BOMBARDMENT OF MATANZAS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2310, 9 June 1898, Page 22

BOMBARDMENT OF MATANZAS.

The flagship New York, 'the monitor Puritan, and the cruiser Cincinnati- bombarded the town o£ Matanzas, Cuba, on the afternoon of the- 27bh, April. All of its batteries were silenced and most of them destroyed. Those in course of construction at the entrance to the harbour were completely demolished. The Spanish guns replied viciously to the attack, bub none of the American ships were struck. - The batteries- fired explosive shells, and most of them fell wide of the mark. One burst j.ist beyond the stern, of the New York, and a shrapnel shot exploded above her. It took the three ships just 18' minutes to silence the batteries. It was while the three vessels of the North Atlantic squadron were reconnoitring in order to locate and destroy the defences of Mafcamzas thatr the point Rubal Cayo and Foinfe Maya batteries opened fire upon the American flag. These batteries command the immediate entrance to the harbour, and their firing was rapid. The ' flagship New Yorlc was the first to reply to the attack,, but "the Purifcau steamed in behind her snd engaged the fortifications on Poinb Maya, while the New York went to starboard close 1 up to the Isnd . and poured her shells into the Rubal Cayo. Th& Cincinnati, which had remained well astern under orders, signalled for permission to engage and received it, and soon was firing her guns at the fort on the west side of tho b»y. It is not known how many of the Spaniards were killed and wounded, but the losa must have been heavy, as tha shells from th*. American warships created terrible havco. AU of the shots from the batteries went wild.

The cruisec Colon mentioned in the cables as assisting the forts at Havana to repel the American attack is no doubfc the Cristobel Colon. This vessel was built in Italy, and much interest is taken in her. She ts of 6840 tons, and has ertensive *rmour protection, which is so complete as to entitle her to be called a battleship rather than a cruiser. A 6 "Inch steel bflb encircles ths whole waterline. J?bove ih'S ia a redoubt of continuous 6-inch steel which completely protects a battery of 10 6-inch rapid fire guns, and above this another battery of six 4 •7-inch rapid-firing guns. The main battery consists of two 10-inch armour-piercing guns in 6-inch barbettes. The speed is 20 knots. Seen from- the oca, tbe most conspicuous feature of Havana is the fort of Castle Moro, which stands boldly oat, with the lighthouse in I'ronb of it. on the point at the eastern or left hand

sids of the channel. It carries a few modern guns. On the opposite point of the entrance is tbe Castle de la Puntu, a low lying fort of small value, forming part of a system of lowbuilt works covering the channel. What is called the Reina, or Qaeeu'a battery, is further on to the wesfc, facing tha sea, mounting some old pattern guns. Still further west is the battery of Santa Clara, with three 10In Krupp guns of an early pattern, and two inferior 12in guns of a Spanish design. There are two smaller batteries further west. One of these, at the suburb of Velado, mounts two lOin and two 6in modern guns. Tbe most important fort on the sea front ia the Plaza o"e Cbivo, about three-quarters of a mile from the Moro, armed with two 12in Krupp guns. Half a mile further cast is another work wish four Bin guns and several mortars. While the Moro and La Punfca keep guard on the two corners of the entrance, several works command the waters along the channel and in the harbour itself. Nob far from the Moro is ths fort called Cabanas, built on & similar system.

The wooden barque Maria Dolores, captured by fche Americana, is of 355 tons register. She was built in Manila in 1864, and i 3 registered at Havana, her owner being T. de Gorocica.

The Hampton Roads flying squadron|^had left port bnt a few hours on April 21 when the Buena Ventura, from Pascagonia, Miss., for Rotterdam, with a cargo of lumber, cattle, &c, was sighted and captured. A prize crew wag pu6 on board and tbe vessel taken to Key West. She fcaa since ' been released. Iv reply to an interviewer, Captain Lazan»ga, of the Buena Ventura, said :—": — " I .was sailing along this morning when I saw a flue array of large American ships all flying flags ; I too raised my flag to salute them. When one of them fixed a shot I did not know anything about war, acd did nob think the shot was intended for me, so I kept right on. Then the ship fired another shot, and it came so close to me that I thought it advisable to st?p. A' young man, with some soldiers came aboard my ship, and, much to my surprise, said I was captured. I attempted to expostulate with him, but what could I do bub surrender ? They took possession of my ship, and I invited the young man to breakfast."

