The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-06-08
SANTIAGO FORTS IN RUINS.
Immense Damage Inflicted on the Enc
my-Forts Riddled.

Immense Damage Inflicted on the Enc
my-Forts Riddled.
Copyrighted 1893 by Associated Press.)
Cape Haytien. Hayti. June 1906
Il. m.-The fighting before and in the
vicinity of Santiago de Cuba continued
the greater part of yesterday, from 7:45
a. IN. until nearly IL o'clock. Ten of the
American warships maintained steady
and carefully directed fire against El
Morro Castle and the batteries at Pun
tn Gorda. Socapa and Cincoreales. in
addition to bombarding the Spanish
fleet in the harbor. The percentage of eff
fective projectiles was very large.
1t appears from the best information
obtainable at this place. the cable sta
ton connecting with Santiago de Cuba
that immense damage was inflicted on
the enemy. The Spaniards admit that
the bombardment from the American
fleet was most destructive. About six
teen hundred projectiles are said to
have been fired by the American war
ships, and it seems that the responsive
fire from the Spanish forts and ships
was scarcely felt ut all by the Ameri-
cans. The Notifications near the en-
trance of the harbor are described as
being riddIed with solid shot and shat
tered by the explosion of the immense
shells fired by the American battleships.
The Spanish batteries are understood to
have been virtually sienced. and El
Morro and the Notifications at Socapd-
ca and Punta Gorda are reported to have
been demolished by the three-hours' un-
interrupted hammering of the Ameri-
can fleet. The American attack is next
said to have been specially directed
against Aguadores, small coast town
a little to the east Of the entrance of
Santiago Bay. The idea of the .Ameri-
can Admiral. it appears. was to land
troops and siege guns there, after re-
ducing the defences of the place, and
thence make close assault upon San
tiago which in view of the present con-
dition of its Notifications may be eX-
pected to yield very soon after the be-
ginning of such an attack.
Heavy cannonading was opened upon
Aguadores at about midday yesterday.
The latest advices received here from
Spanish sources do not indicate the du-
ration of the fire or whether American
troops and siege guns were actually
landed at Aguadores. but, from the in
formation obtainable it cannot be doubt
ed that the net result of Mondays
fighting was extremely disastrous to the
Spanish defences.
ATTACKED BY LAND.
1t is also understood here that the Gu
ban troops maintained throughout the
greater part of yesterday an attack by
land on Santiago and the Spanish re-
ports say the garrison lost heavily in
killed and wounded.
The military commander of Santiago
de Cuba acknowledges the following
were severely wounded among the land
forces: Col. Ordonez, Capt. Sanche
Lieut. Yerzar. of the artillery, and Perez
and Garcia, both Spanish officers, whose
rank is not mentioned.
The Spaniards also admit the loss Of
twenty-one infantry soldiers severely
wounded and say one soldier was killed
But it is believed the losses of the
Spaniards were much heavier.
In the naval force, the Spaniards say
that the officer who was second in conf
mand Of the partly dismantled Spanish
cruiser, Reina Mercedes. and five sailors
! and an ensign were killed. The Spanish
sailors wounded, it is asserted, number
sixteen men.
! The loss on the American side. the
| Santiago reports say. is not known.
The Spaniards acknowledge that "A
great deal of damage was inflicted ON