Evening journal., 1898-06-23

THE RULE AS TO COMPARTMENT
"a meagre account Of the effects of
the action at Cardenas on May IL, IN |
which the torpedo boat Winslow was
fired upon by unsuspected batteries has
been obtained from one who was in the
city at the time. His report Of the
Spanish loss is one officer and five men
killed, and ten or a dozen wounded. A
few persons in the city were also kill
ed and wounded by shots which passed
over the batteries.
There were three Spanish gunboats
in range when the firing began, all
being alongside the pier. One Of them
retreated up the canal out of danger
and another would have done so, but
was kept at the pier by obstacles. The
third had her engines disabled, and
could not move on that account. The
two which could not move were origi-
nally believed by the Americans to De
bquteries on shore, and were practi-
cnlly destroyed by our fire.
There is record Of a very peculiar
incident, which, if it had been observed
by our commanders, might have led
them to believe that the city was sur
rendering. This was the hauling down
Of nearly all the Spanish flags in the
city from belief that the American
gunners were aiming their shots at
them. Early In the fight shot cut
the flagstaff on the Casino and crash
ed into a china store beyond. Then
two other flags were shot down IN
the same way, one from the barracks
and the other from a business house.
The people thought their flags were the
targets of our gunners, and with the
idea that they would thus divert our
fire TO some other quarter everyone
hauled down his colors.
The fact that some citizens were
killed here as well as at San Juan
during the bombardment Of that place
by SIMPSONS feet calls attention 10
the provisions Of the code of civilized
warfare as to the bombardment OF
cities. 1t is the policy of modern ma
tlons to avoid the wanton destruction
of life and property which would nat
urally follow from Smelling a city, anc
1t is only in cases where there is n<
other recourse that such steI
is taken. Even then due notice rs
given. so that those who wish to dc
so may withdraw from danger. In at
lacking fortihcations like those at Sar
Juan and Cardenas, where the gunboat'
at the pier were equivalent to shor'
batteries, no notice of bombardment il
given: hut the houses near the fortii'
cations are in very great danger, JUS
the same.
The fortiheations of all the principa
cities of both Cuba and Porto Ric'
have been erected in the immediate vi
cinity Of the most hicl1ly populated por
tions of the cities. All new guns re
Gently nut into position in Havana an
in residential sections Of the city, am
Santa Clara, which is to-day believe
to be a more formidable defensive pc
sition than MORO Castle itself, ma
been placed in such position that n
matter from what direction it is at
tackled amy she'll which goes over
must fall in the city of Havana.
1t follows from this that wheneye
, our ships attack these places they mus
at the same time she'll the cities, anC
on the face Of it, it may seem that w
, are violating usages Of modern wal
fare. while in fact the blame lies alto
gether with the Spaniards.
If the New York defences now l'
, Gated at Sandy Hook had been place
at Coney Island, the adjacent porto
= of Long island would be in no MOI
= danger during an attack on New for
than most West Indian cities would I
in when their defences are fred on
New York Sun.