The record-union., 1898-07-12
COMMANDMENT OF SANTIAGO.
Commodore Schley's Shells Fell
Short Of the City

| copyrighted. 1898. by Associated Press.1
| ON BOARD THE ASSOCIATED
| PRESS DISPATCH BOAT DANDY,
| OFF AGUADORES. CUBA, July TO-
| (via Port Antonio and Kingston, ia
maica, July IL, 9:45 a. m)-The Brook
| lyn, Indiana and Texas, under Commo-
dore Schley began the bombardment of
the city Of Santiago at 5:15 o'clock this
afternoon in obedience to a y5quest from
General Shafter conveyed by a signal
| from the shore.
| The warships lined up from east to
west, quarter of a mile from shore
! and fired over the limestone cliffs that
come down to the sea and hide the city
/ five miles distant The bombardment
was continued for one hour.
| After thirty-five shots had been fired
! from the S-inch guns, Commodore
Schley became convinced that the
Brooklyn's fire was falling short and
lordered a cessation, permitting the bat
| tleships to continue, they with their
large guns having longer range. The
shots We're fired apparently with great
deliberation and at intervals of two
minutes. The signals from the shore
announced that the shells fell thous-
and feet short and little to the left
/ of the Spanish position. At dusk the
squadron ceased firing and Commodore
Schley sent a launch to the shore to ask
| General Shafter if he desired firing con-
tinued during the night.
When the Associated Press reporter
went aboard the Brooklyn Commodore
Schley said he was ignorant of the
purpose Of the bombardment.
The Associated Press reporter read to
him message secured at Jucagua from
mounted courier, saying the armistice
was ended and hostilities had been re-
sumed.
| Commodore Schley said: General
Shafter signaled to me to begin the
Ibonbardment as soon as could get into
position. / doubted from the start
whether 1 could hit the city. I had to
guess at its location and be very care
full not to injure our own army. If /
lombard tomorrow. / shall have range
marks on shore to guide me and / shall
take the ships closer to the shore than
to-day. The water off Aguadores is so
smooth that our Workmanship was not
affected by the swaying of the ship In
firing to-day 1 gave the turrets the
greatest possible elevation by listing the
ships. But I knew the shots would
fall short. The guns VIII carry more
than five miles, but to shoot over the
cliff great elevation is required"
When the Dandy left Aguadores at Z
o'clock the warships We're still in posi-
ton. During the bombardment the
Dandy lay quarter of a mile behind
the line of ships.
When the bombardment began q
heavy rain storm was in progress, with
thunder and lightning, but artillery fire
could be heard on shore, indicating that
General Shafter had resumed hostilities
Immediately ending the armistice
Following the roar of Commodore
Schley's guns could be heard the SHREK
ing of the shells as they went on their
way to the doomed city. Then came
long echo of the hills back of Santiago
and sometimes clap of thunder pro-
| longed the reverbrations and gave the
impression that the city was lombard
ed from the sky, sea and land. The sit
uatlon must have been appalling to the
Spanards and if General Shafter made
! the demonstration for the effect which
| it would have on the wavering enemv
! he probably attained his end.