FIGHTING AT SANTIAGO.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIX, Issue 155, 4 July 1898, Page 5

FIGHTING AT SANTIAGO.

A TWO-DAYS' BATTLE

■AMY AND NAVY BOTH

ENGAGED.

A FURIOUS ONSLAUGHT.

AMERICANS CAPTURE '•OUTER DEFENCES/

CASUALTIES- -EXCEED ONE THOUSAND.

(Electric Telegraph.—Press Association.)

(Copyright.)

WASHINGTON, July 2.

.Three divisions, comprising 15,000 American troops and several thousand Cubans, attacked the Spanish position at Santiago de Cuba early on Friday. Heavy fighting continued all day, resulting in the capture of the outer dc-fernees.

Cerveras' fleet, lying in the harbour, ■fired on the American troops attacking the town.

lawton's Brigade occupied Caney, a suburb of Santiago. The "Spaniards fought stubbornly, but were handicapped by the weakness of their artillery. . Admiral Sampson bombarded the Morro and Estrella forts.

The Vesuvius, the new vessel throwing dynamite shells, operated, with great effect. , . ■

General Shafter reports that the casualties on his side amount to 400, chiefly wounded. Torrents of rain fell during the fight.:

TheAmeriean troops had many commissariat difficulties to contend: with.,

General Shafter is hurrying-a number of Dudley dynamite field guns to the-front. " ' - : •■■■

WASHINGTON, July 3

The Spaniards desperately maintained the defence of Caney for eight hours. - . ; ,

The. American cavalry tinder MajorGeneral Wheeler made several brilliant charges. . : ■ .Brigadier-General Kent's brigade atfccked Aquadores, the American fleet also pouring in a heavy fire upon the Spanish; ii ue . j fighting, which .was of a furious JcLaraeter, lasted until sundown. Shells from Admiral Cerveras' squadron .didiheavy execution,'one annihila*% an entire, company; .'•the easualturs bn Friday -exceeded 1000.