The times., 1898-05-31

St Thomas. .. w. T.. May 22.-Delayed
in transmission.-Each day since the bonn
bardment of San Juan de Porto Rico by
Rear Admiral Simpsons fleet, new stories
and additional details have found their
way here. Not all OF the informa ton, it
is needless 10 say. is reliable. From all
OF the reports received up to date. which
are worthy of any consideration at all. it
may be definitely concluded that the dam
age done TO San Juan was considerable,
although not nearly so much as might be
expected from a three hours lombard
ment from such feet
The Morro Castle is built in three tiers.
and the principal damage was inflicted on
the lowest one. II is erroneous to as
sumo. however. that the MorrO has been
destroyed. or its usefulness ended. More
than half Of the guns remain in position
The feet did not remain until the guns
were silenced. as was supposed. and it
seems that the declaration of the governor
of Porto Rico that the Spanish gunners
kept firing steadily on the fleet until it
was out Of range" is literally true.
Some of the men and officers of the
Montgomery. which put in here the day
after the bombardment, were engaged in
very spirited arguments over the affair.
In some way or other, whether il be cor
rect or not the story went around that
the orders TO Admiral Sampson from
Washington were TO test the batteries
at San Juan" and that was the only
basis on which the engagement could be
explained.
I'll,
point the bombardment was a failure
if not an out-and-out failure, certainly
a virtual one considering the position OF
the aegressor in which the American feet
was placed. Officers and men alike are
naturally too well disciplined 10 indulge
in criticism of orders with which they are
not supposed TO have anything more TO
do tHan obey them, but he would be Of
slow perception who could not discover
feeling OF restlessness.
Admiral Sampson is secretly classed as
"A bureaucrat. He was appointed from the
land staff OF the Navy Department. and
il is alleged that he conducts his feet too
much on the style OF department tradi-
tion and practice. exercising too little dis
cretion and turning always TO Washing
toun for instructions That is the way
he is criticised at present
Some there are who stick by Sampson.
II the fleet has been fiddling away its
time. its energy and ammunition, they
say, ii Is not the fault Of the admiral. but
because the Washington instructions have
left him no discretion al all. In no case,
however. ist he San Juan bombardment
considered triumph. II is rather judged
10 be AT best waste Of time, with a
simultaneous exposing Of the fleet 10 seri-
Gus injury.
San Juan was not lightly dealt with.
Hons
Of men and officers was about forty killed
and seventy wounded The number Of
nou-cOmbatants killed and wounded is
small. showing that the gunners Of the
fleets must have done even better than
was at first reported. who, 1t was said,
continually shot clear over the forts.
A commercial agent now at this place,
who arrived at San Juan the day after
the bombardment, says that not more
than half Of the shells fired by the Amcri-
cans exploded. He saw them and they
were Oh exhibition in different parts Of
the city. At the forts they We're being
opened and examined by the ordnance
officers. Everywhere there was rejoicing
over the glorious repulse Of the American
fleet.
A titled Spaniard resident Of Porto
Rico, now here on his way to New York
declares that the bombardment viii yet
cost the United States hundreds and per-
haps thousands OF lives. This gentleman
is a Cuban sympathizer. although he has
kept that rather quiet up 10 the present
time. In Porto Rico, he asserts, there
was little or no enthusiasm for Spain
among the populace. The people took
scarcely any interest in the outcome Of
the war. II the United States was TO
win they would side with them and be
happy II Spain showed signs of being
successful. they would be obliged to
fight on her side If their necls were to
De saved after the war was over. The
government fully understood their posi-
ri5n, and although hundreds Of volunteers
were enlisted, the government showed
that II did not trust them for il refused
10 arm them. This element OF the popu-
lation. which Is, perhaps, fully three
quarters, is also quite ignorant and easily
led
The Spaniards Of the island have turned
the San Juan bombardmeut to use and
this half educated population is joining
she Spanish side with enthusiasm, fully
believing that they have selected the win
m invading force Of proper size at an ear
y day these natives would have joined
1t as fast as it could come up to them
but now they have been taken under the
Spanish flag and if Porto Rico is invaded
the United States army will find thou
sands Of enemies TO fight. who We're it
not for the bOmbardment. would have
Joined them as allies.
nErop ATToN nav I'M r0mDr