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SHELLED MATANZAS FORTS
Batteries Reduced in 18 Minutes by Three U. S. Ships.
NOT ONE AMERICAN INJURED.
Flagship New York, Gunboat Cincinnati and the Monitor Puritan do Terrible Execution - Spanish Gunners Fire Wild-Many Spanish Killed.

Admiral Sampson bombarded and silenced the Spanish batteries in position and in course of construction at the entrance of the harbor of Matanzas. He did it with the flagship New York, the monitor Puritan and the gunboat Cincinnati. Not one of the American ships was struck, the Spanish gunnery being wild. The number of dead and wounded on the Spanish side must be considerable.

While the New York, Puritan and Cincinnati were reconnoitering for the purpose of locating and destroying the formidable defenses being constructed the flagship was fired on by the batteries on Point Rubal Cavo and Point Maya, guarding the entrance to the harbor. The New York replied instantly. The Puritan steamed in behind the New York and engaged the fortifications on Point Maya while the New York went to starboard close up to the land and poured her shells into Rubal Cavo. The Cincinnati, which had remained well astern under orders, signaled for permission to engage and received it, and soon was firing shells into the fort on the west side of the bay. The batteries fired explosive shells and most of them fell wide of the mark. One burst beyond the stern of the New York and a shrapnel shot exploded over her. It took the three ships just 18 minutes to silence the batteries. It is believed that much damage was done to the town also. The marksmanship of the American gunners was remarkable, nearly every shot taking effect.

All told, the United States ships fired 86 shots at the forts. This is by actual count. The forts fired probably 25 shots. After waiting in vain for the Spanish to renew the engagement the ships withdrew, leaving the batteries in ruins.

Matanzas lies at the head of a bay about four miles from the sea. This bay at its mouth is three miles wide. On the west side of the bay is Point Rubal Cava and on the east side Point Maya. These points have a very slight elevation above the sea, but the configuration of the harbor is such as to give the batteries on them a commanding position.

Far more important than the destruction of the Matanzas batteries is the conclusion about the future which may be drawn from the bombardment. This conclusion is that Havana is absolutely at the mercy of the United States fleet whenever it chooses to open fire. Admiral Sampson with guns which amount to less than one-tenth of his fighting force silenced practically three batteries in 18 minutes. He steamed right in on them as close as he could get and not one of our ships was touched. The incident has greatly encouraged the naval officers and they believe that when they bombard Havana they will destroy all the defenses in about one hour.