Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1898-05-18
ORDER GIVEN TO HIS SHIPS
NO SHIP THERE, AND HE RETIRED.


<h1f''t'''N'
Dispatch Boat Dauntless, Key west
Fla, May 1s.-(Copyright, 1888, by the
Associated Press.)-The Dauntless
dispatch boat of the Associated Press
arrived here this morning and brought
the first detailed account OF the bonn
bardment of San Juan de Porto RICO
by a portion of the fleet under the
command of Rear Admiral Sampson
on May IL last.
The American warshlps sustained
only trivial injury and lost but one
man killed. After the engagement the
north end of Moro Castle was In
ruins, the Cabras island fort was 81
fenced and the San Carlos battery was
damaged. No shots were aimed at the
city and 1t is not known whether any
damage was done there.
Spaniards at st. Thomas claim that
school house was struck and that the
master and his pupils were killed, but
this Is not thought likely, as the bonn
bardment took place early in the morn
ing, and the school children probably
were not in the building at the time.
The plans OF the fortlhcations fur
nished to the fleet were very mislead-
ing 1t was known that the Spanish
forts had recently been strengthened
with new guns. but other facts deveA-
oped which showed miscalculations by
those who drew the plans.
Refugees In st. Thomas told the cor
respondents who touched there after
the engagement that the Spaniards
thought the forts at San Juan were
stronger than those ut Havana
The United States fleet left Key
IN int M
stroy" the Spanish fleet which had left
the Cape Verde Islands. This was the
only information the United States
navy department and Admiral Samp-
son had on the subject. our warships
proceeded slowly eastward and on May
were off Cape Haitien. republic of
Haiti. Attempts were made there to
obtain Information regarding the
whereabouts of the Spaniards. but no
definite knowledge was obtained.
Early on the morning of May 18th
Rear Admiral Sampsons ships ap-
preached San Juan. the American
consul at Cape Haytien having in
formed the admiral that he had heard
g report that thirteen Spanish ships
had been seen heading for Porto
Rico.
The city OF San Juan is situated in
n long, narrow pocket. A tongue of
high land separates 1t from the ocean.
The entrance to the harbor is easily
defended, and the same can be said OF
the headlands OF lofty Cabras island
which lies In the throat of the passage.
These headlands have been fortified by
the spaniards. but they did not prove
In any way dangerous to our warships.
The town of San Juan IL on one side
OF the bay and in the rear of the town
rise high hills. To reach the city
ships must pass the Moro castle and
the battery of San Carlos, situated on
n al an rn of
the harbor.
Besides they must pass the Canuelo
battery on Cabras island.
The attack on the forts was so
planned that our warships could be In
a position to meet the Spanish vessels
should they emerge from the harbor.
The following IL the official plan of
action issued to the American fleet:
"The squadron will pass near Sail
mas Point, and then steer about east
to pass Just outside the reefs off
Cabras islands. The column is to he
formed as follows:
1.-THE Iowa, flagship; Indiana. New
York, Amphitrite and Terror. The De-
troit is to go ahead of the Iowa, dis
tant one thousand yards. The Wam-
putuck to keep on the Iowa's star
board bow, distant 500 yards. The De-
trodt and Wamputuck to sound con-
etantly after land Is closer and to i'm
mediately signal II ten fathoms or less
Is obtained. showing at night a red
light over the stern and at daytime O
red flag aft
1.-THE Montgomery 10 remain in the
rear of the column, stopping outside
of there from Moro and on the look.
out for torpedo boats and destroyers. II
Fort Canuelo fires she is to be silenced
The porter will take station under COW
er of the Iowa ON the port side. Tn,
Niagara to remain westward. off Sail
mas Point.
while approaching, a sharp lookout
is to be kept on the coast between Sa,
linas Point and Cabras Island, one-hal
to one mile. the Detroit will rapid,
cross the mouth OF the harbor and h,
close under Morro's western battery
II the old guns on the north side o.
MORO fire, she is TO silence them. Thes.
two cruisers are TO keep on the lookout
especially for Spanish torpedo boa
destroyers coming out OF the harbor.
1.-THE Porter, when the action begins
will cross the harbor mouth behind tn,
Detroit. and torpedo anySpanish cruise
trying to get out of the harbor, bu
she Is not to attack destroyers.
The Wamputuck will tow one of he
boats. with It's mast shipped dying n re-,
flag, and having II boats anchor aboar,
the tug so arranged that she can stol
the boat and anchor ut the snme time
"she Is to anchor the boat in abou
ten fathoms with Fort Canuelo an,
the western end OF Cabras Island II
range.
"There will be two objects for at
tack, the batteries on the Moro castl
and the men-of-war. II 1t is clear tina
Spanish vessels are lying in port, FIR
Is to be opened upon them as sooi
as they are discernible over Cabrai
Island.
Tho motions Of the flagship will b.
followed in this regard. If it shoul,
become evident however. that neutra
men-of-war are In the line of fire,
flag of truce viii probably be sent II
before the vessels are opened. TIL
Porter Is to hold herself In readiness
for this service.
Care must be taken to avoid strik
Ing the hospitals on Cnbras Island
u 1t becomes necessary to silence tn
Moro batteries, a portion OF the FIR
VIII be directed with this object bu
the principal object Is TO destroy tn
ships
After passing the mouth Of the har
Dor, the Iowa will turn little to star
board toward the town and will tur
OUT with a starboard helm and .agai