The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-06-24
A Bloody Engagement, With the
Usual Spanish Victory.

Madrid, June 23.-The minister for
war, General Correa, it is announced,
has received an official dispatch from
Santiago de Cuba, announcing that
the American attack on Punta Berraco
has been repulsed after a hard fought
and bloody engagement"
Punta Berraco is situated a short
distance from Baiquiri, where the
United States troops landed yesterday.
1t is near to the coast, ard is under
the guns of the American fleet, from
which it can be judged that it is highly
improbable that the army has been
repulsed, as stated in the above dis
patch.
An official dispatch from Santiago de
Cuba, dated June % (today) says:
The attack commenced yesterday.
The enemy concentrated his landing
forces in front of Punta Berraco, lying
eastward of our left flank which ex-
tended for eight leagues along the
coast.
Another official dispatch from Ha-
vana says: 1.-The commander at San
tiago de Cuba announces that the
American squadron has commenced the
bombardment and is trying to disem-
bark at Baiquiri and at Punta Barraco.
An American warship has shelled and
destroyed a small wooden fort near
Cienfuegos. Seven SpaniardS were
Slightly wounded
Gable dispatches received here from
Admiral Cervera say the crews of the
Spanish warships at Santiago have
joined the land forces in order to take
part in the defense OF the city. He adds
that the situation is critical, but a later
dispatch affirms that the Spaniards
''have VIGOROUSLY repulsed the en-
envy
A dispatch from the governor of San
tiagO de Cuba says: THE attack on
SebOney and BaiQuiri continued until
nightfall. The enemy was repulsed ex-
cept on the left at Baiquiri, where the
SpaniardS were obliged to retire in con-
sequence of the fanl1ing movement on
the part of the enemy, who landed sew
eral kilometerS east of Baiquiri. The
Spanish forces retired in good order
into the mountains. Seboney and Ber-
raco were destroyed by the American
Shells"
SPANISH RETREAT EXPLAINED.
During the afternoon a semi-official
note was issued, lin order to avoid a
misunderstanding" pointing out that
merely the Spanish left retired and
took UP position in the mountains,
owing to the Americans landing nine
kilometres east of Baiquiri, where there
were no Spanish troops and endeaVor-
ing to outfiank the Spaniards.
The note then points out that this
part of the country is very unhealthy
and that yellow jack is rampant"
The Spanish official dispatches are
announced TO have created IAN excel
lent impression" here, as Indicating
the immense difficulties of the ad-
vance on Santiago de Cuba
The dispatches from Cuba were read
in the senate here today. whereupon
the senators made patriotic speeches.
Senator Navarro TonArioa \
Europe and the whole world is com
hitting the greatest and most horri-
bic crime against humanity in allow
ing Spain to be crushed by brutal
weight of numbers
Continuing, the senator dilated upon
the grave danger to the Latin and
Slavonic races IF Europe tolerates
Anglo-Saxon preponderance"
The budget was then adopted, which !
Will permit the government to sus-
pend the sitting of the co-tes. The /.
newspapers talk of a possible change /
Of ministry next week.
SPANISH REINFORCEMENTS.
London. June 24-The Madrid CORE
Spondent of the Times says: The gov /
eminent has received an additional dis /
patch from Cuba, not yet published, to /
the effect that Spanish reinforcements !
are being concentrated on Santiago
The American landing at Santiago |
de Cuba has made little impression
here Nobody doubts the ability of the
town to resist for a considerable time,
while even if it should be captured
matters will not be advanced much.
as the concentration of the American
efforts at Santiago will give General
RIanco time 20 complete his prepara-
lions for the main struggle.
This change in the American plan of
shown in the Santiago ex-
petition, is expected rather to prolong .
than TO curtail the duration of the war.
Regarding the prospects of peace,
doubtless any solution consistent to
national honor would be accepted, but
the initiative must come from the out
side. l cannot find the slightest in