Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1899-09-09
DEFENSES OF SAN JUAN
Narrow Channel Is Protected by
! Many Batteries.

Military Notes ON Porto Rico," re.
sently issued by the military informa.
Non division of the war department for
the information of the army, has the
following description of San Juan:
The capital of Porto Rico is situated
m the northern coast, on a long and mar.
row island, separated from the main
island at one end by shallow arm of
che sea, over which is the bridge of San
Antonio, connecting it with the main
land, which runs out at this point in a
long sand spit, some nine miles in
length, apparently to meet the smaller
islands. At the other the island ends in
. ragged bluff or promontory some hun.
dred feet high and three.fourths of a
mile distant from the main island.
This promontory is crowned by MORO
Castle, the principal fertilization of the
town. The form of the castle is that of
an obtuse angle, with three tiers Of
batteries, placed one above the other,
toward the sea, their fires crossing each
other. Toward the city it has wall,
fanked by two bastions of heavy artil.
1cry, which dominates all of the inter.
mediate space, which has the name Of
MORO, and also part of the city and the
north shUIe Of the sea. II has the usual
barracks, large water tanks, ware.
houses chapel and the necessary offices,
sll bombproof A mine descends from
# to the seashore through the entrance
OF the port, its issue being defended by
battery. This enables troops to enter
and leave the castle.
There is revolving lighthouse placed
on the top Of the castle, rising to n
height of 40 feet above the level of the
sea At the western end of the island
On which San Juan is situated is the
entrance 20 the harbor. On the right
bank Is the castle of San Juan de In
Cruz, situated on the Cendeo shoal
which is very dangerous during north
wind. The channel is narrow, with g
rocky bottom, so close under the head
land that olo can almost leap ashor,
nom passing vessel. The water her,
T. some 30 feet deep. To mariner un
acquainted with the locality or when
"nCrther' Is blowing this entrance
Out vi hAlN'ulIy anu uduptr.
Northeast Ct the city is the well con
s.ruCtcd castle Of San Cristobal, facing
the ocean 1t defends the city on the
land side, occupying the whole width
81 the inlet from tho bay to tho QUITE
Sea pointing its fire in all directions
Its structure is accommodated to tn,
nature Of the ground, which is uneven
KlE fF,ts, hn
rart IF the bay On the highest part OF
the hill is the ramp, through whic!
the castle Is entered. 1t has two larg,
bomipr barracks and everything nee
essnry in the way of office and store
room. Upon these barracks is erected
the Caballero fort, with 22 cannon.
whose fire dominates the city and it,
vicinity on land and sea.
Below the castle is the drill ground
with batteries directed toward the sea
the land and the drawbridge of tho in
terror fosse Then follow three larg,
ravelins-San Carlos, occupying the
top of the hill; Principe, situated OIL
the slope Of the Cuesta, and Principal
on which is situated the drawbridge OF
the second tosse, giving issue to the
counter trenches, to the covered way
AID to the field, which is reached
through the gate Of Santiago. All OF
these Notifications are in great part cut
out of solid rock, and from the sea they
offer to the view three tiers Of batteries
One above the other, their fire being
thrown in all directions. This castle is
connected with Moro Castle OIL the
north by wall of modern construction,
there having been nothing ON that side
until the end of the past century but
few batteries, owing to the knowledge
that the roughness of the coast rendered
unnecessary any greater fertilization to
prevent n landing.
Starting from the southern part OF
San CrIstohal Castle and following tn,
edge of the lay, line of bulwarks
encountered, being those Of Santiago
and san Pedro, the curtain being inter
ruPted by the Espana gate, after which
follow the bulwark of San .Iusto and tn,
gate Of the same name, which forms AZ
area under the curtain. Then follow tn,
hall Lulwsrk of San Justo, the bulwark
Of La Palma, or San Jose, the platform
OF CunceEcIon, to the half bulwark and
fortress of santa Catalina, the residence
al lie captain general. From the for.
tress to the half bulwark of San Angus.
tiu to the vest is found the gate Of San
Juan and then the platform of Santa
Elena The San Cristobal outworks con.
sst Of "a redau resting on the highest
pat Of tho glacis Of San Cristobal, and
called Fort Abanieo Gam, OH account OF
huvlug this form. Between the town
and the san Antonio bridge are three
small advanced lines. One consists of a
running ditch and the other two of loop.
holed batteries, At the head Of the
bridge is situated the San Antonio fort
On the extreme east of the islet and
near the bridge above mentioned there