The Bryan daily eagle. (Bryan, Tex.) 1895-1898, 1898-06-08

Early in the morning Of May u Rear
Admiral SIMPSONS ships approached
San Juan, the American consul at Cape
Haytien having informed the admiral
that he had heard a report that thirteen
Spanish warships had been seen head
ing for Puerto Rico.
samp.ons Plan Of Action.
The attack on the forts was planned
so that our warships could be In a po-
sition to meet the Spanish vessels
should they emerge from the harbor.
The following is the Official plan OF
action issued 10 the American feet:
The squadron will pass near Sail
mas Point. and then steer about east
70 pass Just outside the reefs on Cabrls
island. The column is TO be formed az
follows:
The Iowa. flagship; Indiana. New
York. Amphitrite. and Terror. The
Detroit IL TO go ahead Of the Iowa, dis
tant one thousand yards. The VAN
patuek 10 keep to the Iowa's starboard
bow, distant Ave hundred yards. The
Detroit and wampatuek TO sound con-
stantly. after land Is closer. and to i'm
mediately signal II ten fathoms or less
Ia obtained. showing az night red
light over the stern and at daytime a
red nag aft The Montgomery 20 re-
main In the rear OF the column. stop
ping outside OF the FIRE from MORO
and on the lookout for torpedo boat
destroyers. II Fort Canuelo fires she
is 10 be silenced The Porter will take
station under cover Of the Iowa on the
port side. The Niagara 20 remain
westward, on Salinas Point. While
approaching a sharp lookout is to be
kept on the coast between Salinas
Point and Cabras island for torpedo
boat destroyers. When near Cabras
island. one-hAlf TO one mile. the Detroit
will rapidly cross the mouth OF the
harbor and be close under MORO 20 the
westward. screened from the FIRE OF
Morro's westward battery. II the old
guns on the north side Of MORO hre Il
IL 10 silence them. These two cruisers
are TO keep on the lookout especially
for Spanish torpedo boat deEtroyers
coming out OF the harbor. The Por-
ter. vixen the action begins. will cross
~. harbor mouth behind the Iowa and
close under the cliff 10 the eastward Of
the Detroit and torpedo any Spanish
cruiser boats trying 20 get out Of the
harbor. but Il Is not 20 attack destroy
ers. The Wampatuck will tow one OF
It's boats with It's mast shipped. flying
a red flag. and having a boats anchor
on board the tug so arranged that IL
can stop the boat and anchor at the
same time II IL 10 anchor the boat
in about ten fathoms, with Fort Can
uelo and the western end OF Cabras Is
land in range. There will be two OBJ
jects for attack. the batteries on the
MORO and the men-of-var. II II IL
clear that Spanish vessels are lying 10
port Are IL to be opened on them az
soon as they are discernible over Ca
bras island, the motions Of the flagship
being followed In this regard. II II
should become evident. however. that
neutral men-ot-var are In the line o.
fre q Gag OF truce will probably be sent
In before the vessels are opened Thu
Porter is To hold Itself in readineEs iol
this service.
Orders TO Spare Hospitals.
Care must be taken to avoid strik
ing the hospitals on Cabras island.
Il becomes necessary to silence tn
MORO batteries a portion Of the hr
will be directed with this object. Blu
the PRINCIPAL object il 10 dstroy h
ships. After passing the harbor moutl
the Iowa will turn a little to starboar
toward the town, and will then tur
with a starboard helm and again pas
TO port, and after passing Cabras Ii
land to the westward, II will turn agai
with a stArboard helm and pass a. a
nrst Should this plan be changed an
Il be decided 10 hold the ships In fror
Of the entrance the signal Stop wi
be- made az the proper time. The II
diana, New York. and monitors vi
follow the motions OF the flagship an
remain In column. The course aft,
Fort Canueio Is brought into ran;
with the west end Of Cabras island wi
be east by south Should night'a
come with the port In the enemy
hands and the ships inside, the cruise
will take up positions just outside q
harbor. the Montgomery 70 the cas-
ward and the Detroit 10 the westwar
with their batteries ready and the me
at the guns. They will show no light
The other ships In succession vi
sweep the entrance Of tae hartor az
the channel leading into the anchorai
with searchlights to keep the torpe'
boat destroyers from coming out
case the enemy should attempt 20 Q
cape from the port ere Is 10 be conee
trsted on the leading ship. Should q
attempt be made at night tho scare
lights In use are TO be turned on
z bridge and coming tower and are to
n held there"
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