The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-07-12
SHIPS FIRE on SANTIAGO,
Shells Fan 1000 Feet short and
n LittIc TO the Left.

lLittic 10 the Left.
Copyright. 1888. by the Associa ted Press.
On Board the Associated Press Dispatch
Boat Dandy. off Asuadores, CulA1, July 10.
via Port Antonio and Kingston. July u,
e:45 a. m. The Brooklyn, Texas and In
diana un,Lr Commodore Schk y began
the bonbarament Of the city o. Santiago
at sis this ate rnoon in Obedience to re
quest from Gen. shafter conveyed by a
signal from the shore.
The warships Ii ned up from &c st 20 west,
a quarter of a m lie from the shore, and
fired over the limestone cliffs that come
down to the sea AMI hide the city five
miles AWAY. The bOrnbardmellt continued
for one hour.
After thirty-fve shots had been fired
from the s-.nch guns Comm, ,dore Schley
became convinced that the Blookyn's fire
was falling short and ordered a cessation,
permitting the bauleships TO continue
they, with their larger guns, having a
longer range
The shots were firCd apparently with
great deliberation and at int ervals Of two
minutes. The signals from the shore an
uounced that the shells fen thousand
feet short and little to the left of the
Spanish position.
AT dusk the squadron ce ased firing and
Commodore Schley sent a launch to the
shore to ask Gen. Shaftac if he desired
firing continued during tbs night.
When the Associated Press reporter
went aboard the Brook n, Commodore
schley said he was ignor ant Of the pur-
pose of the bombardment.
The Associated Press reporter read to
him a message received at Juragua from
a mounted courier saying the armistce
was ended and that hos tilities had been
resumed.
Commodore Schley ssdd: Gen. Shafter
signalled to me to begin the bombardment
as soon as I could get into position. I
doubted from the start whether I could
hit the city. had to guess at its loca-
ton and be very careful not to injure our
own army.
"If / lombard tomorrow 1 shall have
range marks on shore to guide me. and
shall take the ships closer to the shore
than to-day.
'rThe water off Aguadores is SO smooth
that our craftsmanship was not affected
by the swaying OF the ship. In firing to-
day ! gave the tTrets The greatest possi-
BILE elevation by listing the ships, but 1
knew 1 would fan short. The guns will
carry more than five miles, but to throw
shots over the cliff a great elevation is
required"
When the Dandy left Aguadores at Z
o'clock the warships were sin in position
During the bombardment the Dandy lay
a quarter of a mile behind the line of
ships.
When the bombardment began heavy
rainstorm was in progress, with thunder
and lightning, but artillery fire could be
heard on shore, Indicating that Gen.
Shafter had resumed hOsuiities Immediate
ly 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 Spanish city.
Then came a long echo from the hills
back of Santiago, and sometimes a peal
of thunder prolonged the reversDerations
and gave The impression that the city was
bombarded from sky, sea and land
The situation must have been appalling
TO the Spanards, and If Gen. Shafter made
the demonstration for the mere effect
which IL would have on the wavering enc
my, he probably attained his end.