The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-05-20

the bombardment was the escape of the
ueet With so few casualties The enemy S
nre was heavy and continuous, and the ele-
mendous advantage How they missed
hitting the ships no one. under
and their guns had capacity for
twice the range yet they only landed
two projectiles with any serious effect The
San Juan affair strengthens the opinion
that the demolition of well-placed fortifica-
lions is hard task for even the strongest
battle ships. The secondary battery fire on
had passed once before the forts. This was
chiefly on account of the smoke the smaller
guns created. Drifting in front of the tur-
liable TO lose all sight of land
The admiral and his assistant chief of
stan Staunton; were on the superstructure
on the lee of the coming tower. They did
not go inside the coming tower, which will
probably not be used in action unless the
IRE Is coming from both sides. So far It
has proved a rather useless institution. On
the forecastle, in the lee of the forward
twelve-inch turret, We're Lieutenant March,
Tag secretary, and Ensign Bennett, flag
lieutenant, both of whom, with Stanton
accompanied the admiral from the New
York. Bennett had signal boys with him.
Ills nags, In their canvas bags. were made
last with line which ran loosely around
the turret barbette. This was to prevent
them from being shot overheard.
1t took about four broadsides to wake
the Spaniards up. In the meantime, great
yelIowish, whtish clouds were rising from
fallen. Then a few puffs of white and little
lines OF flames came from hooks in the
BLUM. The water spurted a few hundred
yards from the Iowa, and every one was
glad, because every one knew the enemy
was returning the fire. Before that the
'1ackies' had been glum. BY this time the
smoke had begun to hang heavily, and the
Iowa was moist and covered with saltpeter.
Marine glasses had to be wiped every few
minutes. The mems faces were grimy, and
their mouths were bitter from the saltpeter.
When the big guns in the turret were fired
= seemed as If the ship was almost drawn
from the water in a straining effort to fol-
low the Drojectiles as they whizzed shore
wards. Behind the Indiana'S port side
looked like huge fort. her own smoke
completely hiding her Starboard side
When the Iowa turned to go back to the
starting point the entire line was engaged.
The New York, stately, standing high out
of the water, and showing all her graceful
ness, but making an easy target, slowly ran
the gauntlet of two miles.
While the enemy's fire was at it's hot
test two jackies' stood at the Iowa's bows,
without any cover, heaving the lead. They
worked just as calmly as if in New York
harbor.
. They can't hit us, George, sang out one
Of the men to another in lee of the turret
Just then shell whizzed by. Rig line
TO that thing laughed the man in the
Rpurted up fifty yards ahead of him.
The feature most discussed was the won
derful pluck of the Detroit and her marvel
GUS escape from being hit Shells simply
Tafned around her as she lay within five
hundred yards of the forts and blazed away
with her hve-inch rapd-fire battery. The
Amphitrite's trouble with her after turrets
was caused by an accident to the gear
which supplies the turret power. Several
slight accidents occurred on the ships, but,
on the whole. they were not as numerous
as generally happens during heavy target
practice.
The strain on the men was rather severe
The heat of the sun was intense before
o'clock The work done by the engineer
officers and their men, who, for three hours
were under the battle gratingS in the in
tense heat, cannot be too highly praised.
The firing of the monitors seemed hardly
up to the mark of the other ships the heavy
swell causing them trouble and prohibiting
any degree of accuracy of aim