Spanish-American War.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIX, Issue 148, 25 June 1898, Page 5

Spanish-American War.

ijflU INVASION OF

CUBA.

GREAT BATTLE AT

SANTIAGO

SPANISH POSITION

CRITICAL

OJRVERAS' FLEET DAMAGED AP WITHOUT COAL

AMERICAN WARSHIP

INJURED

ONE MAN KILLED AND BIGHT INJURED.

(Electric Telegraph.—Press Association.)

r (Received June 23, #.30 a.m.)

WASHINGTON. June 24

General Shafter landed his entire force in the vicinity of Santiago de Cubr, without a mishap. Tlie most of the American soldiers fended at Berraco. twelve miles distant from Santiago, and others disembarked ot Daiguiri. IS miles from Santiago. General Shafter accomplished the ltocing of his troops without fighting by means of a clever ruse. He sent ihe coal transports belonging to his fleet to the westward, as if he intended to land near Santiago, thus deceiving the Spaniards, and when the American troop.s got info Daiguiri they found the place had been aban> doned by the enemy. The American warship Texas silenced the La Socapa battery, and ihe other vessels, clearing the shore of the opposing force as the Cubans attacked the enemy in the i-ear, the Americans easily controlled their movements. The last shot fired from the fort nt la Socapa hit the warship Texas and did considerable damage. One man was killed and eight others were injured. The. country for miles around was seized'by the American troops within a few hoars, and General Shafter proceeded with all possible speed to press forward toward Santiago de Cuba. The whole intervening country was found to he held by large bodies of Spanish regulars, strongly entrenched. A battle between the American forces and the Spaniards is now proceeding in the vicinity of Santiago. A spy, who deserted from the Spanish troops and came into the American lines, states that the Spanish fleet, cooped up in Santiago, is without coal, and that several of the vessels are damaged.

Admiral Cerveras recognises the situation as critical for the Spaniards and is landing marines from the Spanish warships to assist the Spanish army j n the defence of Santiago against the combined forces of Admiral Sampson and General Shafter.

Admiral Sampson has sent four fast vessels to patrol the southern «?ast and stop blockade running.