The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1898-06-03

threw shells around them with such rap
idity, but they knew he was somewhere ON
the other side of the hill, and then hope
fully raised the muzzles of their guns ana
banged away. The result was what might
have been expected. Their fire tore the
bosom of the Caribbean sea, buvit harmed
nothing else After the Massachusetts, had
passed the point where she could fire into
the harbor with advantage, she returned
to the open sea, the other vessels following
her. The fight was over as far as the Amer
leans were concerned.
The Spanish honor, however. demanded
that some further destruction of gunpow-
der be made, and the ships doomed and the
batteries roared long after the American
vessels were entirely out of range.
The affair soon became ludicrous, as
nearly all the shells fell from two to three
miles from the vessels at which they were
aimed. Worse gunnery was never seen.
Not an American vessel was struck and ont
a sailor injured, although fully 800 shots
were fired by the Spaniards, the Americans
firing not one-fourth of that number In re-
turn.
1t is likely that the latter part of the
week will see more serious work. The
dynamite cruiser Vesuvius is coming down
and an attempt will be made by her to ex-
plode the triple row of mines extending
| across the harbor mouth. With these out
of the way, Commodore Schley will sail
into the harbor for a death grapple with
the fleet and batteries.
Sixty Shots Fired
PORT ANTONIO. June 1.-(Delayed in
two, cv,,tc tAA DVnc
steamer Dandy, which arrived here tonight,
reports that the fleet of Commodore Schey
yesterday afternoon attacked the batter
les at Santiago de Cuba and the fleet Of
Admiral Cervera lying in the harbor. The
Spanish flagship, the Cristobal Colon, was
struck twice by shells from the Massachu-
sets an dthe batteries were badly damaged
by the fire from the cruiser New Orleans.
Three hundred shots were fired by the
Spaniards and one-fourth that number by
the Americans. No American vessel was
hit and on one nthe ships was injured.
The Spanish loss was not heavy.
I A British Observer
KINGSTON, Jamaica, June "A dis
patch from Port Antonio says that the
British second-class cruiser Indefatigable
returned there from Santiago de Cuba
yesterday. The cruiser had been ordered
to Santiago to assist the wounded in the
expected naval battle. The ships sur
geon was on leave Of absence and gov
eminent medical officer was taken.
From the bridge of the Indefatigable
sixteen ships were counted through binoc-
ulars in Santiago bay. This is supposed
to be the full strength of Cervera's fleet
and some of the sixteen are probably
merchantmen.
Six American ships lay off Santiago har-
Dor and ten were crcling around Com.
modore Schley moved the blockading flee,
close in shore.
On Sunday Admiral Cervera sent out two
torpedo boats, one of them. the Pluton
After exchanging shots with the Brooklyn
| Commodore Schley's flagship, and the bat
| tleship Texas, they returned to the harbor
The interchangeable Is under orders again
to proceed to Santiago, but she Is waiting
| for more surgeons.
The Harbor Trap
NEW YORK, June "A dispatch to the
World from San Domingo says:
The American fleet attempted to force
the Spanish squadron which has taken
refuge In Santiago de Cuba to engage in
| Ddltle vi 1ueSQdy.
Our vessels bombarded Forts Moro, 70
pacata and Punta Gorda. discharging be-
tween the hours of and pm. seventy
| Shots
The Spanish vessels did not dare to- place
| themselves in a position to return the fire
of the American fleet.
Only the cruiser Colon discharged a few
useless shots. -FT
The Spanish feeling at Santiago now is
that Admiral Cervera's fleet Is in a rat
trap.
Private news from Porto Rico shows that
AZ people were injured during the bonn
bardment of San Juan. The land batteries
suffered heavy damage. Americans and
| Cubans here resident have transmitted by
mail a pre-announced signed petition to
President Mckinley expressing the urgent
necessity of retaining Consul Grimpke at
his post
Too Late to Lie
MADRID, June g. a. m.-The Havana
correspondent of Impartial cables that ad-
miral Cevera was not at Santiago de Cuba
on Tuesday.
The Cristobal Colon was the only vessel
there of the squadron, the correspondent
declares, and she was repairing her boil
ers.
The fighting lasted less than one hour
the American fleet then withdrawing. The
battleship Iowa was damaged in her bow
| hxs two shells