The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1898-07-27

the last named vessel. The troops were
on board the transports Neuces, Lam
pasas, Comanche, Rita, Union, Still
water, City-of Macon and Specialist
This was the order in which the trans
ports entered the harbor here.
The voyage from Guantanamo Bay to
this port was uneventful. AT noon yes
terday General Miles called for con-
sultation, announcing that he was de-
termined not to go by San Juan Cape,
but by the Monana Passage instead.
land here, surprise the Spaniards. and
deceive their military authorities. The
course was then changed and the Dixie
was sent to warn General Brooke at
Cape Juan
Port Guanica has been fully described
oy Lieutenant Whitney of General
Miles staff, who recently made an adj
Venturous tour of Porto Rico. Ponce.
which is situated ten or fifteen miles
from this port, is to the eastward, and
harder place to take. In addition
the water at Ponce is too shallow for
the transports to be able to get close
IN shore. Then again, Ponce itself is
some little distance from where the
troops would have been able to land if
that point had been selected for the de-
barkation of the expedition.
one advantage of this place is that
1t is situated close to the railroad con-
Meeting with Ponce, which means of
transportation our troops hope to Sc
cure to-day.
Early this morning the Gloucester. in
charge of Lieutenant Commander
Wainwright, steamed into ,Guanica har-
Dor In order to reconnoiter the place
With the fleet waiting outside, the gal
liant little fighting yacht braved the
mines which are supposed to be in the
harbor, and found that there We're five
fathoms of water in close to shore.
Guanica is surrounded by cultivated
lands. In the rear are high mountains
and on the beach nestles a village Of
about twenty houses.
The Spaniards We're completely taken
by surprise. Almost the first they
knew of the approach of the army of
invasion was in the announcement con-
tanned in the firing of a gun from the
Gloucester, demanding that the Span
lards haul down their flag. which was
floating from flagstaff in front of the
blockhouse standing to the east of the
village. The first couple of three
FOUNDERS We're fired into the hills right
ana left of the bay, purposely avoiding
the town, lest the projectiles hurt
women or children. The Gloucester
then hove to within about 600 yards of
the shore and lowered a launch having
on board Colt rapid-fire gun and thir-
~ men under the command of Lieuten-
ant Huse, who was sent ashore without
encountering opposition. Quartermas-
ter Beck thereupon told Woman lacey
TO haul down the Spanish flag, which
was done, and they then raised on the
flagstaff the first United States flag to
float over Porto Rican SOIL
Suddenly about thirty Spaniards
opened fire with Mauser rifles on the
American party. Lieutenant Huse and
his men responded with great gallantry.
The Colt gun doing effective work. Nor
man, who received Cervera's surrender.
and Wood, a Volunteer Lieutenant,
shared the honors with Lieutenant
Huse
Almost Immediately after the Amer
leans We're fired on the Gloucester
opened fire on the enemy with all her
three and six-pounders which could be
brought to bear, Smelling the town, and
also dropping shells into the hills to
the west of Guanica, where a number
of Spanish cavalry We're to be seen
Fastening toward the spot where the
Americans had landed.
Lieutenant Huse then threw UP lit
tie fort, which he named Fort VAIN
wright, and laid barbed wire in the
street in front of it in order to repel
the expected cavalry attack. The
Lieutenant also mounted the Colt gun
and signaled for reinforcements, which
We're sent from the Gloucester The
Associated Press dispatch boat Cynthia
III. was the only boat in the harbor,
except the Gloucester.
While the Mausers We're peppering all
around, Lieutenant Commander Vain
wright called to the Associated Press
correspondent, and said: They fired on
US after their flag was down and ours
was up, and after / had spared the
town for the sake of the women and
children. The next town l strike |
will blow it up
Presently a few of the Spanish cav
airy attacked those who We're fighting
in the streets of Guanica but the Colt
them.
BY that time the Gloucester had the
range of the town, and the blockhouse,
and her guns We're splitting fire and
the doctor and Paymaster helping to
serve the guns. Soon afterward white
coated galloping cavalrymen We're seen
climbing the hills to the westward, and
the foot soldiers were scurrying along
the fences from the town
BY $40 a. m, with the exception of
a few guerrilla shots, the town was
won, and the enemy was driven out of
its neighborhood.
The Red Cross nurses on the Lam
pasas and a detachment of regulars
We're the first to land from the trans
ports.
After Lieutenant Huse had captured
the place he deployed his small forces
into the suburbs. But he was soon
reinforced by the regulars, who We're
followed by Company G. of the Sixth
Illinois. and then by other troops in
quick succession.
All the boats of the men-of-war and
transports We're used in the work Of
landing the troops, each steam launch
towing four or five boats loaded to the
rails with soldiers. But everything
progressed in an orderly manner and
according to the plans of General Miles.
The latter went ashore at about noon,
after stopping to board the Gloucester
and thank Lieutenant Commander
Wainwright for his gallant action.
General Miles said to the correspond
ent of the Associated Press: "Guanica
a: ~ i