The San Francisco call. [volume], June 01, 1898, Page 1, Image 1

About The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913

Image provided by: University of California, Riverside; Riverside, CA

                
VOLUME LXXXIV.-NO. 1.
FORTS OF SANTIAGO
REPORTED BOMBARDED
SAMPSON
IN CHARGE OF
OPERATIONS
All the Advantage Said to Have
Been With the American
Squadron.
Naval Officials at Washington in Strong
Terms Discredit the Story of the
Engagement.
PORT AU PRINCE, Hayti, May 31.— About 2
o'clock this afternoon an American squadron, com
posed of fourteen warships, of which the cruiser New
York displayed the flag of Rear-Admiral Sampson, and
a number of torpedo-boats, began a bombardment with
heavy guns of the forts and the harbor of Santiago de
Cuba.
The American fire was directed principally against the
forts and the harbor. The forts of Morro Castle, La Zecapa
and Punta Gorda suffered especially.
The cannonading was very persistent and cannot have
failed to be destructive. It lasted until 3:45 p. m.
The town, which is situated near the inner end of the
harbor, escaped damage.
At 3:45 p. m. the cannonading diminished. About 3
o'clock cannon discharges were heard at a distance, pre
sumably at sea, continuing for some time, when the firing
ceased completely.
The Spanish authorities maintain strict silence as to
the number of victims, which were apparently numerous.
According to a Spanish source fourteen American war
ships and two torpedo-boats were engaged in the combat
at Santiago.
A very careful fire was directed against the batteries of
Morro Castle until 3:45 p. m., when discharges of cannon
began to be heard at sea off the port. These discharges
continued until 4 o'clock, then entirely ceased. From the
Spanish account it is impossible to judge as to the exact
merits of the encounter.
CAPE HAYTIEN, May 31.— Advices just received from
Havana say that since 2 o'clock this afternoon the American
Santiago de Cuba has been cannonading the bat
teries of Morro Castle, La Zecapa and Punta Gorda.
At the same time, it is added, the American ships have
been engaged with the Spanish warships. The firing was
extremely heavy.
At 3:45 p. m. the cannonading became less heavy
Copyrighted, 1898, by the Associated Press.
Continued onjfe 'Pag'
The San Francisco Call
BAN FRANCISCO, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 1, 1898.
GENERAL E. S. OTIS Took Command of Camp Merritt Yesterday
and Is Now on Active Field Duty.
TORPEDO BOAT
DESTROYERS
DRIVEN BACK
Lookout of the Texas Foils a Mid-
Qight Attach of the
Energy.
ON BOARD THE HERALD-CALL DISPATCH-BOAT, Off Santi
ago de Cuba, Monday, via Port Antokio, Jamaica, May 31.— The first
engagement between Commodore Se^ley and the Spanish fleet com
manded by Admiral Cervera took pla»e last night.
Two torpedo-boat destroyers, aboii. midnight, slipped quietly out of
the harbor, bent on mischief. They along in the shadow of old
Castle Morro and the mountain two liiles to the westward before they
were discovered by the lookout on thQ battle-ship Texas, where the
men were asleep by the guns so that hie battle-ship could be quickly
manned.
An instant after the lookout gaveUhe alarm the white stream of
the Texas' searchlight flashed along tie shadow under the mountain,
revealing the desperate game of the irriirisoned Spaniards. The tor
pedo-boat destroyers, when they saw ihat they had been discovered,
dashed toward the Texas, which, withithe cruiser Brooklyn, was lying
inshore. The Texas promptly opened tire with her port forward and
her crack six-pounders, and the hiss ; of the armor-piercing shells
thrown in the direction of the advancia? torpedo-boat destroyers star
tled the whole fleet. The Brooklyn alsd,cajne into action, firing several
rounds at the Spanish craft, but the b^lk of the shooting was done by
the Texas. The entire fleet went to ger)?ral quarters, and soon their
searchlights were playing around the n^row entrance to the harbor in
expectation that Admiral Cervera's while fleet would emerge from its
haven and fight it out. The torpedo-bolt destroyeres made a plucky
