The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-07-12
SHELLS ELL SHORT
SIMPSONS Fire on Sunday
Was Not Effective.
HE TILTED HIS SHIPS
But Even Then Couldn't Get
the Elevation.
HE TILTED HIS SHIPS

| Copyright. 1898. by the Associated Press)
/ On Board the Associated Press Dispatch
! Boat Dandy. Aguadores. Cuba Juy 10. Via
Port Antonio and Kingston, Jamaica, July
Il (9:45 a. m.)-The Brooklyn. Indiana and
Texas, under Commodore Schley, began
the bombardment of the city of Santiago
at 6:15 this afternoon, in obedience TO
General Skaters orders, conveyed by a
signal from the shore. The warships lined
up from east TO west, a quarter of a mile
from shore. and fired over the limestone
cliffs that come down to the sea and hide
the city. five miles distance. The bonn
bardment was continued for one hour
After thirty-five shots had been fired
from the s-inch guns Commodore Schley
became convinced that the Brooklyn's
fire was falling short and ordered ces-
sation, permitting the baLtleships to con-
tnue, they, with their larger guns, hav-
ing longer range. The shots were fired
apparently with great deliberation and at
intervals of two minutes. The signals
from the shore announc3d that the shells
fell thousand feet short and little to
the left of the Spanish position. At dusk
the squadron ceased firing and Commo-
dore Schley sent launch to the shore
to ask General Shafter if he desired firing
continued during the night.
When the Associated Press reporter
went aboard the Brooklyn Commodore
Schley said he was ignorant Of the par
pose Of the bombardment The Associat-
ed Press reporter read to him a message
secured at Juragua from mounted cour-
Ter saying that the armistice was ended
and hostilities had been resumed.
Commodore Schley said:
General Shafter signalled to me to be-
gin the bombardment as soon as 1 could
get into position. I doubted from the
start whether I could hit the city had
to guess at its location and be careful
not to injure our own army. If 1 bonn
bard tomarrow I shall have range marks
on shore to guide me and L shall take
the ships closer to shore than today. The
water off Aguadores is so smooth that
our craftsmanship was not disturbed by
the swaying of the ship. In firing today
L gave the turrets the greatest possible
elevation by listing the ships. But
knew 1 would fall short. The guns will |
carry more than five miles. but to throw
shots over the cliff great elevat ton is re-
quired."
When the flagship left Aguadores at |
o'clock the warships were still in posi- !
ton.
During the day the Associated Press
boat was a mile behind the warships.
When the bombardment began a heavy |
rainstorm was in progress with thunder |
and lightning, but artillery fire could be |
heard on shore indica ting that General |
Shafter had resumed hostilities immedi-
ately on the ending of the armistice
Following the roar of Commodore |
Schley's guns could be heard the Shrek |
ing of the shells as they sped on their
way to the doomed city. Then came a
long echo from the hills back of Santiago
and sometimes peal of thunder pro-
longed the reverberation and gave the i'm
preston that the city was bombarded
from the skyg sea and land.
The situation must have been APPALLING
to the Spaniards. and II General Shafter
made the demonstration for mere effect |
which it would have on the wavering en-
envy, he probably attained it in the end.