The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-04-29
THE MATANZAS
B0MBARDMENT.
Discussion of the Splendid Work of
the BIOCkading Ships,

kIN W ESI, FLA. Aplu -H.-lht
bomhardment of the forts of Matanzas
by the United states cruiser New York,
the flagship OF Rcar-Admiral Sampson,
the monitor Puritan and the cruiser Gin
cinnat, is eggcrly discussed here and
every incident of the affair is weighed
and rcweighcd by army and navy Of
ficers and the newspaper men.
From the fact that the Sp0niards open
cd fire on our ships while the latter We're
making a reconnaissance in force ana
when tho vessels were nearly hve miles
out from the batteries. leads 10 the be-
lief that the enemy believed that all that
was necessary 10 induce the United
States fleet TO move further away was
for the batteries TO open fire ON them.
THE LIMIT REACHED.
But if from former experience they
had reached this conclusion. they found
that forbearancc had reached the limit
and they must have been intensely rs
tonishcd when the New York being the
fur,hest west. but tie nearest in shore
opened fire with her batteries with a
vengeance and stcamiug nearer shore ac-
compauied by her cOnsorts, made such
an excellent practice with her guns thaf
iu eighteen minutes every Spanish gun
was silcnCed.
IL would have been worth a years pay
10 any one TO have seen the effects ct
the last shot fred. thai from the Pur-
tan's Pinch pet when fooss OF stones
earth and abdttis went sixty teet In the
air. falling I'm the rear of The spot where
a Spanish gun had beeen but a few MIN
utes before.
MUST HAVE BEEN CASUALTIES
There must have been many casualties
on the Spanish side. since the rapid-ire
guns were used on all the ships. as well
AS those of larger calibre. IL seems to
be the general opinion that the SpanIards
had nothing heavier than S-inch guns. and
that they had very poor gunners with
ANY of their ordnance
However lust before Ire Spanish bat
ferries were silenced. one gun on the west
side Of the harbor seemed to be getting
the range Of the flagship several snots
striking near the New York. and on both
sides of her If the purpose Of the recon-
aissance and the subsequent cannonade
was To secure available place for the
landing later for the United States troops
such purpose has been wen accomplished
for no doubt exists that the Spanish
batteries az Matauzas have been sienc-
ed FOR GOOD or az least for q longer time
than will be necessary TO effect land
ine.
The Fed Cross soclety's ship, state Of
Texas with nurses and medicine. ar
fiN'N lNia fhfi4Ik li'Ni -NNN 'Nt'Ns ''N
VIII proceed 20 Sagua Ia Grande.
THE SPANISH VERSION.
MADRID. April y.-The version OF the
bombardment OF MatanZas by the Uni
ted STATES Rect. when has reached here
saws that. After half an hours fighting.
the Americans were obliged 10 retreat 10
IFne credence S. attached IN Madrid 20
the dispatchcs from New York telling OF
the bombardmcnt of Maanzas as the
latter conflict with the official reports.
The latter IN addition 20 saying tho
Americans were obliged 20 retreat" ad-
init that several men were killed and
"some damage was done 20 the town.
also saying that the American loss is not
Known
Tae forts Of Havana. it ie announced
here have rot yo, drcd single proiec-
tie. the cannon shots beinG merely sig
aal sa,saA