The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1898-05-04
4 CUBAN STRONGHOLD BOMBARDED.
FORTlFfCATI0NS REDUCED.
Three American War Ships Fire Upon Ma
tanzas Spanish Shots Flow
wide OF Their Mark.

Ine strengthcninR or the fortificatiOnS
az Punta Gorda. Cuba, did not please
Admiral Sampson of the blockading
fleet now In Cuban waters. The ad-
mral decided to reconnolter, and the
New York, Puritan and Cincinnati APP
preached the harbor OF Mantanzas
Wednesday afternoon.
The bombardment was then begun by
the Spanish batteries. The flagship
New York was fired on and almost in
stantly replied, the Cincinnati and the
Puritan soon joining, at close range.
The New York pounded the shore bat
teries at the right of the harbor.
The explosive shells of the Spaniards
flew Wild Two came close to the New
York, but not the least harm was done
TO the American vessels. After a bonn
bardment of less than half an hour the
Spanish guns were sllenced.
battery on the eastward arm Of
the bay opened fire on the flagship, and
this was also shelled. About u S-inch
shells were fired from the eastern forts,
but all fell short. About five or six light
shells were fired from the half COM
pleted battery. Two of these whizzed
over the New York ana one fell short.
The ships left the bay for the open
sea, the object Of discovering the where
abouts of. the batteries having been ac-
complished. In the neighborhood OF
from the three ships Mt a range of from
four thousand to seven thousand yards.
The half-completed Spanish earth
works were apparently all plowed up
by the shells. All the ships engaged
showed excellent marksmanship
throughout the engagement. and when
they were firing at the shortest range
nearly every shell took effect.
The seaport town of Mantanzas, In
the province OF that name. Is on the
northeast coast of Cuba, about So miles
east of Havana. 1t Is situated on a fiat
on both sides Of the San Juan, and Is
fortified.
In commercial importance II ranks
next to Havana. IL Is connected by rail
with Havana, Cerdenas and the other
principal towns on the island. Its po-
pulatlon before the commencement of
the present Cuban war was about $4,000.
The barracks, the Castle OF San Sever
ino and the principal residences of the
town are of stone.
II was officially announced at Madrid
Saturday that the fortiflcations of
Matanzas have not suffered sin spite
of 300 shells fired by the American
fleet" and that mot one man was
killed or wounded thereby" In official
circles the stories of the bombardment
received via the United States are read
with shouts of derisive laughter.
This Is the substance of the official
report made by Captain General Blanco
on the bombardment:
Three American cruisers fired on the
batteries of Ft. Morillo, at Matanzas.
without doing any damage. We fired
IA shots, to which the Americans re-
piled with a multitude of mitrailleuse
shots, which did no injury. The Ameri-
can squadron also fired IA cannon shots
at the AbaDilla battery. only one man
being killed. to which the Spanish bat
terry replied with only four shots, as the
squadron was beyond range. The whole
squadron Of five ships then threw sew
eral shells into the town, without doing
any damage. The French and Austrian
consuls have protested against the
bombardment, as II was commenced
without any previous warning to for
stations are full Of fight. IL appears
American ships. One funnel was GER
tainly hit. During the bombardment
Colonel Alfabs, with a column Of
troops, attacked rebel band under
Retancourt at Migote, south of Matan-
zas, capturing their positions and kill
ing 20 men, including two chiefs. A
quantity of arms, horses, stores and
the insurgent camps were captured.
Five mounted rebels and chief.
Ajona, surrendered"
The French and Austrian consuls at
Havana have protested against the
bombardment of Mantanzas by the
American fleet as a violation of inter-
national law In that no previous notifi-
cation of the intention to lombard the
place had been given.