New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-05-19
THE SAN JUAN COMPARTMENT
STORY OF SIMPSONS ATTACK.
SPANISH FORTS BADLY DAMAGED AND
BATTERIES SILENCED.
TIE AMERICAN LOSS ONE MAN AND TRIVIAL IN
JURY TO THE sHIPs-sPANIsH FIRING EX-
CITED AND AIMLEss-ADMiRAL sAMP-


SONS PLAN OF ACTION
tCopyriyhl: 1898: The Associated Press)
On Board the Associated Press Dispatch-ooa'
DountIcss Key West. Fla May 1S.--The Daunt-
less. dispatch boat OF the Associated Press ar
rived here this morning. and brought the first
detailed account of the bombardment OF San
Juan dc Porto Rico capital of the Island OF
Porto Rico by a portion Of the feet under the
command Of Rcar-Admiral Sampson on May IL
last The American warshipS sustained only
trivial injury and lost only one man Killed
After the engagement the north end OF MORO
Castle was IN ruins, the Cabras Island fort was
s;lcnced and the San Carlos battery was dam
aged.
No shots were aimed at the city. and 1t Is not
known whether any damage was done there or
not Spaniards at ST. Thomas assert that
school-house was struck. and that the master ana
his pupils were killed. But this is not thought
likely to be true. as the bombardment took
place early in the morning. and the school chill
drcn are not likely to have been In the building
at the time.
The plans Of the Notifications furnished to the
fleet were very misleading. 1t was known that
the Spanish forts had recently been strengthened
with new guns but other facts developed which
showed that miscalculations were made by those
who drew up the plans. Refugees at ST Thomas
told the correspondents who touched there after
the engagement that the Spaniards thought the
forts at San Juan de Porto Rico were stronger
than the forts at Havana.
The United States feet left Key West on May
g. to Intercept and destroy" the Spanish fleet
which had left the Cape Verd Islands. This was
the only information the United States Navy
Department and Admiral Sampson had on the
subject.
The warships proceeded slowly eastward. and
on May were off Cape Haytien. Republic OF
Hayti Attempts were made there to obtain In
formation regarding the whereabouts OF the
Spaniards but no definite information was OBJ
tanned
Early on the morning Of May II Rear-Ad-
miral Simpsons ships approached San Juan de
Porto Rico, the American Consul at Cape Hay
tien having informed the Admiral that he had
heard report that thirteen Spanish warships
had been seen heading for Porto Rico.
THE SITUATION OF THE CITY.
The city OF San Juan de Porto Rico is stu
ated in long narrow pocket. A tongue OF
highland separates II from the ocean. The en-
trance 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
passage These headlands have been fortified
way dangerous to the warships. The town Of
San Juan de Porto Rico is on the ocean side OF
the bay, and in the rear OF the town rise high
hills. To reach the city ships must pass the
MORO Castle Notifications and the battery OF
San Carlos. situated on promontory at the
east entrance Of the harbor Besides, they must
pass the Canuelo battery, Cabras Island
The attack on the forts planned so that
the warships could be in position to meet the
Spanish vessels should the latter emerge from
the harbor.
The following is the official plan Of action
issued to the American fleet
THE ORDERS TO THE FLEET.
The squadron will pass near Salinas Point
and then steer about east to pass just outside
the reefs off Cabras Island. The column is to
be formed as follows:
The Iowa. flag: the Indiana. the NewYork.
the Amphitrite. and the Terror. The Detroit
Is to go ahead of the Iowa distant one thousand
yards. The Wampatuck is kept on the lowa's
starboard bow, distant five hundred yards. The
Detroit and Wampatuck TO sound constantly
after land is closed. and to Immediately signal IL
ten fathoms or less is obtained. showing al night
red light over the stern and at daytime red
flag aft.
column. stopping outside Of the fire from MORO
and on the lookout for torpedo boat destroyers.
II Fort Canuelo fires she is to silence 1t. The
Porter will take station under the cover Of the
Iowa. on the port side. The Niagara to remain
westward off Salinas Point
While approaching a sharp lookout is to be
kept on the coast between Salinas Point and
Cabras Island for torpedo-boat destroyers.
When near Cabras Island. one-half mile TO one
mile, the Detroit will rapidly cross the mouth
Of the harbor ard be close under Moro to the
westward. screened from the fire oe Morro's
western battery. II the old guns on the north
side Of Moro opened she is TO silence them.
These two cruisers are to keep on the lookout.
especially for Spanish torpedO-boat destroyers
coming out OF the harbor.
~ han hao harg
the harbor mouth behind the Iowa and get
close under the cliff TO the eastward Of the De-
trot and torpedo any Spanish cruiser trying TO
get out Of the harbor but she is not TO attack
destroyers.
The wampatuck will tow one Of her boats
with Its mast shipped, flying a red flag and hav-
ing boats anchor board the tug so ar
ranged that she can stop the boat and anchor
at the same time. She is TO anchor the boat in
about ten fathoms. with Fort Canuelo and the
western end Of Cabras Island in range
THE OBJECTS OF ATTACK
There will be two objects for attack-the bat
teries upon Moro and the men-ofwar II II Is
clear that Spanish vessels are lying In port, FIRE
Is to be opened upon them so soon they are
discernible over Cabras Island the motions Of
the flagship being followed in this regard. II II
should become evident. however. that neutral
men-of-war are in the line Of fire a flag OF truce
will probably he sent In before the vessels are
opened. The Porter Is to hold herself in readi-
ness for this service.
Care must be taken to avoid striking the hos
pitfalls on Cabras Island If It becomes neees
the fire will be directed with this object. But
the principal object is TO destroy the ships.
After passing the harbor mouth the Iowa will
turn a little to starboard toward the town and
will then turn out with starboard helm and
again pass to port. and. after passing Cabras
Island TO the westward. she will turn again with
q starboard helm and pass at first Should
this plan be changed and II be decided to hold
the ships in front of the entrance the signal
stop VIII be made at the proper time.
he nd he nd he
will follow the motions Of the flagship and re-
main 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 port in the
enemy's hand and the ships inside. the cruisers