The Republican., 1898-06-09

of the harbor are described as being
riddled with solid shot and shattered
by the explosion of the immense shells
fired by the American battle-ships.
The Spanish batteries are understood
to have been virtually silenced and
Ell Moro and the Notifications at
SOcapa and Punta Gorda are reported
to have been demolished by the three
hours uninterrupted hammering of
the American fleet
To Cover Landing of Troops.
The American attack is next said
to have been specially directed
against Aguadores, a small coast town
little to the east of the entrance of
Santiago Bay. The idea of the Amer
lean admiral, it appears, was to land
troops and siege guns there after
reducing the defenses of the place,
and thence make a close assault upon
Santiago, which, in view of the pres
ent condition of its Notifications. NAV
be expected to yield very soon after
the beginning 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 duration of the fire or whether
American troops and siege guns were
actually landed at Aguadores, but
from the information obtainable it
cannot be doubted that the net result
of Mondays fighting was extremely
disastrous to the Spanish defenses.
Cubans Attack by Land.
1t is also understood here that the
Cuban troops maintained throughout
the greater part of yesterday an at
tack by land on Santiago, and the
Spanish reports say the garrison lost
heavily in killed and wounded.
Spanish Killed and Wounded
The military commander ofSantiago
de Cuba acknowledges the following
casualties among the land forces:
Col. Ordonez, Capt. Sanchez, Lieut..
1rizar Of the artillery, and Perez and
Garcia, both Spanish officers, whose
ranks are not mentioned, severely
wounded.
The Spaniards also admit the loss
of 21 infantry soldiers severely wound
ed and say was killed. But it is be-
lieved the losses of the Spaniards were
much more heavy.
In the naval force, the Spaniards
say that the officer was second in com
mand of the partly dismantled Span
ish cruiser Riena Mercedes and five
sailors and an ensign were killed.
The Spanish sailors wounded, it is as
serted, number 1G men.
The loss on the American side, the
Santiago reports say, is not known.
The Spaniards acknowledge that a
great deal of damage was in
1icted on the Spanish cruiser Reina
Mercedes, and they say Moro Castle
shows great gaping breaches in its
walls.
American Forces Land.
Later in the day, it appears, land
ing of American troops was affected
near Daiquiri, some distance east of
AguadOres and near the railroad sta
tion connecting with Santiago. Later
an engagement took place between
the American force and column of
Spanish troops which had been sent
against the landing party.
The accounts of the battle obtain
able here, being from Spanish sources
do not set forth the result, and there
fore it is to be inferred that the Amer
leans were victorious, and that is the
belief which prevails here.
Maria Teresa Reported Sunk.
There is report current at Cape
Haytien that the first-class armored
Spanish cruiser Maria Teresa was
sunk yesterday by the fire of the
American ships.
1t is said that only 500 American
troops were landed at Daiquiri, or
possibly at Aguadores, the two places
being seemingly confused in the re-
ports received here
1t seems to be admitted that the
fire of the American soldiers was so
effective that the Spaniards were com
PEELED to flee from the Notifications
they We're defending