The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-05-19

the cruisers Will take up position just
outside the harbor, the Montgomery to
the eastward and theEDetroit to the west
ward, with theirs batteries. ready and the
mon OF the guns They will show no
lights.
sweep the entrance of the harbor and the
channel leading to the anchorage with
searchlights to keep the torpedo boat de-
stroyers from coming out.
"in case the enemy should attempt to
escape from the port, fire is to be concen-
trateed on the leading ship. Should the
attempt be made at night, the search
lights in use are to be turned on her
bridge: and coming tower and are to be
held there. y
O'Clock on Thursday last and prepared
for battle.
Rear Admiral Sampson transferred his
FLAG To the Iowa. The attack on the forts
began at 5.I5 and lasted three hours.
Although it was known at San Juan
that the American fleet was near the
Spaniards apparently kept no outlook.
The soldiers in the forts and the people
in town were fast asleep when our war
ships approached. It was not yet broad
daylight and the coast Of the island was
yelled in unusual haze The plans of the
admiral were thoroughly carried out.
The feet steamed majestically into the
larDOf anu UpoAou oio1holtQOuS LIZ
upon the Notifications.
Three times the warships made the cir
cult outlined in the official plan.
The forts withstood the first round, but
the Montgomery from her station, near
Fort Canuelo on Cebras Island, wrought
complete destruction. The occupants
of therfort jumped overgbhe walls and
ran away I'D al
The Detroit, which went nearest to the
Moro had to train her guns at high
angle. Her shots, directed at the north
side of the MORO cut deep burrows in
the face of the Notifications
The Iowa, leading the fleet, delivered
her deadly missiles with great accuracy
upon Morros northern walls.
The rest of the fleet fired in order, first
on Moro and then on San Carlos, accord
ing to position.
On the second round the Spanish gun
ners were thoroughly awakened and stood
by their guns bravely, keeping up furl-
Gus but aimless fire. From their trim
foundation and high elevations they had
| 3 splendid opportunity to cripple our
! fleet, but the Spanish gunners seemed to
fire regardless OF aim.
| 1t was hoped the Spanish feet would
emerge from the harbOr as soon as the
firing began, and feeling of disappoint-
ment spread through the feet when the
lookouts reported the harbor clear.
| AU TIC Gnu u Uu6 UulIu IOudds VliO 4LOAl-
tor Terror failed to understand the signal
to withdraw and engaged MORO castle
alone for half an hour.
| The suuatty little monitor made a mag
niticent display of daring. The Terror
moved In as if intending to ram the forts
and the Spanish gunners evidently be-
came much excited at her behavior for
| they fred rapidly and without taking any
aim, for the Terror was not touched.
| The Spanish aim was SO astoundingly
| bad that absolutely nc anxiety was felt
| for our ships.
The heavy swells somewhat affected the
! aim of the gunners of the Terror, for
some of her shells struck the sea in front
| of the forts. Finally the Terror seeming
~ grew tired and she slowly withdrew,
Then the Spaniards became almost fran
tic with excitement, and blazed away at
the monitor until she was long out of
range.
4 After the battle the Associated Press
despatch boat went among the feet to in
spect the damage done. The sailors were
calmly cleaning the decks and polishing
the guns. On board the Iowa a boat was
struck and caught fire, an exhaust pipe
was dented, tho bridge railing was shat.
tered and three men were slightly wound
| ed and this was done by one shell which
stuck the Iowa.
One shell which exploded on the New
AohA AtA4Ou q Illd1, WOuAOCo lOGI OUllGlo.
shattered two searchlights, splintered
cutter, tore three holes in a ventilator and
broke small davit arm. The New York
was hit only once.
When the despatch boat of the Associ.
ated Press left the vicinity of San Juan
de Porto Rico for the island of St. Thorn
as with the cable despatch describing the
engagement, the fleet was preparing to
bury the dead In addition to the man
killed on board the New York, gunner's
mate on board the monitor Amplitude
died from the effects of heat.
OF the New York's four wounded men
only two were injured seriously enough
to call tor their transfer to the hospital
ship Solace. which subsequently joined
the feet The New York fired csc shots,
it is said, during the bombardment. The
only war vessel Of foreign power at San
Juan during the bombardment was the
small French cruiser Rigault de Genouil-
". She had her rigging cut by pieces of
After the bonn bardment her commander
told Capt. Converse of the Montgomery,
that the American operations were entire
ly justifable.