The daily morning journal and courier., 1898-06-01
NO OFFICIAL CONFIRMATION
NEVIS COMES FROM CAPE nAYTIEN
 AND PORT AU PRINCE,


 ago Harbor but Say Nothing Concern
 ing the Bombardment of the Forts
 Which Has More Likely Taken Place.
 [Copyright, 1898, The Associated Press.l
 Cape Haytien, Hayti, May 31.-5:15 p. m.-Advices just received from Ha- vana say that since o'clock this af- ternoon the American fleet at San tiago de Cuba has been cannonading the batteries of Moro Castle La Soca- pan and Punta Carda. At the same time it is said the American ships have been engaged with the Spanish warships. The firing was extremely heavy, At 3:45 p. m. the cannonading became less heavy against the forti- fcatfons but was more accentuated in the locality where the fleets were en- gagged.
 $40 p. n.-At this hour the Santiago cable is still working. Private mes- sages intimate that there has been a severe fight between the American fleet and the outer Notifications and the Spanish fleet. The fight lasted the greater part of the afternoon. The ad- vantage appears to have been with the Americans. According to the latest advices the combat is still in progress. Persons who climbed Lookout moun- tain at the entrance of Cape Hay tien harbor declare that they heard cannonading, low, but distinct, to the west and to the north, beyond Tortuga Island
 The correspondent of the Associated Press who was at the signal station about the same time also heard sounds resembling a. cannonade. The wind was in the right direction to carry the de- tonations to him. It seems certain that the fleet the Haytian gunboat saw passing Cape Maysi going northward found its opportunity of turning back ward across the front of an opposing force.
 11:15 D. m.-According to advices from g. Spanish source, fourteen Amer ican warships and two torpedo boats were engaged in the combat at San- tiago. A very careful fire was directed against the batteries of Morro Castle until 3:45 D.. n., when discharges of cannon began to be heard at sea, off the port. These discharges continued until o'clock and then entirely ceased. From the Spanish account it is inn possible to judge as to the exact merits of the encounter.
 Morro Castle is at the entrance of the harbor of Santiago de Cuba, La Ze- capa, also shown on the maps as Lazo- capa Castle, is short distance inside the harbor entrance and Punta Garda, is situated on a point well inside the harbor of Santiago de Cuba, showing that the American fleet has entered the harbor, according to the Havana advices via Cape Haytlen and has en- gagged the Spanish fleet in those wa ters.
 Port Au Prince, Hayti, May 31.- About 2 o'clock this afternoon an American squadron, composed of four teen warships, of which the cruiser New York displayed the flag of Rear Admiral Sampson, and a number of torpedo boats, began a bombardment with heavy guns of the forts and the harbor of Santiago de Cuba. The American fire was directed principally against the forts and the harbor. The forts of Morro Castle, Lazopa and Punta Gorda suffered especially The cannonading was very persistent and cannot have failed to be destructive It lasted until 3:45 D. m.
 The town, which is situated near the inner end of the harbor, escaped dam age. At 3:45 p. m. the cannonade di- unfinished. About o'clock cannon dis charges were heard at a distance, pre- sumab1y at sea, continuing for some time, when the firing ceased complete ly. The Spanish authorities maintain strict silence as to the number of vic- tins, who were apparently numerous.
 London, June 1.-The news of the bat tie at Santiago de Cuba has revived the dwindling interest in the war. It is suggested that the Americans may be bonbarding the forts in order to cover the laying of mines or the sinking of hulks to block the channel. Credence is given the report that Admiral Ger vera tried to run the blockade before