAYTIEN. IIANTI May 81
J.l5 II. M.-Advicos just received from
Havana say that since O'Clock this
afternoon tle American fleet at Santiago
de cuba has been CanEonading the bat-
torics of MORO Castle. La Zccapa and
puuta Gorda.
~ the same time. # is added. the
American ships have been engaged with
the Spanish war ships. The firing was
extremely heavy
AT 3.l5 u. 81. the cannonading became
less heavy against the forts but was
more accentuated where the fleets were
engaged.
Moro Castle IS at the entrance of the
harbor In Zocapa is "a short distance in-
side the harbor entrance, and Punta
Gorda is situated on point well inside
the haibor of Santiago de Cuba, show
ing that the Amedican fleet has entered
tle harlpr according 10 tho Havana
alviCcs via Cape Haytieu, and has en-
gagged the Spanish fleet in those waters.
ENTERED TIE IfARBOR
The Havana adviCes indicate that the
American fleet has forced the entrance
OF the harbor OF Santiago de cuba, and
has engaged the Spanish fleet
6:40 u. M.-At this time the Santiago
cable is suil working from Santiago.
Private messages intimate that there
has been severe fight between the
American feet and the outer fortifca-
uons and the Spanish feet The fight
lasted the greater part OF the afternoon.
The advantage appears 10 have been with
The Americans. According TO the latest
adViccs the combat is still in progress.
Persons who climbed Lookout Noun
tain az the entrance of Cape Haytien har-
hor this afternoon declare that they heard
cannonading. low but distinct. 10 the
west and 20 the north beyond TOrtugas
Island.
FIVE WARSHTPS SEEN.
1i.20 A. M-Thc Haytien dispatch gun
boat Capois Ia Mort which arrived here
from Port au Prince at O'Clock this
morning, having the Minister of PUtic
Works on board seems 10 have sighted
five American warshlps while passing the
Mole 81. Nicholas yesterday evening.
Tho correspondent Of the Associated
Press has just interviewed the officers
of the Capois Ia Mort. and learns that
at about o'clock yesterday afternoon.
when the gunboat was about abreast of
the Mole columns OF black smoke were
espied on the horizon east by north from
her bridges. The ships were about thir-
teen miles distant and their huls could
not be fairly made out but all appear
A.. sf q
were OF great tonnage
The fleet seemed TO be making north
ward with an speed past the eastern end
% Cuba and while the officers Of the
Capois la Mort were observing the ves-
sells they were gradually lost TO view be-
hind the protruding outlines OF Cape
Maysie.
It Is hardly 10 be doubted that the
ships sighted were American war ves-
sells.
HEARD CANNONADlNG.
Tho correspondent OF the Associated
Press. who was al the signal station
about the same time. also heard sounds
resembling q cannOnadng. The wind was
ln the right direction TO carry dhe deto-
nations 20 him.
~ seems certain that the feet the Hay
tlen cunboat saw passing Cape Maysic
going norihward found us opportunity
of turning back across the front Of an OPP
posing force.
INTEREST REVIVED ABROAD.
LONDON. June THE news OF the
firing az Santiago de Cuba has revived
the dwlndling interest IN the war. II Is
suggested mat the Americans may be
BombardinE the forts IN orler 20 cover
the laying OF mines or the sinking Of
hulks 10 block the channel.
Credcnce is given the report that Ad-
miral Cervera tried 20 run the blockade
before the arrival of General Skaters
expedition.
1t u not believed that Commodore