dash through the rain of shells from tie battle-ship and cruiser, but
foiled in their attempt to surprise the watchful Schley, they turned and
ran back into the harbor.
No attempt was made to pursue. It I as jhey retreated quickly and made
m thought ;he vessels were not Btruclt ' *>*»44 taraaju in t£e uncertain Ugat.
The Spaniards did not discharge tor
pedoes, though within 600 yards of the
Texas. The greatest vigilance at night
on the fleet prevents the success of
such attacks.
This nerve-racking duty will soon af
fect the officers and men, who hope for
the chance of ending all In one decisive
swoop on the Spanish fleets and forts.
While Schley appreciates the difficulties
of entering the harbor to fight Cervera.
who is protected by batteries and
mines, it is understood he nevertheless
is anxious to repeat Dewey's feat at
Manila, preferring even risky action to
tedious delay. When seen to-day he
declined to announce either his opin
ions or his plans. His ships have made
an examination of the batteries along
the channel, revealing much stronger
guns and mines than was supposed.
They discovered four rows of mines
laid across the narrow entrance of the
harbor.
Early this morning the Marblehead
ventured to within two miles of the
harbor and positively recognized the
cruiser Cristobal Colon and the two
cruisers of the Vizcaya type and the
dismantled cruiser Relna Mercedes, up
on which guns have been mounted.
This leaves only two ships of the Cape
Verde squadron unaccounted for, but
Schley is sure they are further up the
bay.
The following form the Santiago
blockading fleet: The Brooklyn, lowa,
Massachusetts, Texas, New Orleans,
Marblehead and Vixen.
The British cruiser Indefatigable
reached Santiago this morning. It re
ceived permission to enter to protect
British subjects, but did not go in, pre
sumably because of information that
the Spanish fleet was inside.
FRYE CALLED OFF AND
OTIS TO BE CONFIRMED.
The Senate Will Probably Act Fa
vorably Upon a Very Unpop
ular Nomination.
WASHINGTON, May 31.— Much to the
regret of some people here who would
like to see Colonel Otis" confirmation as
brigariier-g-eneral defeated, It appears
probable that the Senate will act favor
PRICE FITS CENTS.
ably upon tha nomination. Th« chief op*
position to Otis has been withdrawn. Sen
ator Frye of Maine has been Induced bjf
the President and others to cease hid*
retaliatory crusade against Otis, who said
in his paper that Huntington owned Frye,
body and eoul. The other day Frye wu
Bhowing a copy of this editorial to brother
Senators, and was exciting a good deal of
hostility to the nomination of Otis as
brigadier, but he has been called off an*
Otis will be confirmed.
FRENCH FRIENDLINESS
TO THIS GOVERNMENT.
Signing of the Commercial Agree
ment Indicative of Neigh
borly Sentiment.
PARIS, May 31.— At the meeting of
the Cabinet to-day M Hanotaux. Min
ister for Foreign Affairs announced th»
signing of the commercial agreement
with the United States. He pointed out
that the arrangement was indicative of
the friendly sentiment which the two
Governments showed in thoir reciprocal
desire to improve commercial relations
between the two countries.
The Journal dcs Debats to-day, com
menting upon the commercial conven
tion between France and the United
States, says: "The war is undoubted
ly causing much injury to our export
ers and our trade with the United
States, if not entirely stopped, would
certainly be materially diminished. The
convention gives us advantages, main
ly for the future, which we hope are
near at hand, but at the same time It
has special importance, inasmuch as it
proves Washington is aware that what
ever may be the individual sympathy
of any Frenchman, France as a coun
try is resolved to maintain strict neu-
Advance Pay for Regulars.
WASHINGTON, May 31.— The Pay
master-General of the army to-day
issued an order that all troops going
to Manila should be paid a month in
advance before embarking, if.posßlble.
This is in accordance with the request
the troops made through Senator
.White.