Little Falls weekly transcript. (Little Falls, Morrison Co., Minn.) 1894-19??, 1898-06-07
mot an American Vessel Was
Struck Nor an American
Sailor Wounded.
AFFAIR OF LITTLE MOMENT
Was but the Prelude OF More
Serious Work to Come Be-
fore Many Days.
Will Attempt to Clear the Har'
Dor of Mines and Then At
tack the Fleet.

Orr SANTIAGO, juno !, ON board the
dispatch boat Dandy (via Port Antonio,
June 3).-After an hours engagement
with the Spanish feet in Santiago bay,
supported by the batteries on shore.
not an American was injured nor
vessel of Commodore Schley's feet
damaged. 1t was the first real engage
ment that has occurred between the
naval forces under Schley and Cervera,
and was but a prelude to more serious
work the latter part of the week, when
it is probable the dynamite cruiser
Vesuvius will attempt to explode the
triple row of mines extending across
the harbor mouth. With these out of
the way Commodore Schley will sail
into the harbor for death grapple
with the feet and batteries.
IA Tuesday's Bomb~rdment.
The attack Of the American feet on
Tuesday began at ! O'Clock, the Massa'
chusetts leading, followed by the New
Orleans, Iowa and Vixen. The Massa-
chusetts gradually increased her speed,
and drew closer and closer to the bat
cries. When she had passed the har-
Dor entrance by 500 yards a great cloud
Of white aud yellow smoke burst from
the two l3.inch guns in her after tur'
ret and two shells. one Of them striking
the Spanish flagship Cristobal Colon
full and fair as she lay at her anchor
age, and the other falling close along
side. The two guns in the forward
tprret were then fred, and their shells
in exploding threw up great jets OF
spray close to the Colon.
Shore Batteries Reply.
All the shore batteries took up the
challenge and began rapid ire on the
chusetts. But she was soon be-
yond their range, and the batteries
thereupon turned their guns on the
New Orleans. This cruiser had been
directed to pay attention to the batter
les and to draw their fire as much as
possible, and she obeyed her instruc'
lions to the letter. Her first shot To-
Gated large battery on tho hill above
the MORO. 1t few straight into the
fort and must have caused much dam
age, as great cloud Of dust and debris
rose as tho shell burst. A couple OF
more shots sent part OF tho walls OF
Moro flying into the air. and then the
New Orleans confined herself to the
batteries, her fire being rapid and ex'
tremely accurate. Every shot she fred
made trouble for Spain.
Tho Iowa Gets in Line.
The Iowa came next, and like the
Massachusetts, devoted her attention to
the ships lying within tho harbor. Her
12.inch shells made the water fly all
around that parto the harbor in which
the Cristobal Colon lay. The latter,
however, was not seriously damaged,
and kept up her fire until long after
the American ships were out Of range.
The onclads then bore down on the
harbor once moro. The flagship kept
in until less than 1000 yards from the
shore, and then her shells again began
to heave up the waters of the Santiago
harbor. This time tho shore batteries
were better served, but nearly all the
shots fell short.
! Spanish Fire Very Wild.
After tho Massachusetts had passed
the point where she could fire into the
harbor with advantage she ceased fir.
ing and the others followed her. The
fight was over as far as the Americans
were concerned. Spanish honor, how
ever. needed some further destruction
Of gunpowder, and the ships doomed
and the batteries roared long after the
American vessels were out of range
The affair soon became ludicrous, as
nearly all of the Spanish shells fell
from one to two miles from the vessels
at which they were aimed. Worse
gunnery was never seen. One man
with basket of brickbats would be
capable of as much destruction as the
Spaniards seemed capable Of creating.
AN ALLY OF UNCLE SAM.
This Country Already Responsible for the
Protection Of Hawaii.
WASHINGTON, June 8.-The naval Of
Aciale now calculate that Hawaii hat