The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-08-02
WELCOMING OUR SOLDIERS
JOyfully Received By
Porto RiCanS
PONCE CAPITULATES


Issues a Proclamation to the People
The Campaign to be Visorous-Ou
Troops In Good Spirits.
Copyright by Associated Press)
Port of Ponce, Porto Rico, July IS,
via the Island of ST. Thomas, D. WI,
July 2S.-The port of Ponce surrend-
cred to Commander c. H. Davis, of the
auxiliary gunboat Dixie. yesterday.
There was no resistance and the Amer
leans were welcomed with enthusiasm.
Major General Miles arrived here this
morning at daylight with General
Kent's brigade and General Wilson's
division on board transports. General
Kents brigade Immediately started
for the town of Ponce, two miles in
land, which capitulated.
The American troops are pushing to-
ward the mountains, and will join
General Henry with his brigade at
Yauco, which has been captured by
our troops.
A fight before the latter place on
Tuesday last was won by the American
volunteers. The Spanish ambushed
on the right the companies of the
Sixth Massachusetts and the Sixth IL
repulsed and driven back a mile, to a
ridge, where the Spanish cavalry
charged and were routed by our in
fantry.
General GarretSon led the fight with
the men from Illinois and Massachu-
setts, and the enemy retreated to Va
uco, leaving four dead on the field and
several wounded. None of our men
were killed and only three were slight
ly wounded.
The Porto Ricans are glad the Amer
lean troops have landed and say they
are all Americans and will join our
army.
The roads are good for military pur-
poses. Our troops are healthy and
General Miles says the campaign will
be short and vigorous.
General Miles has issued the follow
ing proclamation:
In the prosecution of the war
aginst the kingdom of Spain, by the
people of the United States, in the
cause of liberty, justice and humanity,
it's military forces have come to occu-
py the island of Porto Rico. They come
spired by noble purpose, to seek the
enemies of our government and of
yours and to destroy or capture all in
armed resistance. They bring you the
fostering arms of a free people, whose
greatest power is justice and humani
ty to all living within their fold. Hence,
they release you from your former po-
litical relations, and it is hoped that
this will be followed by your cheerful
Is %no
United States.
THE chief object of the American
military forces will be to overthrow
the armed authority of Spain and give
the people of this beautiful island the
largest measure of liberty consistent
with this military occupation. They
have not come to make war on the
people of the country, who for centu-
ries have been oppressed, but on the
contrary, they bring protection, not
only to yourselves, but to your proper
ty, promote your prosperity and be-
stow the immunities and blessings of
our enlightenment and liberal institu-
tions and government.
1T is their purpose not to interfere
with the existing laws and customs,
which are wholesome and beneficial to
the people, so long as they conform to
the rules of the military administra-
war Of devastation and deSOia ton, but
one to give all within the control OF
the military and naval forces the ad-
vantages and blessings of enlightened
civiliZation.'
Washington, July 29-The results
thus far achieved by General Miles
and Captain Higginson, in command OF
the naval squadron, in the occupation
| of Porto Rico, have created a feeling
of intense satisfaction among the Off
! cials of the administration. Informa
ton received today directly from Gen
eral Miles and through dispatches L
| the Associated Press was very crafty
| ing to the president and his advisers
| 1t indicates, as one official expressed
/ it, that Miles is cleaning up every
| thing as he goes
The surrender of Ponce, practically
| without struggle, is regarded by tht
t war officials with especial satisfaction
| In Importance. it is the second city o.
! the island. 1t has a population Of %.
| 900. with a jurisdiction numbering AZ,
/ 600.
/ While nothing definite is known Il
| the war officials yet of General Miles
! plans for the immediate future, th'
| statement in his dispatch that tn.
| troops Will soon be in the mountain
| country is taken to mean that he pro
| poses TO push rapidly on toward Sar
! Juan. The lighters taken at Plays
| will enable him to speedily land tn
| troops of the expedition as they ar
| rive and it is believed there will be n,
delay in the reduction of the entire is
| land. II is expected that the Spanish
| forces will offer no vigorous opposi
! tion to the United States troops unit
| San Juan is reached. There the grea
! battle in the capture of the island will
/ l.