The times., 1899-05-13
THE BONBARDNENT
OF San JUAN'S FORTS
Great Guns We're LAUNDERING
One Year Ago.
How the News Was Received at
Washington.
The Action Began nt Daylight and
Persons in This City Rcnd of
il ut Breakfast.

The fortifications of the Porto Rican me-
tropolis of San Juan were under the fire Of
American guns yesterday one year ago. 1t
was at seventeen minutes after o'clock
on the morning of May IL, 1898, that the
first gun, fired by the battleship Iowa and
aimed at the MORO, echoed over the tropic
sea.
Secretary Long on April 80 1898, advised
Rear Admiral Sampson that the Navy De-
partment had received cable messages
from st. Vincent. Cape Verde Islands, an
nouncing that the armored cruisers Infanta
Maria Teresa. Cristobol Colon, Oquendo,
and Vizcaya, and the torpedo boat destroy
ers Pluton. Terror. and Furor had sailed
for Cuba on that morning. In order to
obtain information regarding the Spanish
fleet should it go to the West Indies the
Navy Department sent out two of the
American liners, the St Louis and the
Harvard to cruise to the eastward of
Guadeloupe and Martinique. A third liner
was sent TO cruise around the island of
Porto Rico.
Secretary Long in his instructions 10
Sampson. said
Though this Spanish squadron is reported as be-
ing bound for Cuba, it seems very doubtful
whether il would proceed Immediately to that
neighborhood, but il might possibly go into san
Juan de Porto Rico or some other port OF that
island or to the eastern part of Cuba. 1t is pre-
sumed thGt ii they do take refuge in port as
above mentioned, that movement would be favor
able TO your operations against them.
1t has been frequently suggested that this Span
ish squadron, or part OF it, might proceed TO
the vicinity OF Cape ST. Rogue for the purpose
n into and Ma-ia
known TO be their way TO rc-enforce you, and
which are expected 10 arrive about the end OF the
month.
Of course the department need not remind you
of the importance Of conhning the enemy in san
Juan in Gaze they so in there for coai or other
supplies. 1t matter of common rumor
some time ago that the Spanish were preparing
an old hulk or hulks. loaded with stone, for the
purpose Of obstructiBg the entrance TO the har-
bos
Ii has, of course beeen suspected that the desti-
nation OF the Spanish fleet might be on the At
laItic coast of the United States probably to the
northward, for the purpose Of infiicting what in
jury they could upon our coastwise cities and
towns and capturing such of our merchant ships
and small men of war as they might fall in with.
Ready for Cervcrn.
The flagship New York sailed from Key
West on May 4. On May the following
dispatch was sent by Secretary Long:
Sampson, care L. S Consul, Cape Haitien, Haiti:
Do not risk crippling your vessels against
Notifications as TO prevent from soon afterward
OF Pelayo. Carlos Y, Nizcaya, Oqrendo. Colon,
Teresa. and four torpedo boat destToyers if they
should appear on this side
The attack on the defences Of Porto Rico
was made on May u. Upon approaching
San Juan it was seen that none OF the
Spanish vessels was in the harbor. Samp-
son reported that he was considerably in
doubt whether they had reached San
Juan and had departed. or had not arrived.
AS their capture was the object of the ex-
pedition and as 1t was desirable that they
should not pass TO the westward, it was
determined to attack the batteries defend
ing the port. in order to develop their posi-
tions and strength, and then, without wait
ing, to reduce the city or subject it to a
regular bombardment, to turn to the west
ward.
Sampson reported that his progress lad
been much slower than he had anticipated
owing to the frequent breakdowns of the
two monitors. the Amphitrite and the Ter
ror, which made il necessary TO tow them
both nearly the entire distance from Key
West to San Juan, and also to the con-
dition of the Indiana.
The attack was begun at daylight. The
| firing lasted for three hours. when the sig
nal TO cease firing was displayed. When
| the firing ceased the squadron stood TO the
northeast until out of sight of San Juan
! when the course was laid to the westward
with a view of communicating with the
I Navy Department at Port Plata. AT Cape
| Haitien Sampson received a dispatch from
| the Secretary OF the Navy notifying hin
that the Spanish feet had been sighted of
the Island of Curacao on the 18th Of May
and directing him to return with all hast,
IN 10 naval hasp Kew West
The Official Notes.
Following are the official notes on the
engagement taken from the records of th,
flagship New York:
May u. 1898:
| Weather fair; very light breeze; long swell
| FROM northward and westward.
! 3.30-Brtakfast.
! s-Can "All hands, complete clearing for ac
tion. squadron standing in for San Juan, tn
! lights Of the town being plainly visible, DetrOi
| leading. Nompatuck starboard bow to ancho
| boat for turning stake as provided in .'order o
| battle second plan of action; the other ships il
| column follows: Iowa. Indiana, New York. Am
| phitrite. Terror. and Montgomery. Speed, fou
| knots
4:5s-Detroit iy,hore. standing across harbor en-
trance. In this passage across the front of tn
lIrbor, and very close TO The town, the Detroi
could he seen in the harbor. There was one mel
| chlnt steamer in the inner harbor
| j:OJ-Sounded General quarte,s."
5:I6-Iova began firing the Morro with foi
I ward 6pounder and then with all starboard bal
tery. Smoke hanging over the ship made iirin
/ slow.
5:24-First return shot from the shore batterie,
5:S0-Iowa turned from the batteries. circlin
to the westward.
5:5g- Signal, Form column
6:09-Teegraphic signal Use only larg
I guns" The smoke from the smaller guns ha
been interfering with the fire OF the heavier gun,
The column was headed in for the batteries in th
same line Of attack as in the first round.
G:l5-Dctroit seen standing away from the MOI
TO, with the Montgomery not far of her poT
beam From the time when the shore batterie
| began firing (5:2D until this time (G:lJ) the De
troit has been lying close inshore. between tn
! line followed by the squadron and the Moro an
she had been subjected to what seemed concer
trated fire Of all the shore batteries for all thi
time, she in the meanwhile pouring in broadsid,
from her own rapid-fre battery.
G:30-Signal TO Detroit and Montgomery not
follow battle ships. By this time all the shor
batteries had been developed and they were mor
numerous than the information received had il
dicated.
0:35Iowa began firing at Moro on the secon
round; Tange, 500 yards.
6:i0-lowa ceased firing. Almost calm: sInog
hanging over the shore fortifcations, pretty eGei
tuaiiy screening them.
7:I2-AnptitTite signaled. after turrct di
ablcd for today"
7:IG-Iova began firing on the third round
7.S8-Signaed 10 Detroit and Montgomery, ''R
port oasualtics" Received replies rs follow
Detroit "0;' Montgomery, 30"
.:tj-I0wa sounded, Secure"
7:ij-SignaI Form coIumn. course northwest,
AMI hauled down the signal at Sol.
s:I2-Signal. Report casualties"
sl5-rhe Terror. which had been lying close
shore engaged with the Notifications, ceased irin,
s:fs-Ncw York reports II killed. wounded.
All other ships reported no casualties. except An
riritrite. which reported the death Of one gunner
mate from the effects OF heat.
Damares fo our Shins