The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-05-19

patcn DOdl DduntleSS, hSy west Id
May. 1S.-(Copyright, 1898. by the As
ISOLATED Press. THE Dauntless, dis
patch boat of the Associated Press, ar
rived here this morning and brought
the first detailed account of the bonn
bardment of San. Juan de Porto Rico
by a portion of the fleet under the
command of Rear Admiral Sampson
on May L last.
The American warships sustained
only trivial injury and lost but one man
killed. After The engagement the north
end Of MORO castle was in ruins, the
Cabras island fort was silenced and the
Carlos battery was damaged. No shots
We're aimed at the city and it IS not
known whether any damage was done
there. Spaniards at St. Thomas claim
that Il school house was struck and
that the master and his pupils were
killed, but this is not thought likely,
as the bombardment took place early
in the morning and the school children
probably were not in the building at
the time
The plans of the Notifications fur
nished to the fleet were very mislead-
ing. It was known that the Spanish
forts had recently been strengthened
with new guns but other facts deVel-
those who drew the plans
Refugees in St. Thomas told the cor
respondents who touched there after
the engagement that the Spaniards
thought the forts at San Juan were
stronger than those Of Havana.
The United States fleet left Key West
on May 5. 70 intercept and DESTROY
the Spanish feet, which had left the
Cape Verde islands. This was the only
information the United States navy de-
partment and Admiral Sampson had on
the subject. Our warships proceeded
slowly eastward and on May s, were off
Cape Haytien. republic OF Hayti. At
tempts We're made to obtain informa-
ton regarding the whereabouts of the
Spaniards but no definite knowledge
was obtained.
ARRIVAL AT SAN JUAN.
Early on the morning of May u Rear
Admiral SIMPSONS ships approached
San Juan. the American consul at Cape
Haytien having informed the admiral
that he had heard q report that IS
Spanish ships had been seen heading
for Porto Rico.
The city of San Juan is situated in
q long, narrow pocket. a tongue of
highland separates il from the ocean.
The entrance Of the harbor is easily
defended and the same can be said Of
the headlands of lofty Cabras island,
which lies in the throat of the pas
sages. These headiandS have been for
titled by the SpaniardS. but they did
not prove in any way dangerous to our
warships. The town of San Juan is on
one side of the bay and in the rear of
the town rise high hills. To reach the
city ships must pass the MORO castle
and the battery of san Carlos, situated
on a promontory at the east entrance
OF the harbor Besides, they must pass
the Canuelo battery on Cabras island.
PLAN OF ACTION.
The attack on the forts was so plan
ned that our warships could be in a
position to meet the Spanish vessels,
should they emerge from the harbor.
The following is the official plan of ac-
ton issued TO the American fleet:
THE squadron viii pass near Salinas
Point, and then steer about east to pass
just outside the reefs off CabraS is
lands. The column is TO be formed as
follows:
THE Iowa. flagship; Indiana, New
York, Amplitude and Terror. The De
troiU is TO go ahead Of the Iowa, dis
tant 1000 yards. The Wamputuck to
keep On the toW2s starboard Dow, dis
taEt 900 yards. The Detroit and VAN
putuok to sound constantly after land
is closer ard to Immediately signal if
ten fathoms or less = obtained. show
ing at night q red light over the stern
and at daytime 2 red flag aft. The
Montgomery to remain in the rear of
the column, stopping outside of the fire
from MORO castle arc, the lookout
for torpedo boats and destroyers. If
Fort CanUeio fires she Is to he 81
fenced. The Prrter VIII take station
under cover of the Icwa. on the part
side. The Niagara 10 remain westward,
off Salinas Point.
While approaching a sharp lookout
is to be kept on the coast between Sa-
hGas Point ard CabTas iSla,al for tor
pedo boat deStTOyers. When near Ca
bras island. one-haf TO one mile. the
Detroit Will rapidly cross the mouth Of
the harbor and be close under MORO
to the westward, screened from the fire,
OF MOrrOs western battery. If the old
guns on the north side OF Moro fire,
she is to silence them. These two cruis-
ers are TO keep on the lookout, espec-
tally for Spanish torpedo boat. destroy
ers coming out Of the harbor.
THE Porter, when the action begins
viii -crOsS the harbor mouth behind
the Iowa, and close under the cliff to
the eastward Of the Detroit and tor
pedo any Spanish cruiser trying to get
out of the harbor, but she is not To at
tack destroyers.
THE Wamputuck will tow one of her
boats. with its. mast shipped, flying a
red flag, and having a boats anchor
aboard the tug, so arranged that she
can stop the boat and anchor at the
same time. She is to anchor the beat
IN about ten fathoms with Fort Can
Uelo and the western end of Cabras Is
land in range.
There viii be two objects for at
tack. the batteries on the MORO Cas-
tie and the men-of-War. If it is clear
that Spanish vessels are lying in port,
fire is to be opened upon them as soon
as they are discernible over Cabras Is
land. The motions of the flagship Will
be followed in this regard. II it should
become evident however, that neutral
Inen-of-war are in the line of fire a flag
of truce will probably be sent in before
the fire is opened. The Porter is to
hold herself in readiness for this SER
vice.
Care must be taken to avoid striking
the hospitals on Cabras Islands If it
becomes necessary to silence the MORO
batteries a portion of the fire will be !
directed with this object, but the prin-
cipal object is to destroy the ships.
After passing the mouth OF the har-
Dor, the Iowa Will TURF c little to star
board toward the town and will turn
out with a starboard helm and again !
pass to port, and after passing Cabras
Island to the westward she will turn
again with StarDoard helm and pass
as at first. Should this plan be changed |
and il be decided to hold the ships in
front of the entrance, the signal Stop |
will be made at the proper time. !
The Indiana, New York and the I
monitors Will follow the motions of the |
flagship and remain in column.
The course after Fort Canuelo is |
brought into range, with the west end |
of Cabras Island, will be east by south |
Should nightfall come with the post |
in the enemy's hands and the ships in