Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-07-26
SANK THE SANDOVAL
Spaniards Treaoherously Destroy the
Spanish Gunboat.
GROSS BREACH OF The SURRENDER
The Vessel Has Been Lying Near
Caimanera.
THE N AVY'S OPERATIONS

GUANTANAMO BAY, Santiago de Cuba,
July 26.-The Prairie arrived here from
Nipe bay last evening, and reported all
quiet.
The Spaniards last night sunk the Span
ish gunboat Sandoval, which has been
lying near Caimanera. This Is looked upon
as being gross breach of the terms of
the surrender, which the Spaniards then
had knowledge of, especially considering
the fact that food has been sent by the
United States navy into Caimanera
First Sergeant of Marines kinnie of the
New York went north yesterday evening
on the Texas, to get his commission as
second lieutenant of marines. This is al
most the only case of such promotion on
record in this branch of the service.
The Montgomery left yesterday evening
l. is difficult to see how the large body
of Spanish troops at Holguin fail to
surrender very soon, although reinforced
by the Spanish forces from Gibara. Holguin
is one of the commanding points in east
ern Cuba, and the surrender of it's gar
rison will be important event in the
war. News from there is expected shortly.
and zen 1t will depend some of the plans
of our commanders.
The Fleets Future.
The Vixen and Suwanee returned to San
tiago yesterday morning, conveying the
prize ships brought here for disinfection.
The main tody of the fleet is here. coaling
and cleaning as well as the facilities of the
bay permit The Texas will leave for New
York shortly, in order to undergo repairs.
The movements of the other ships under
Rear Admiral SIMPSONS command, except
to- tL1 nry, p;n~ fny,
depend upon the decisions of the authorities
at Washing ton, and the impression is grow
ing among the naval officers of high rank
in these We ters that it is not advisable to
send feet to Spain without previously en-
abling tn. ships to undergo thorough prepa-
ration, including going into dry dock in
several cases.
The list of vessels in Guantanamo bay
include the flagship New York, the Brook
lyn. Iowa. Indiana, Oregon. Marblehead, De-
troit, Newark, Yankee, Yankton, Hornet,
Ericsson, Rogers, Wampatuck. Samoset,
Vesuvius, Celtic, Vulcan, Alvarado, five COL
iers and one transport.
No Porto Rican News.
A Boston fruit steamer arrived here yes
terday morning loaded with fruit, in con-
sequence of a request upon the part of Ad
miral Sampson. but the steamer refused to
sell anything, and each ship was given
supply of fruit, which was much appreci-
ated.
No news has been received here from
Porto Rico.
Col. Hewer, who was sent by Gen. Shafter
to receive the surrender of the 5000 Spanish
troops at Guantanamo, arrived here on Sun
day night with two of Cen Torals officers
and proceeded to Caimanera and Guanta-
namo yesterday. The colonel expected to
return last night.
1t is said that LOO of the Spanish troops
of the Guantanamo district are on the sick
list. After they have surrendered the work
of tending the sick, feeding the healthy and
maintaining order among the prisoners will
probably deyolve upon the navy.
The Nipe bay engagement was quite hot,
but there were no casualties the Amer
io&n side. The Spanish gunboat Jorge
Juan was r:ddled by our shells. 1t is be-
lieyed that about 200 men deserted from
her after opering the Kingston valves.
The Navy's Fire.
A fleet bulletin just issued in regard to
the investigation of the navy's shells at
the bonlbardment of Santiago de Cuba
says:
Twelve houses were completely wreck
ed inside and one house was burned. Six
teen eight-nch shells struck within three
blocks on the Gale de Marina. These ex-
cavated the ground to a depth of about
four feet and to a length of about rem feet.
The street was macadamized. l. is judged
from the fact that many of t'.W struck
near the waters edge that a c. n er of
shells must have gone into the )ay. Army
officers have stated that thirty or forty
went beyond the northern edge of the bay
into the Spanish lines.
"A dozen or more of the shells had not
exploded. In four of them the base rad
been simply blown out. In one case a
four-inch shell, which was probably a stray
shell fired during the demonstration at
Aguadores on July l, had gone through
tree and had exploded in the ground De-
yond. When the severe effect of the eitsat-
inch shells Is considered, it is a matter fsor
congratulation that it was not necess;lry
to continue the bombardment longer End
fire thirteen-inch shells, as the squad on
had prepared to a.. The effect of t,S.se
latter would undoubtedly have been a.
most disastrous character to the towEa'