The Alfonso XIII, which hats been captured with a number of Spanish troops on board, is a steel screw four-masted steamer of 5125 tons register. She wao built iv 1888 by W. Denny and Bros, at Dumbarton for the Cia.-Trans-atlantica.

The following are ihs quotas from eneh State to provide tbe 12b,000 troopa which have been called for by President M'Kinley :—: —

Alabama. — Two regiments of infantry and one battalion — 2500 men.

Arkansas. — Two regiments of infantry — 2000 men.

California. — Two regiments of infantry, two battalions, and four heavy batteries — 3200 men.

Colorado. — One regiment of infantry and one light battery — 1300 men. /

Connecticut. — One regiment of infantry — 1300 men ; one light battery and two heavy batteries — 1625 men.

Delaware. — One regiment of infantry — 350 men. Florida. —Ons regiment of infantry — 750 mVn.

Georgia. — Two regiments of infantry and two light batteries— 3l7s men.

Illinois. — Seven regiments of infantry and one regiment cavalry — 8000 men.

Indiana. — Four regiments of infantry and two light batteries — 4300 men.

lowa. — Three regiments of infantry and two light batteries — 3750 men.

Kansas. — Three regiments of infantry— 27oo men.

Kentucky. — Three reginceDt* of infantry and two troops, of cavalry — 3400 men.

Louisiana. — Two regiments of infantry — 1900 ] men. Maine. — One regiment infantry and two 1 heavy batteries — 1270 men. Maryland. — One regiment infantry and four heavy batteries — 1900 men. Massachusetts. — Four regiments of infantry | and three heavy batteries — 4700. |

Michigan. — Four regiments infantry — 4370 men.

Minnesota. — Three regiments infantry— 2B7s men.

Mississippi. — Two regiments infantey — 2155 men.

Missouri.—Five regiments infantry and one. light b*ttery — 54-10 men. Montana. — One regiment infantry — 525 men.

Nehraska. — Two regiments infantry — 2410 men.

New. Hampshire. — One regiment infantry — 750 men.

New Jersey. — Three regiments infantry — 2925 men.

New 'Eork. — Twelve regiments of infantry and two troops of cavalry — 12,500 men.

North Carolina — Two regiments' infantry and one heavy, battery — 2500 men.

Ohio.— Six regiments infantry;, four light batteries, and two squadrons 1 of cavalry — 7250 men.

Oregon. — One regiment infantry — 825 men. Pennsylvania. — Eleven regiments infantry and four heavy batteries — 8000 men.

Rhodo Island — One regiment infantry — 710 aiett.

South Carolina. — One regiment infantry, one battalion, and one heavy battery — 1850 men.

Tennessee. — Three regiments infantry — 8060 men.

Texas. — Three regiments infantry and one regiment cavalry — 4230 men.

Utah. — One troop cavalry and tiro light batteries — 425 msn. Vermont.— One regiment infantry— 62s men. Virginia. — Three regiments infantry — 2780 men.

Washington.— Ona regiment infantry— -1175 men.

West Virginia. — One regiment infantry — 1390 men.

Wisconsin. — Three regiments infantry — 3270 men. Wyoming — One battalion and one troop cavalry— 23o men. District of Columbia. — One battalion — 450 men. North Dakota. — Five troops cavalry — 460 men. South Dakota. — Seven troops cavalry — 750 men. Idaho. — Two troops cavalry — 230 men. Nevada. — One troop cavalry — 135 men. Arizona. — Two troops cavalry — 180 men. N&w Mexico. — Four troops cavalry — 340 men. Oklahoma. — One troop cavalry — 140 men.

Mrs J. EL FftzGeraM, widow of fche lafce Me FitzGerald, Controller and Auditor-genera!, has scut to the Wellington Museum a curiosity in fche shape of * block of wood out by the late Mr Gladstone, at Hawsrden Park, and senb oub to Mr FitzGeiald some years ago. The wood was very prettily carved by Mr FitzGerald when ha w«a aged 70 year?, and was converted into a very pretty frame, in the centre of which is a portrait of Mr Gladstone.

BIRDS OF A FEATHER. Braina invented DERBY tobacco, and men of brains smoke it.