Daily new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1897-1906, 1898-06-01

PORT AU PRINCE, June About 2
o'clock yesterday afternoon an Amer
lean squadron, composed of IA warships,
of which the cruiser New Y ork dis
played the flag of Rear Admiral Samp-
son, and {. number of torpedoboats,
began bombardment with heavy guns
Of the forts and the harbor of Santiago
de Cuba The American fire was
directed principally against the forts
and the harbor.
The forts of MORO castle, La Zecapa
and Punta Gorda suffered especially.
The cannonading was very persistent
and cannot have failed to be destructive.
1t lasted until 3:45 p. m.
The town, which is situated near the
inner end of the harbor, escaped
damage.
At 3:45 p. IN. the cannonading dimin-
ished ABOUT o'clock cannon dis
charges were heard at distance (pre-
sumably at sea-, continuing for some
time, when the firing ceased completely.
CAPE HAITIEN, Haiti, June 1.-Ad-
vices received from Havana say that
the American fleet at Santiago de Cuba
cannonaded the batteries of MORO cas-
tie, LA Zecapa and Punta Gorda. At
the same time, it is added, the Ameri-
can ships engaged with the Spanish
Warships. The firing was extremely
heavy. At 3:45 p. IN. the cannonading
became less heavy against the fortifica-
tions, but was more accumulated III the
locality where the fleets were engaged.
Private messages intimate that there
has been severe fight between the
America fleet and the outer fortifca-
tions and the Spanish fleet.
The fight lasted the greater part of
yesterday afternoon.
The advantage appears to have been
with the Americans.
Persons who climbed Lookout noun
tain, at the entrance of Cape Haitien
harbor, declare that they heard cannon
aiding, low, but distinct, to the west
and to the north beyond Tortuga island.
The correspondent of the Associated
Press, who was at the signal station
about the same time, also heard sounds
resembling a cannonade. The wind
was in the right direction to carry the
detonations to him.
MORO castle is at the entrance of the
harbor Of Santiago de Cuba, La Zecapa,
also shown on the maps as Lac Zecapa
castle, is a short distance inside the
harbor entrance and Punta Gorda is
situated ON IL point well inside the har-
Dor of Santiago de Cuba, showing that
the American fleet has entered the har-
Dor. according to the Havana advices.
WASHINGTON, June Naval officials
absolutely discredit the news from Cape
Haytien to the effect that Commodore
Schley forced the entrance to Santiago
bay and engage the Spanish fleet in the
harbor.
While no official advices have been
received from Commodore Schley since
the battle is reported to have occurred,
the naval officials declare with positive
ness that it is not only improbable, but
IN the circumstances, almost impossible
that an attempt should have been made
by the American commander to force
an entrance to the bay.
Official advices received from Com
modore Schley were contained in a
cablegram, which came late yesterday
afternoon, and in that the commodore
gave no indication of an intention to
try to enter the harbor of Santiago.
While the contents of the dispatch were
not made public, the bulletin issued
upon it by the navy department indi-
Gated that Commodore Schley was still
endeavoring to determine just what
/ Spanish vessels are in the harbor. The
bulletin follows:
Commodore Schley' S feet has sighted
another vessel of the Vizcaya class in
/ Santiago harbor."
The naval officers declare that Schley
would not endeavor to force his way
into the harbor, in view of the great
difficulties of navigation which would
have to be surmounted in the effort.
The entrance to the channel is nearly
three-quarters of mile in length and
at one point about 100 yards wide.
While the channel has plenty of water
to float the ships it is tortuous and at
places dangerous. At one point it
twists sharply to the left as vessel en-
ters and naval officers say that it might
become necessary at some stages of the
tide, for ship to come almost, if not
quite, to a full stop as she made the
turn.
Shore batteries line both sides of the
channel and a vessel running it would
afford target that not even Spanish
gunner could fail to hit.