The National tribune., 1902-06-05

patched a cruiser as picket boat to take
station north of the river and within easy
observing distance of them. ready to see
AID report any action whatever on their
part out of the ordinary. OF course. the
ostensible duty Of this scout cruiser was
to watch the city north of the river and
be prepared for any unexpected move in
that direction by the Spaniards.
Still another quiet but intensely signifi-
cant thing was done. The Monterey
steamed slowly toward the city and took
up position about half mile off shore
and directly in front of the two 10-inch
krupp guns, and trained upon them her
13-inch guns. There she remained during
the entire fight, silent and grim, ready to
begin work should either of these guns be
fired, a work which would have been ter
rible in its results, since most of her shells
would have fallen into the city. The
Spaniards knew perfectly that if because
of the necessity of silencing these guns
the Monterey should incidentally lombard
the city. the consequent loss of life and
destruction Of property would be charge
able to themselves and not to the Ameri-
cans. The result was that not once dur
ing the fight did those big guns partici-
pate, nor did the guns on Fort Malate
fire even a single shot in the direction Of
the fleet, their fire being entirely confined
to the American trenches and the assault
ing line when it advanced to the attack.
THE BATTLE OPENS.
Bright and sunny as was the morning. a
drilling rain set in before the signal for
the feet to move was given, and as it
moved off it was difficult to see the more
distant ships. Slowly the designated cruis-
ers and gunboats moved over toward the
city, ACCOMPANIED by the Newport, with
Gen. Merritt and his staff on board, and
the Quong Hoi, with the Oregons, the lat
ter two ships taking position half a mile
out from land and just opposite the Amer
lean trenches, yet well within range Of
the guns of Fort Malate had the latter
been trained upon them. Again the sun
came out and smiled upon the proceedings
for the remainder Of the day. Three of
the cruisers formed In close column, their
broadsides toward the shore and directly
opposite Fort Malate.
About o'clock there was a sudden puff
OF smoke from one Of them, and then
came to our eager ears the sound Of
gun. The first shot had been fired. With
our glasses we watched intently the effect
OF the Shot but saw nothing, the shell
probably going high and into the rice fields
beyond the fort. Then slowly and at reg
ular intervals the vessels continued the
bombardment for half an hour, with little
apparent effect 80 far as we could see
One or two shells we saw strike the fort
and throw up a cloud of dust. We after
ward saw the holes they made going clear
through the outer wall of stone and sew
eral inner ones Of brick and making the
garrison seek cover near the ground. 9th
er shots We saw strike the water but
most of them seemed to 20 high and fall
harmlessly to the ground at some unknown
place beyond.
Fire was at once opened from the fort
and all along the Spanish line of intrench-
1 80. . Co.
was replied to by the latter. The guns of
| the Utah and Aston Batteries joined in
| the work, while the fine guns of the fort
| and the rapid-fire guns in the trenches re-
piled.
| Between the heavier and frequent BOOM
| ings Of the cannon We could hear the sharp
rattle Of the Mausers and the heavier roll
ing OF the Springfield rapid fire, while the
chug. chug, chug of the quick-fre guns of
the Petrol and Calliao, which, with their
light draft. were enabled to work their
way IN to within a couple of hundred
yards of the fort, made up a combination
OF sounds to which one more was added
a little later-the yells and cheers of the
Americans when their lines were ordered
| to advance to the assault.
1t was. the gunboats, especially the lit
| tie CalliaO, which drove the Spauiards
| from their defenseS. The position they
took enabled them to rake the Spanish
trenches from the rear and right flank
with heir quick-firs guns. In a few min
utes they had performed such deeds Of
slaughter that the Spaniards abandoned
the trenches and fed back to the protec-
| ton OF the city. Only those beyond the
range Of this deadly fire remained in the
defenses, the garrison Of Fort Malate fee
ing with the infantry from the trenches,
spanish honor had been stated by the
needless sacrifice Of over 800 men and the
city was now ready to surrender.
TO the Petrol and Calliao, then, ie due