The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-06-08

against El Moro Castle and the batteries
at Punta Gorda, socapa and Cincoreales.
in addition to bombarding the Spanish fleet
in the harbor
The percentage of effeotlves projectlles
was very large
1t appears from the best information OBJ
tainable at this place, the cable station
connecting with Santiago de Cuba, that
immense damage was inflicted on the en-
emy.
The Spaniards admit that the lombard
ment from the American fleet was most
destructive.
About 1000 projectlles are said to have
been fired by the American warships. ana
II seems that the responsive fire from the
Spanish forts and ships was scarcely felt
at all by the Americans
Ihe fortitlcations near the entrance OF
the harbor are described as being ridded
with solid shot and shattered by the ex-
plosion of the immense shells fired by the
American battleships.
The Spanish batteries are understoo to
have been virtually silenced and Ell Moro
and the Notifications at Socapa and Punta
Gorda ale reported to have been demol-
ished by the three hours uninterrupted
hammering of the American feet.
The American attack is next said to
have been specially directed against Agu-
adores, small coast town a little to the
east OF the entrance of Santiago bay. The
idea of the American admiral, it appears,
was to land troops and siege guns there
after reducing the defenses of the place
and thence make a close assault upon
Santiago, which, in view of the present
condition of its fortihcations, may be ex-
pected to yield very soon after the begin
ming of such an attack.
Heavy cannonading was opened upon
Aguadores at about midday yesterday.
The latest advices received here from
Spanish sources do not indicate the dura-
tlon of the fire, or whether American
troops and siege guns We're actually land-
ed at Aguadores, but from the informa-
lion obtainable, 1t cannot be doubted that
the net result of Mondays fighting was
extremely disastrous to the Spanish de-
fenses
1t is also understood here that the Gu
ban troops maintained throughout the
greater part of yesterday an attack by
land on Santiago and the Spanish reports
say the garrison lost heavily in killed and
wounded.
The military commander Of Santiago de
Cuba acknowledges the following were
severely wounded among the land forces:
Col. OrdOnez,
Capt. Sanchez.
Lieut.. Yrizar of the artillery, and
Perez and Garcia, both Spanish officers,
whose rank is not mentioned.
The Spaniards also admit the loss of
twenty-one infantry soldiers, severely
wounded, and say one soldier was killed.
But It is believed the losses of the
Spaniards were much more heavy.
In the naval force, the Spaniards say
that the officer who was second in COM
mand sof the partly dismantled Spanish
cruiser Reina Mercedes and five sailors
and an ensign We're killed
The Spanish sailors wounded, it Is as
serted, number sixteen men.
The loss on the American side, the San
tiago reports say, is not known.
The Spaniards acknowledge that a great
deal of damage was inflicted on the cruis-
er Reina Mercedes and they say Moro
Castle shows great gaping breaches in its
walls.
Later in the day. 1t appears, a landing
of American troops was effected near
Diaquiri, some distance east of Aguadores
and near the railroad station connecting
with Santiago.
Later an enga cement took place between
the American forces and a column of
Spanish troops whlcn had been sent
against the landing party.
The account of the battle obtainable
here, being from Spanish sources, do not
set forth the result, and, therefore, ii is
TO be inferred that the Americans were
victorious. aud that Is the belief which
prevails here
There is a report current at Cape Hay
tien that the irst-class armored Spanish
cruiser Maria Teresa was sunk yesterday
by the fire of the American ships.
1t is said that only 500 American troops
were landed at Daquiri, or possibly a
Aguadores the two places being seeming
ly confused In the reports received here.
1t seems to be admitted that the fire of
the American soldiers was so effective
that the Spaniards were compelled TO flee
from the fortifcations they were defend
ing.