Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 19, Number 67, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 April 1898 — SHIPS IN ACTION. [ARTICLE]

SHIPS IN ACTION.

Batteries at Matanzas Prot voke Hostilities and Are Demolished. ( -A* Blown to Pieces by Three War Vessels of the United States Fleet. New York, Puritan and Cincinnati Pour Shot Into the Spanish Fortifications. - Guns of the Latter Silenced in Twenty Minutes -Admiral Sampson Directs the Work. v » s ___________________ jfot n Life lioat on Onr Side, But It Is Tliounlit Many of the Enemy \ Have Been Killed. Key West, Fla., April 28.—The flagahip New York, monitor Puritan and cruiser Cincinnati, under Admiral Sampson, bombarded the Spanish batteries that were in position and in course of construction at the entrance of Matanzas harbor. They were pretty thoroughly destroyed. The flagship was first fired upon by • the batteries on Point Rubai Cava and Polui while the Puritan, New Yorl' and Cincinnati were recoinnoiterIng for the purpose of locating and ultimately destroying the works the Spaniards were building. The list of dead on the Spanish side must be large, but there is no way of telling the number of fatalities.

t The Battle. The New York steamed in between the batteries, and opened both broadsides on the Spaniards. The Puritan engaged the Cape Maya battery and the Cincinnati went to starboard of the New York, cloae up to land, and sent a broadside of shells into ltuba Cava. The batteries returned the fire, but not one of the shots took effect. They fired explosive shells, and they all fell wide of the mark, no damage of any kind resulting. A shrapnell shell exploded above the New York, and one shell exploded just beyond the stern. All others were wasted. Batteries In Rains. The batteries were reduced in just 20 minutes. The final shot from the enemy came from Ruba Cava, and drew from the Puritan a reply from one of her 12-inch guns, which struck the battery and blew up a section of it. The United Btates ships did not retire until the Spanish refused to renew the engagement. They left the batteries in ruins. Object of the Expedition. Admiral Sampson made up his mind when he went to Matanzas Wednesday that something must be done. These batteries had twice fired on the torpedo boat Foote, and he decided that the work of fortifying must be stopped if possible. Matanzas bay, at its mouth, is about three miles wide. The town is about four miles from the mouth of the river. Rubai Cava point is on the west side of the bay, and Point Maya on the east. These points are slightly elevated above the sea, but the batteries have rommauding positions. Behind the batteries are high hills, and it is believed guns were mounted there, in the brush

or thickets. New York Leads the Way. The New York was the first to go into the bay. The Puritan came next, a few hundred yards astern. The Cincinnati was a greater distance behind on the starboard side. The ships made almost a triangle. The first shot drawn from the shore came from Bubal Cava. It was an eightinch shell, sped toward the New York, and fell short. Then another came, another, “this time from Point Maya. This also fell wide of the mark. During the engagement not a soul could be seen on the shore, and the puffs, of smoke came up from the butteries as If by magic. Good Marksmanship. It was a beautiful sight to follow the smoke as It arose from the New York and then see, an Instant later, the fragments of mortur and concrete fly into the air. The New York tosßed the shells Into Rubai Gave at the rate of about three a minute, and the marksmanship could not have been better. When the Puritan Anally got its range her shells burst every time within the fortifications of Point Maya, and there woe n cloud of dust followed by the collapse of the hard materials of which the fortifications were composed. The air was literally filled with the Jebris, and there was almost a continuous explosion. “Remember the Mslnel” - The Cincinnati was not called into the work of reducing the fortifications until Capt. Chester signaled for permission to take a hand, and until It was

4* granted there was great impatience among the crew of enthusiastic men, who at the report of every shell exclaimed: “Remember the Maine.” The Puritan fired the best shot of the day. It struck the battery, tearing its way into the earthworks, and exploded. The destruction was great and no doubt the artillerymen behind the guns were killed. The Puritan and Cincinnati were left on guard at Matanzas and the New York took up her old position. Havana at Oar Mercy. Exactly 85 shots' were fired by the' ships, and the forts fired about 30. I The largest guns at Matanzas, the | bombardment shows, nre eight-inch, and there are evidently less than ten of them there. From what took place at Matanzas It would appear that Havana is absolutely at the mercy of our fleet whenever it is ready to bombard it. The naval officers believe Havana’s de- ! senses can be destroyed in an hour. Matanzas and Its Intercut*. Matanzas Is the capital of the province of that name. It lies on the Bay of Matanzas on the south coast of Cuba, about 60 miles east of Havana. After the colonial capital it is the most important city of the north coast. Its shipping interests are second only to those of Havana, as it is the outlet of many of the richest agricultural districts 'Of the island, particularly sugar. The population of the city is about 32,000.