The National tribune., 1903-08-13
THE AMERICAN
SPANISH WAR
Continued from first pase.)

There are no international agreements, il
is true. as to previous notice of BON
bardment." says the Puerto Rico Gazette
} but in practice the custom prevails among
, all civilized nations to give notice of tho
bombardment of city or fertilization. Fol-
no Christian soldier, no civilized nation
will want to take the terrible responsibility
of hutchering defenseless women and chill
drcn. The soldier fights against those
; who carry weapons. but not against tho
weak and the sick The Spanish are moi
entirely wrong in this. \ real surprise
: could have been of advantage to Admira
: Sampson only in case ii had been his in
tcntion to force the harbor 1t was sim
ply Il question of reconnaissance. he might
have granted Il delay of two or three hours
without in any manner prejudcng the re
suit of the bombardment As it was. the
inhabitants were rudely awakened from
their sleep. The troops and volunteers nj
once hurried to their posts: but old men
women. and children sought their safety in
the fields and roads outside of the city. A
veritable emigration of fleeing people was
moving along the road to Caugrejos, but
all were quiet and orderly. Meanwhile the
American projectles were steadily falling,
upon the city and its vicinity; some passed
over the city and fell into the bay.
Is. The American squadron was com
posed of nine larger ships and two torpedo
boat destrOycrs. Fire was opened imme-
d!atcly after > o CLOCK ana continued untii
ABOUT SOU. four OF the American sh'ps
We're about two cable lengths north of
island OF Cabras and at equal distances
from each other they were describing CIR
cies. IN "rder 10 Salely iiIoid the sh'iii"w
places near the island, winch they passed
at short distance. a boat had been an
chorcd in the center of the circle. They
| came to within | 800 meters of the MORO.
ard as each snip passed inc castle she
tlred broadSide. rive OF the American
Shlps We're hshtiiiS inrther horth WIN
Crlstohal Casiie ana tne eastern batteries
OF MORO Castie. lhese ships o,.ei'
changed their POSITIONS Two more shlps
could be dlscerned northeast Oh santiago;
several OF the American Ships Succeeueo
IN passing so close to the fortlflcations that
the nearest batteries could not Ife upon
them. The distance was probably SUI OF
9oD meters. Inc spanish infantry tooh
advantage OF the opportunity 10 JON IN
the hattie win mnSket hre. ms hhShe'
hre IN connection VITA the hre OF p,'
tcry NJ greater stafice. cIused tne
American shlrs TO. Withdraw; IL IS SAD
Ihat the Americans nren Ill All from opV l"
l.uOo shots from thclr heaFy ana meoiulil
caiiDef guns
II. The Spanish fortihcatlon artillery Is
4 -" - 49, '''''
les were uhap!e To answer tEe livery IRE
of the american ships IN the same man
n'r. ms was due 10 the TACT ASIDE from
the defective service OF the suhS' tha'
many OF them cmhid not reach thc Amer
ahopt 400 proiectilcs were fired in all. II
is stated that the Spanish shots hit IN sew
eral instances; bnt they can nave doie M
great damage on board OF the American
Ships. "hich mas peeii coiirihed by chited
states oflclal statements. ne guns IN the
ior!ihca!iohS are an OF iheai'iii calDer'
ana thelr piercing power Is not snch that
single MT cohid DE eNpected 10 cause
serious INJURY 10 Il ihodefh snip. Inc loss
es Oh the American sac were one deau
ana seven "oMideu. ne hhni'er Vi
american p'oJeciHcs hlru Is OUT Vi Propoi
tion TO the material damage caused by
mem. a large hummer OF sheiis are said
= not 10 nave eNpiodeh. VI course the Ioru-
lication WORKS were injured 10 some extent
but not one OF ihe guns was put on OF ac-
ton. a few OF the buildings visible at a
great distance, Ike the barracks, the jan,
the Hotel lhSlaterra, ana Il rev private
| residences, suffered from lhc Dohibard-
Inent. A large number OF proJectiies len
INTO Tue liirpor some Oh theIh even reach-
ed the niue Town OF Cataho: on the oiher
side OF Ihe harpor. Inc rehcn cruiser
AniIai hisSauit de 'thouiii!, winch was
| lying III me harbor at the tiihe, as also
three small spanish suhboats' received a
shot IN me rigging ana sihokepipe. Inc
| ,ba,n eovoroI ci,ili,ncl aud % younded
| ,,r,rrv prcoxxorsc,xcr
| 10. If we inquire INTO the advantages
which Admiral Sampson expected from a
bombardment of San Juan, we are prob
ably not mistaken i'll the assumption that
it was merely question Of reconnois-
sance. The batteries were to be brought ont:
Admiral Sampson wanted TO ascertain
their strength and efficiency and be guided
thereby in determining the forces it would
require for a serious bombardment of San
Juan and the taking of the city by the
sea. 1t does not appear to have been the
object of the American ships to systemat-
icailS p"inbaru the Guy ana Silence the pat
'eries. iropaDis ihe iortS served as
general target ana me niIlDer Oh sh"ts
thht went peSoiiu SPEAK ~ favor OF 'ne
assumption 'hat 1t WAS mo il,chued 10
reach the spanish war ships Wnich were
supposed TO he III the harbor. lhere VIII
ne other opportunities 10 treat Oh DOM,
bardinehts by American shi'S. VIII
| therefore Teiraih from iurtber rehlarhs at
ms Time ana only state II as my opinion
that reconnaissance OF the piacc-ahd
|