Shelled By The Fleet

Playa del Este, July 12.- The navy did its first work here since the destruction of Admira] Cervera's squadron, when, acting in conjunctlon with the army, three warships shelled the city for an hour. It is sald that this is the flrst naval bombardment of a city since the British fleet fired on Alexandria, Egypt, in 18S2. The Brooklyn, Indiana, and Texas ranged themselves in the afternoon about half a mile apart along the Morro península, east of Aguadores. The Indiana held the most western position, being about half a mile east of that place. The vessels were about 800 yards off shore. The Brooklyn opened the flring with her port battery. She flred seven shots, when the Texas opened and was soon followed by the Indiana. There was an interval of two minutes between the shots, which had been agreed upon to give the ships opportunity to receive word from the army headquarters if their shells were wrongly placed. The ships could see nothing of their target, a high ridge of hills cutting off all view inland. They fired over the ridge of hills at a range of 10,000 yards, nrrth by west. There was no answer to the flre of the Americans, either from the Morro or the outlying batteries, though the ships were in easy range of the eastern battery. Shortly after the bombardment began a heavy rain set in, accompanied by thunder, which crashed as loud as the shells from the Texas. In the intervals between the peals of thunder and the roar of the shells could be heard the shots of the artillery ashore, the land forces having begun their attack at the same time the ships opened flre. This is the first naval attack that has taken place in the rain. The flring ceased shortly after 6 o'clock, on receipt of a report from General Shafter that the missiles were landing too close to his lines. It is expected that the bombardment will be resumed.