The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-05-19

eastward Of the Detroit, and torpedo any
spanish cruiser trying to get out OF the
The Wampatuck will tow one of her boats
with its mast shipped, flying a red flag, ana
/ having q boats anchor on board the tug 80
arranged that she can stop the boat ana
anchor at the same time. She is to anchor
the boat in ten fathoms, with Fort Canuelo
and the western end of Cabras island IN
range.
There will be two objects for attack, the
batteries on the MORO and the men-of-War
In port fire is to be. opened upon them as
soon as they are discernible over Cabras
island the motions of the flagship being fol-
lowed in this regard. If 1t should become
evident, however, that neutral men-of-war
are in the line of fire a flag of truce VIII
probably be sent in before the vessels are
| opened on. The Porter is to hold herself in
readiness for this service. Care must be
taken to avoid striking hospitals on Cabras
the Moro batteries, portion of the fire
will be directed with THIS object. But the
principal object is to destroy the ships:
After passing the harbor mouth the Iowa
will turn little to starboard toward the
town, aud will then turn out with star
board helm and again pass to port, ana
she will turn again with a starboard neim
and pass as at first Should this plan De
changed and it be decided to hold the ships
in front of the entrance, the signal stop
will be made at the proper time. The IN
diana, New York and the monitors Will FOL
low the motions of the flagship and remain
in column. The course, after Fort Canuelo
| is brought into range with the west end of
Cabras island will be east by south.
Should nightfall come with the port IN
| the enemys hands and the ships inside, the
| cruisers will take up positions just outside
the harbor, the Montgomery to the eastward
and the Detroit to the westward with their
| batteries ready and the men at the guns
| They will show no lights. The other ships,
| in succession. will sweep the entrance of the
harbor and the channel leading into the an
| chorage and try to keep the torpedo de-
stroyers from coming out. In case the enc
| my should attempt to escape from the port
fire is to be concentrated on the leading
| ship. Should the attempt be made at night
| the searchlights in use are to be turned on
| there
The fleet assembled off San Juan about 8
! o'clock on Thursday last and prepared for
| guns and ammunition and appliances for
| handling the wounded ready. Rear Admiral
Sampson had transferred his nag to the
Iowa, and the attack on the forts began at
| sis and lasted three hours. Although it was
known at San Juan that the American fleet
was near the Spaniards apparently kept no
lookout. The soldiers in the forts and the
| people in the town were fast asleep when
| our war ships approached. 1t was not yet
| broad daylight, and the coast of the island
| was yelled in unusual haze. A range of
| broken hills came almost down to the ocean,
and further inland. making a sharp line
| against the sky, rose tall range of noun
| tains. Overhead the sky was a deep blue.
| but nearer the horizon were great masses of
| cotton-looking clouds. A ten-knot eastery
breeze was blowing, a long, heavy swell
! gave graceful motion to the sea.
NO MISCARRIAGE OF PLANS.
| The plans of the admiral were thoroughly
carried out. The fleet steamed majestically
| into the harbor, and in due course of time
| opened tremendous fire upon the fortifca-
| tions. Three times the war ships made the
circuit outlined in the official plan. The
| forts withstood the first round but the
| Montgomery, from her station near Fort
Canuelo, on Cabras island, wrought COM
| plete destruction. With glasses the officers
| of the Montgomery could see the occupants
of the fort jumping over the walls and run
ming away. The Detroit which went nearest
to MORO. had to train her guns at a 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 Morro's northern walls.
The rest of the fleet fired in order, first on
| MORO and then on San Carlos, according to
| position.
On the second round the Spanish gunners
| were thoroughly awakened and stood by
tnelr guns braVely keeping up furious but
| aimless fire. From their firm founda ton and
| high elevation they had splendid oppor-
| tunity to cripple our fleet but the Spanish
| gunners seemed to fire regardless of aim
| and as If only DESTROYS of emptying their
| magazines. From the Associated Press dis
| patch boat we could see the American shells
| rail- among the forts and among the troops
| or the garrison, raising clouds of dust and
causing fires to break out. 1t was hoped the
spanish fleet would emerge from the harbor
| as soon as the firing began, and a feeling of
| deep disappointment spread through the
! meet when the lookouts reported that the
! harbor was clear.
At the end of the third round the monitor
Terror failed to understand the order to
| withdraw and engaged MORO Castle alone
| for half an hour. AS seen from the dispatch
boat, which occupied a grandstand position
the squatty little monitor, in tackling the
| towering fort, was making a magnificent
display of daring The Terror moved in as
II intending to ram the forts and the Span
fsh gunners evidently became much excited
at her behavior for they fired rapidly and
without taking any aim, for the Terror was
not touched. From the dispatch boat every
shot fired by the Spaniards could be seen
The flash and smoke of the batteries were
followed by great spashings hundreds of
feet from the Terror. The shells of the
Span1ards, on exploding, would fling COL
umns of water sixty feet high. The scene
was intensely interesting, but it was not so
exciting as had been expected The Spanish
aim was so bad that absolutely no anxiety
was felt for our ships In fact, when the
Spanish forts fired the Volleys which hid
them in smoke, followed few seconds later
by the geyser-like spouting and splashing
not dangerously near the Terror, derisive
cheers went up from the colored crew of the
officers and reporters on the dispatch boat
viewed the boTnbardment through marine
glasses from the top of the pilot house. The
heavy swell 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 seemingly grew tired
and slowly withdrew firing as she steamed
away Then the Spaniards became almost
frantic with excitement and blazed away
at the monitor until she was long out of
range.
After the battle the Associated Press dis
patch boat went among the fleet to inspect
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.
| the bridge railing was shattered and three
| men were slightly wounded. All this was
| done by the solitary shell which struck the
| Iowa.
One shell which exploded on the New
shattered two searchlights, splintered a cut
| ter, tore. three holes and a ventiator and
| broke a small davit arm. Pieces of this shell
| Were carefully gathered up for souvenirs,
but there were not enough pieces to go
around The New York was hit only once
When the dispatch boat Of the Associated
Press left the vicinity of San Juan for the
| Island Of ST. Thomas with the dispatch de-
Scribing the engagement, the fleet was pre-
| pairing to bury the dead In addition to the
man killed on board the New York a gun
ner's mate on board the monitor Amphri-
| the New York's four wounded men only two
were seriously enough injured to call for
their transfer to the hospital shin Solace
| which subsequently Joined the fleet The
| New York fred $50 shots, it is said during
| the bOmbardment.
the operator at St Thomas early on the
morning of the 18TH, announcing that a
vigorous bombardment of Porto Rico was
in progress, adding that he was going to
take to the woods 1t was considered prob
able that most of the inhabitants of the
| nd AOz