| Show REPORT OF THE bombardment american ships fired very few shots at the forts on board the fla flagship Alp brooklyn of off santiago gant lago de cubi may 31 commodore schley determined to test the batteries at santiago Saati aso today and ascertain their location cocat on and capacity at 10 be he trans ferrel his hia flag o 0 to the massachusetts and went on board that ship at 1 15 the massachusetts the io ioa iova va and the new orleans to form column and follow A course conree due east was followed until the ships were about yards am the ebore aid ald then circling until they beaded headed west they d J starboard side on by the forte forts the heavy 13 inch guns ot of the massachusetts chu ana and the 13 inch auls of the iowa were ordered to open on the cristobal colon which was about 1000 to 2000 yards inside the morro castle the new ne of leana large caliber aune were to open on the forts so as to draw their fire the narrowness narrow nos neso of the harbor entrance and the speed of the ships which made ten tea knote knots allowed the cristobal Cria tobal colon to be a target only a few minute minutes in that it is believed she was bit hit twice but was nob not dama ael the entire set of forte some six in number opened fire and the object ot of the expedition was attained some of the morro guns with smokeless powder were aimed well at b at of all the shots fired not one did any damage to commodore Sch leya ships the cristobal colon replied to the fire but all of her shots fell fall short the american ships fired not more that lour four rounds from their beav heavy y rune guns con su mingia in all fifteen minutes for or the mrs the spaniard spaniards fired red more than rounds keeping up the tho firo fire when whon the chips were fully two railee miles out ot of their range daring the action commodore occupied a position near the forward 13 inch turret of the massachusetts and watched the shells ga whistling whist line by as the ships were got in the line of fire of the batteries aa as unconcernedly ae as though in no dancer danger of it at the commodore ewas was back on the brooklyn it is evident that the spaniards have fortified santiago very carefully and well there are a it number of modern guns uns there evidently of englith english or french make and they use smokeless emoke less powder which makes it difficult to locate them it will take a heavy bombardment to clis dislodge lofte the batteries and tho the spanish cleel 4 |
