THE SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR. 314 pounders, and the hiss of the armour-piercing shells thrown in the direction of the advancing torpedo-boat destroyers startled the entire fleet. TheBrooklynalso cameinto action,firing several rounds at the Spanish craft,but the bulk ofthe shooting was done by the Texas. The entire fleet went to general quarters, and soon their searchlights were playing around the narrow entrance of the harbour in the expectation that Admiral Cervera's whole fleet would emerge from its haven and fight it out. The torpedoboat destroyers made aplucky dash through the rain of shells from battleship and cruiser, but, foiled in their attempt to surprise the watchful Schley, turned and ran back into the harbour. No attempt was made to pursue them. It is thought that they w-ere not struck, as they retreatedquickly and made small targets in the uncertain moonlight. The Spaniards did not discharge any torpedoes, although within 500 yards of the Texas'' wasa shadow made by the searchlights,perhaps the dark hollow of a curling wave. Once the alarm begins on such occasions even the best trained men see and fire at allmanner of things. It was weeks before it was discovered that the fight at the end of May was only a false alarm.

On the first of JuneAdmiral Sampson arrived with the New York, the battleship Oregon(which had safely reached KeyWest), the torpedoboat Porter, and some gunboats, and took over command of the united fleets. The rest of his squadron was to arrive later. So long as Schley was searching for Cervera in the Caribbean Sea Sampson had kept his fleet to the North of Cuba, so as to head the Spaniards off if they attempted a raid on Key West or Tampa, neither of which had any solid defence. As soon as he felt sure that the enemy had run into harbour at Santiago he had gone to the assistance of his colleague. He had now before him the by no meanseasy task of finally disposing of Cervera's fleet. The long siegeof Santiago de Cuba had begun, a siege that was to be marked by gallant deedsby land and sea on both sides.

No wonder the Spaniards did not discharge any torpedoes. They were lying quietly at anchor all the time inside Morillo Point, their crews wondering what theAmericans werefiring at. What the look-out on the Texas had seen