The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-04-29
Three of the Warships
Open Fire on Her.
NO LOSSES ON OUR SHIPS
The of the Cuban Ports Vow
Effective-Havana Feeling IL. Effects.
Information As to Movements OF In.
MeagrS-The Squadron Anx.
iOus to Attack Havana-The Captur.
ed Spanish Oficer Paroled-Position
of Spanish Fleet u

w aIbfN U
OF Spanish Fleet Unknown
copyrighted by Associated Press.)
On Boar the Flagship New York.
April - . p. m.-The New York. the
Puritan n the Cincinnati bombarded
the forts at the mouth of Matanzas
harbor his afternoon. There were
no casualties on our side, but it is be-
lleved that the hail of iron which
loss of life TO the Spaniards. though
nothing is known definitely. The en-
gagement commenced at 1851 O'Clock
and ceased at lis o'clock. The object
of the attack was to prevent the COM
pletion of the earthworks al Punta
Gorda- A battery on an eastward arm
OF the bay opened fire on the flagship
and this was also shelled. About
twelve 8-inch shells We're fired from the
eastern forts, but all fell short. About
five or six shells were fired from the
half completed battery. Two of these
whizzed over the New York and one
fell short. The ships left the bay for
the open sea, the object OF
the whereabouts of the batteries hay-
ing been accomplished. In the neigh
orhoo of 300 shots were put on and
from the three ships at a range of from
1000 to 1000 yards.
Read Admiral Sampson, whe asked
II he was satisfied with the result, said:
Yes, l am. l expected to be-"
The half completed Spanish earth
works and battery were apparently all
ploughed up by the shells.
All the ships engaged showed excel
lent craftsmanship throughout the en-
Sagement, and when they were firing
at the shortest range nearly every shell
took effect.
The forts which were bombarded
were on a low lying point and were
considered merely earthworks. They
did not make a good target, yet when
the big guns were fired at the shortest
range, portions of the forts could be
seen flying in the air at every shot.
The flagship returned to havana,
and the Puritan and Cincinnati were
left on Matanzas station.
Copyright by Associated Press.)
On board the flagship New York. off
Havana, April 81, Z. a. M via Key
West, 3:15 p. m.-The blockade contin-
ues without incident. No casualties
been reported to the flagship.
Last night was uneventful. This
morning h torpedo boat Dupont ar
rived from Matanzas, reporting that
there had been no more firing there
and that the blockade was effectively
established. No prizes have been Sc
cured by the MatanZas squadron.
News has been received that La
Lucha last might asserted that two
coasting steamers had sneaked into
Havana harbor on Saturday but it
should be remembered at that time the
blockade was only in it's initial stages
Today the fighting squadron is equip
ped with a force of small boats which,
under cover of darkness, can get close
in the shore, where they are likely to
prevent blockade running by little
craft hugging the coast. The amount
of provisions carried by the two coast
ing steamers into Havana last Satur-
day must have been so small as to be
practically of no eIIeGt. The incident
cannot he taken in any way as a cri-
terion of the fblockade's effectiveness
or as effecting in the slightest the
chances Of u success.
HAVANA FEELS THE BLOCKADE.
Havana even now feels the pinch of
the blockade. When Spanish need Of
food becomes imperative, then if there
is money enough in the city to make
1t worth while, there are likely to be
made many attempts at blockade run
ming, but Rear Admiral Sampson says
they will be unsuccessful. Then will
come the inevitable and Havana will
be forced to surrender and beg for
food.
The appearance of the Spanish fleet
and an attempt to raise the blockade
are contingencies that must be conSid-
cred.
Information regarding the movement
of the insurgents is meagre, but it is
known that as many as can are leav-
ing Havana. The %inSurgent army is
believed to be active and is trusted to
shut off all communication between
north and south Cuba, though COM
municatiOn between Havana and Ban
atono still appears to exist. Much has
been written regarding a concerted
movement of the insurgents upon Ha-
vana and its defenses. This seems
hardly feasible. The scarcity OF food
is bound to effect insurgents and Span
iards alike. AS soon as the former
carry their campaign into the TAR north
OF the island they are confronted with
starvation. 1t is believed the inSur-
gents will adhere to n irregular a &C
tics and not transfer their forces in
any largo numbers t. TERRITORY wher
starvation will soon mold sway.
The problem of provisioning and coal
ing the ibiackading fleet has SO far prov
ed an easy one to DIV
The flagship New York spent las.
night in patrolting the coast from a
point west of Havana to within ten
miles of Matanzas on the east. The
general belief is that the cream Of the
prizes has been taken and h a noamany
:aore Spanish merchant vessels will
venture into these Eaters.
The Associated Press dispatch boat
Dauntless left the fleet TO return 10
Key West on her third round trip
since as. February, at 7:30 O'Clock
this morning, in h teeth of a % mot
gale ron west of north. The Asso-
ciaued Press correspondent had an in
terview with Rear Admiral Sampson
in the admiral'S cabin on the flagship
yesterday morning. The rear admiral
expressed satisfaction with the conduct
OF the blockade.
ANXIOUS TO ATTACK HAVANA.
OF u the absorbing topic. from
admiral to coal passers, is, when do We
AXE Havana? One could not help
thinking yesterday when lying near