THE SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR 376 AMTC;H_A\1T7T?TrAN WAT?

It should have been attacked in the first instance. To marchon the city was to wastetime and life.

Such,then, was the situation and the outlook on the morning of July 3rd. Before midday, however,events had happened that completely altered it, and decided the fate of Santiago and of Spanish rule inCuba.

Socapa battery. This had no land defence of any strength. Its capture would paralyse part of thetorpedodefence,enable guns tobebrought to bear from the headland against Morro and Punta Gorda, and alsomake it easy to bring a plunging fire upon the decks of the Spanish ships if they tried to defend the entrance. The Socapabattery was, in fact, the key of Santiago.

COMMODORE WATSON IN COMMAND OF THE U.S. SQUADRON WHICH WAS TO HAVE ATTACKED THE SPANISH COAST.