The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-05-19
EXPECTED TO FIND FLEET.
SIMPSONS Mission to Porto Rico Was to
Des roy 1t.

On board the Associated Press despatch
boat Dauntless, Key West, Fla, May IS
The Dauntless, desptanh boat of the
Associated Press, arrived here this morn
ing and brought the.tirst detailed account
OF the bombardment of San Juan de Por-
to Rico, by portion of the feet under
he command of Rear Admiral Sampson
on May IL.
The American warships sustained only
trivial injury, and only one man was
killed.
After the engagement, the north end
of MORO castle was in ruins, the Cabras
island fort was silenced and the San Car
los was damaged.
No shots were aimed at the city and
it is not known whether any damage was
done there.
Spaniards at St. Thomas claim that
schoolhouse WAS struck and that the mas
ter and his pupils were killed, but this is
not thought likely to be true as the bonn
bardment took place early in the morn
| ing and the school children are not like
tyme nave 0s'' IL 'n' 'Dii'As a. 'n'
The plans of the Notifications furnished
| to the fleet were very misleading. 1t was
known that the Spanish forts had recent
| other facts developed which. showed that
miscalculations were made by those who
drew up the plans.
Refugees at St. Thomas told the CORE
spondents who touched there. after the
engagement that the Spaniards thought
the forts at San Juan de Porto Rico
were stronger than the forts of Havana.
on May 8, ito intercept and destroy
the Spanish fleet.
The Spanish feet had left the Cape de
Verde islands. This was the only fnfor-
nation the United States navy depart
ment and Admiral Sampson had on the
subject.
Our warships proceeded slowly east
ward and on May Sth were off Cape Hay
ten, Hayti.
Attempts were there made to obtain
information regarding the whereabouts
of the Spaniards, but no definite informa-
| ton was obtained.
Early on the morning of May 10, Rear
Admiral SIMPSONS ships approached
San Juan de Porto Rico, the American
consul at Cape Haytien having informed
the admiral that he had heard report
that IS Spanish warships had been seen
| heading for Porto Rico.
The city of Sar Juan de Porto Rico is
situated in long. narrow pocket.
A tongue of high land separates it from
the ocean. The entrance of the harbor
| is easily defended and tho same can be
said of the headlands of lofty Cabras
island which lies in the throat of the pas
sage.
These headlands have been fortified by
the Spaniards. but they did not prove in
any way dangerous to our warships.
| Those now in San Juan de Porto Rico
reside on the other side of the bay and
the high hills. To reach the city ships
must pass the MORO Castle notifications
and the battery OF San Carlos, situated
on a promontory at the east entrance of
the harbor. Besides they pass the Can
uelo battery ON Cebras island.
The attack on the forts was planned so
that our warships would be in position
to meet the Spanish vessels should the
latter emerge from the harbor.
The following is the official plan Of act
ion issued to the American fleet:
1.-THE squadron will pass near Salinas
just outside the reefs off Cebras island.
The column is to be formed as follows:
1.-THE Iowa, flagship Indiana, New
York, Amphitrite and Terror. The De-
troit is to go ahead of the Iowa, distant
one thousand yards. The Wampatuck to
keep on the Iowa's starboard bow, dis
/ tant five hundred yards. The Detroit and
Wampatuck to sound constantly after
! land is closed and to Immediately signal
| if 10 fathoms or less is obtained, show
ing at night a red light over the stern
and at day time a red flag aft.
"The Montgomery is to remain in the
rear of the column, stopping outside of
the fire from MORO and on the lookout
for torpedo boat destroyers. If Fort Can
uelo fires she is to silence it. The Porter
will take station under the cover of the
Iowa on the port side. The Niagara is
to remain westward of Salinas point.
! 'While approaching q sharp lookout is
! Ion fI,aC act hot SoIi
and Cebras island for torpedo boat de-
stroyers.
'When near Cabras island, one-half to
one mile, the Detroit will rapidly cross
the mouth of the harbor and be close I'M
der MORO to the westward, screened from
the fire OF Morro's western battery.
eff the old guns on the north side of
Moro are opened, she is to silence them
These two cruisers are to keep on the
lookout especially for Spanish torpedo
boat destroyers coming out of tho harbor.
1.-THE Porter, when the action begins,
will cross the harbor mouth behind the
Iowa, and get close under the cliff to the
eastward of the Detroit and torpedo any
Spanish cruiser trying to get out of the
harbor, but she is not to attack destroy
ers. The Wampatuck will tow one of her
boats with its mast stripped, flying
red flag and having boats anchor on
board the tug so arranged that she can
| Sup Uu0 uCtG dliu dAOuOI db UuO same
time. She is to anchor the boat in about
10 fathoms, with Fort Canuelo and the
western end of Cabras Island within
range.
s'There will be two objects for attack,
the batteries upon MORO. and the men of
war; If it is clear that Spanish vessels
are lying in port. fire is to be opened upon
them as soon as they are discernable over
Cabras island, the motions of the flagship
being followed in this regard. II is should
become evident. however. that neutral
men of war are in line of fire, O flag of
truce will probably be sent in before fire
is opened. The Porter is to hold herself
| in readiness for this service.
"Care must be taken to avoid hitting
the hospitals on Cabras island. If it be-
comes necessary to silence the Moro
batteries portion of the fire will be di-
rected with this object. butlthe principal
object is to destroy the ships
after passing the harbor mouth, the
Iowa will turn little to starboard to-
ward the town and will then turn out
with starboard helm and again pass to
port and, after passing Cabras island to
the westward she will turn again with