Evening journal., 1898-06-01
TO DRIVE CERVERA OUT.
The Spanish AdmiraTS Hiding Place
Getting Too Hot For Him.
LAND ATTACK ON THE CUBAN PORT
Army Ready 20 Sail Co Take the Span
iards In tho neRr-!roxas and Brook
Iyn Attapkod by tho Enemy's
Torpedo Boats.

CAPE IIA1TIEN. 9aiei, Juno IA
dispatch from Santiago do Cuba suys
that the American squadron under corn
maud of Commodore Sohley, which has
been blockading tho port for a number
Of daya began 10 lombard tho foTtdca-
tions at 3 o'clock yesterday afternoon.
the evident intention being 20 reduce
them In order 20 get at Admiral Cerva-
ra's squadron at anchor In Santiago
hay.
Tho American fleet comprised "A YES
seia Including tho brooklyn. the nag
ship oG the squadroni Massachusetts,
Texas, iowa Marblehead. Nashville
Scorpion and two torpedo boats.
The dispatch snys that among tho at
taclSing vessels was ono which seemcd
% be tho Now York dying the flag Of
Admiral sampson.
There is great excitement az SANTA
go, the Spanish residents. notwiti-
standing the repeated boasts Of tho mill
itary and naval officers, fearing that the
Americans Will soon be In possession II
the city.
When tho firing began. many OF the
men In tho city whose sympathics have
been with the insurgents started for the
insurgent lines. which are but short
distance from tho town. 10 offer their
services.
Tho lighting began at just about 2
o'clock when the signal to begin the
battle was displayed on the Brooklyn
This seems to refute the statement that
Admiral Sampson was present. for had
no been with the fleet he would. by hls
rank. have been in command
Owing 10 tho height OF the hill on
which the Moro castle Is situated at
tho entrance 10 tho harbor II was I'M
possible for the Americans 20 run in-
shore and elevate their guns to a suni-
oient height TO do any damage to tie
old fortihcations. Consequently the D. z
ships with the heavy rifles stood son @
distance offshoro. from where they could
pour In a moro effeotivo fire. while TIE
smaller vessels. nearer tho shore. d.
voted themselves to attacking the sand
and mortar batteries on the shore be-
meath the MORO.
BY standing offshore the big ships
had plenty of water to maneuver In.
They passed 10 and fro before tho en-
trance. steadily pouring an awful Ore
upon the devoted walls OF the Moro.
Some OF the shells from the big rifles
went clear over the MORO. landing Ia
tho EstrellA Point battery, Santa Cato
Ina fort and tho other Notifications On
the Same side OF the entrancb as thai
Moro. but 20 tho northward Of IT,
Thousands of persons. when they
found that tho shells OF the enemy dld
not reach the city. went 10 points ~
vantage where they could witness part
of the bombardment.
The MORO and the other fortihcations.
with the exception of the Blanco bat
terry, cannot be seen from the city prop
CT owing TO the tortuous formation of
the waterway, but going 10 the hills TO
the westward a hne view could be he'd
OF the damage done by the shells that
came sailing over the MORO.
The firing was apparently directed
principally against the MORO. the Fort
OF La Socopa, on the opposite side ~
the entrance, and Punta Garda. some
distance from tho entrance, but which
could be reached by an almost straight
fire from the sea.
THE forts replied bravely 10 the fire oi
the enemy. but as far as can be learned
did not appear to do any great damaga.
The sound of the cannonading Was
deafening. The bay Is almost entirely
surrounded hy mountains, and the re-
ports Of tho guns were echoed and re-
echoed for minutes eEter the discharge.
making a most terrific DIN.
The dispatch intimates that some ot
the Spanish warships took part In the
engagement, but this cannot ho verified.
1t was made known some days ago that
two or three OF Admiral Cervore s
squadron were lying somo distance be-
low the city, and II Is possible that they
were In the battle. They could not
be seen from the city. and this probably
- Fnss Hn f.,a ..N 81
statements regarding the squadron S
participation IN the fight
Whether or not the Americans enter
ed the bay is not known. 1t is reported
here that they did. but this is doubted.
as II is scarcely TO be supposed that
Commodore Schley would attempt to
run the forts through channel known
TO be filled with both electrical and con-
tact mines. Again. had he forced the
passage of the forts and passed over the
mines unharmed. IL is certain that he
would have at once proceeded toward
the city and engaged the Spanish war
ships and the batteries I'm that neigh
borhOod
Judging from the reports of the fight
that have been received here. it is all
most certain that little, II any, damage
was done TO the Americans.
Al may He liit NuHiAtouNte NcnieA ull
enter the harbor for a short distance
countering as he went, and Is now
awaiting a more favorable opportunity
for proceeding up the bay and engaging
the Spanish Warships
During the fighting a number Of
troops were hastily dispatched from the
city, and it is judged from this that the
Spanish losses in the batteries must
have been heavy and that artlllervme-
were needed to man the guns.
The dispatch says that the Americans
were compelled to retire after the bal.
tie had lasted about two hours. but IN
is doubted here. as 1t IS known that n
fortifcotions at Santiago are Sardly