The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1898-06-08
THE WAR WITH SPAIN.

THE wAToHMAs last week gave to It's
readers several hours ahead OF any Of its
contemporaries the news Of the fight in
Santiago harbor last week Tuesday after.
noon. With the exception Of the statement
that the loss OF life was heavy on both
sides, the account Of the battle as publish
ed In the WATcHMAN was confirmed by later
dispatches.
Later advices show that three OF the best
ships in our navy, the battleships Iowa and
Massachusetts, and the cruiser New Or
leans were selected for the fight. For q
half hour or more they engaged the Cristo-
bal Colon, the flagship of Admiral Ger
vera's fine squadron, and the strong bat
teries at the narrow entrance to the harbor
OF Santiago de Cuba. Three Of the four
batteries were silenced with about fifty
shots. and the Spanish flagship was certain
ly badly damaged.
Not shot struck an American vessel.
In the words of Fighting Bob Evans"
the commander Of the Iowa, "The Span
iards didn't hit a-thing but the water
and that wasn't great difficulty"
The Spanish squadron consisted OF the
Cristobal Colon, Admiral Oervera's flag
ship: Admiral Oquendo, Vizcaya, and
Maria Teresa. and the destroyers Juror and
Pluton.
At noon Commodore Schley transferred
his flag from the cruiser Brooklyn to the
battleship Massachusetts, whereat there was
great rejoicing among the officers and crew
Of the latter, for the presence OF the COM
mander of the squadron told them that they
were to be in the thick Of the fight.
AS the Massachusetts, passed the entrance
to the harbor she opened fire on the Cristo-
bal Colon, the Spanish flagship, moored, as
has been said, across the entrance with her
broadside to the Americans. The Massa-
chusetts used her forward eight-ipch gun on
the port side for the first shot, followed
with her thirteen-inch rifles. The concus'
sion as the latter were discharged caused
the waters to vibrate and the ships to trem-
BILE. The Cristobal Colon and the four bat
teries, two on the east side OF the entrance,
| one on the west side, and one on Smith Cay
which is in the center of the channel about
half mile north of the Morro replied to
the American fire.
AT first, both sides showed poor judgment
in getting the 1000 yards range, and the
shots went wild, Twice at full speed the
Americans passed the batteries without be.
ing hit. After our ships had got the range
OF Moro Castle and the batteries every shot
| took effect. The ancient MORO Castle
! towering above the sea, was struck time
and again, each shell, as it exploded, tear
| ing great rents in the yellow walls and
| sending skyward masses of masonry thai
| fell back into the fort with loud crashes
Lower down along the shore whore the
other batteries were located the damage
from the American fire seemed to be equally
great.
The Spanish artillerymen had better
aim as the American ships returned the
second time. Several Of their shells burs
over the Iowa, and some struck dangerous
| ly near the New Orleans One dropped snt
exploded Just in front of the Massachusetts
but did no damage. The Americans con
| sidered this wonderful shooting for the
enemy, whose craftsmanship heretofore
had excited nothing but derision aboard the
United States warships. The fire from the
Americans as they came back was not only
| better directed, but appeared to be mucl
heavier. After the cannonading had lasted
thirty minutes the firing from three Of the
| Spanish batteries, two on the east side O.
the entrance and the one on Smith Cay
was silenced, the Notifications having beer
practically demolished.
| A few minutes later the ships ceaset
firing, although for twenty minutes after
this time the battery kept up a weak firing
which was perfectly harmless to the United
States ships. The battle lasted fifty-fve
minutes. One of the shots from the lows
which struck the Cristobal Colon apparent
| ly set her on fire, as smoke was seen ascend
ing from her that did not come from hel
guns. If she was on fire the flames were
| quickly extinguished. The Colon fred the
last shot, and this fact it is supposed, will
lead the Spaniards, after their customary
| manner, to claim that the Americans were
| driven off. Not a man on any of the Ameri
can ships was injured and the vessels sus
| tanned no damage. 1t is impossible to give
| the Spanish loss, but judging from the of
feet Of the American firing on the fortified
| tons it must have been heavy.