Evening star., 1898-07-23


No news is expected from Cen
eral Miles for day or two, as he is
out OF reach of cable stations.
The letter OF Garcia to Shafter has
not been received at the War De-
partment
The naval war board was at the
White House for long time today
discussing the situation.
KEY WEST, Fla, July 3, 11:5O am
Acting under orders from Rear Admiral
Sampson, four American warships on
Thursday afternoon last entered the harbor
of NiDe, on the northeast coast of the
province of Santiago de Cuba, and after
furious bombardment took possession of
the harbOr as a base of operations for the
Porto Rico campaign
1t is understood, however, that the plans
have been changed since in consequence of
the occupation of Santiago by the United
States forces, and that Ntpe will not be
used for the purpose originally intended.
The vessels engaged were the Topeka,
Annapolis, Wasp and Leyden. In the
course of an hour they silenced three forts,
the Juan Jorge. before reported) and
scattered Spanish rifemen who had taken
part in the engagement.
For week or more the Topeka had been
blockading the northeastern coast between
Cape Lucrecia and Cabonico, with strict or
ders from Commodore Howell not to at
tempt an entrance into any of the harbors
few days ago, while cruising past Nipe,
which is about midway in the blockade line
and directly across the island from the city
OF Santiago. an armored launch about 100
feet long came out and fired two shells,
both of which, however. fell short.
Chased by the Topeka
The Topeka returned the fire and chased
the launch into the harbor, but in conse-
quence Of Commodore Howelrs orders could
not follow her in.
Or Thursday the Annapolis Wasp and
Leyden came from Santiago, and Capt
Hunker Of the Annapolis, who was ranking
on1cer' was surprised TO learn that Nipe
had not been taken.
Admiral Sampson had understood that
this had been done and had orders for the
monitors detailed for the Porto Rico CAM
paign to rendezvous there. When the situ-
alton had been cleared UP Capt Hunker
ordered the ships to go in.
The Wasp and Leyden, being the smallest
OF the quartet, led the way. followed by the
Annapolis. while the Topeka, which carried
heavier battery. brought up the rear.
The channel leading into the harbor was
very narrow. and on a bluff to the right.
called Galory Point. was a fort and signal
station. AS the American Slips entered
the Spaniards were signaling in a lively
fashion with a blue ball and flag, appar-
entity notifying the Spanish ships in the
Earbor, which were the Jorge Juan. two
smaller gunboats and the armored launch
before mentioned.
The Fort Fired.
As the Wasp and Leyden rounded the
point the fort fired a dozen shots, none Of
which, however, fell near them, and the
Topeka returned the fire with her three
Founders.
Almost Immediately the Spaniards de-
serted the fort and ran, while the Topeka
continued to send shells into them. A body
OF rlhemen on the beach returned the fire
with few wild shots, but, they, too. were
quickly dispersed by the Topeka's smaller
guns. The Topeka also discharged two
torpedOes- At the same time another small
fort to the left of the channel fired on the
American ships, but it was silenced as
easily as the other.
In the meanwhile, the Wasp and Leyden
had taken up a position in the northwest
ern portion Of the harbor and opened fire
across the water at the Jorge Juan. which
lay 10 the southeast, in front of the town
OF Mayari- Her position was about a mile
and quarter from the beach and behind
her third fort stood on an eminence. This
fcrt opened fire on the Wasp and Leyden.
and as the Anna polls ard Topeka came ND
the Spanish gunboat Joined in the fight,
and general battle followed.
Sank the Jorge Juan
The Topeka anchored in the middle of
the harbor about 4OOe yards from the
Jorge Juan. and the other three American
beats drew up On either side and formed a
semi-clrcle. They then closed in on the
Spanish ship. pouring a destructive fire
at her and the fort beyond. The Topeka
sent fOur-inch shells crashing into the
Jorge Juan al such a rate that she sank
within twenty minutes.
When the firing became heavy the off,
GERS and crew of the Spaniard put off In
small boats, ma de the shore under a heavy
IRE and escaped into the woods.
Two shots from the Topeka's bow gun
nreO on an elevation of 800 Yards dropned
square into Mayari fort the Spanish pen-
hants disappeared and a white flag was
run W. This ended short but one of the
most vicious BATTLES of the. war
All The American ships sent small boats
over 10 tne spanish gGnboat, that of the
Topeka being under command of IAeuten
ant Niblack. the former naval attache at
Berlin, Vienna and Rome.
They found that the Jorge Juan's fore.
castle had been entirely nipped away bv
the Topeka's feur-ineh shells and that be,.
fore and Inizzen masts and flag staff were
carried on. 1t is thought the Spantards
scuttled her before abandoning the vessel.
The Jorge Juan.
The Jorge Juan was three-masted, one
funneIed ship Ct $50 tons and 100 horse
power She was 203 feet long, 30 feet wide,
and II feet draft She carried crew OF
I4G men and hal 130 tons of coal. Her bat
terry was HEAVIER than the Topeka's, the
biggest OF the four attacking American
ships, IL consisting of three Al Hontorias
two IS krupp suns and two machine guns
Nipe harbor i; twenty miles long and ten
miles wide. It IS surrounded by mountains;
and is admirably adapted as base for any
campaign.
The Topeka. on her way into this port
passed the Terror, Puritan and Montgom-
sry heading for Nips-