Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-08-05

/ ENTHUSIASTIC WELCOME FROM
/ THE PEOPLE-TROUBLE IN A
| MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT.
| Ponce, August 2, via ST. Thomas, Au-
gust 3.-General Roy Stone, while re-
connoitering northward along the road
leading to Arecibe, ON the north coast,
with company of the Second Wis
consin regiment, encountered opposi-
ton at Utuado, where small force Of
| Spanish regulars and vo.uuteers had
beeu instructed by Captain General
| Macias to resist to the bitter end. The
Spaniards refused to surrender, and
General Stone telephoned back to Ad-
| juntas that he would push en-, aided by
| a force of natives armed with
| machetes.
| Before the messengers left Adjuntas,
where twelve men had been left, a
| Spanish force was reported to be be-
tween General Stone and Adjuntas,
picketed on the trail between Adjuntas
and Utuado in the heart of the noun
| tains. AS the troops have to move in
single file, ten men can stop a regi-
ment. General Stones messengers
rode all night.
The plan of campaign is not fully
| determined upon, but the natural
strength of the Spanish position at
Aibonito and the character of the de-
| fensive works erected there necessi-
tates flank movement. The turning
| movement was inaugurated to-day,
when General Brooke landed 5000 men
at Arroyo, sixty miles east of here.
| From there he can strike the military
road leading to San Juan at Cayey, be-
yond ~Aibonito. This will compel the
| Spanish commander, General Otega
who has a great reputation, to aban-
don his stronghold or to be caught be-
tween two fires.
1t is possible that second column
may move on his left flank also, In
which case the present advance on his
| front will be shown to be only fein1.
! General Stone is making dashing
reconnaissance north, in the direction
of Arecibo. He went into Adjuntas
| last night with five men and four cor
respondents, and to-day he brought his
command on along Utuado road. The
| road rises west of the Cayey range,
and is rough, but practicable for caval-
ry and infantry. If it is found pass
able at Utuado a light column of troops
may be pushed across to the north
coast and strike in on San Juan on
the left flank. But if General Brooke
is successful it is probable that Gen
eral Otega will find Aibonito untenable
| in which case the whole of our army
after affecting a junction, will move on
| the main road
| Gen. Stone met with most enthu-
siastic welcome from the natives in
! the villages and towns which he passed.
Women and children strewed the
streets with flowers and as he passed
houses and town halls flew homemade
| American flags. Behind him moves
Company C, of the Second Wisconsin
regiment, under Lieut.. Bodiner. The
enemy, number about AGO. preceded
him. The enemy has for hours been
in full retreat. Our advance has not
been extended beyond Juan Diaz, al
though accommodating parties have
touched Coamo.
Gen. Garretson's brigade and the
batteries are camped just beyond
Ponce
| A general advance will not be ordered
until all Of Gen. Miles plans are per-
fected, but when the advance is once
begun it will be very rapid.
| The fleet will lombard San Juan and
make other diversions to keep the en-
envy busy at every point.
| In the harbor of Ponce and at Ar
royo, On board ship, are the Third III
inois, the First Ohio, the Fourth Penn
| sylvania. the Fifth and Nineteenth
Regulars and the Thirty-second Mich
igan.
There are constant alarms at the out
posts, but there has been no fighting
as yet.
| Ponce, August 8, via Kingston, Au-
gust 4.-The Spaniards are reported to
| be advancing, though it is not gener-
ally believed In addition 10 the reg
| ular Notifications at Aibonito on the
road to San Juan, it is reported that
the enemy mined the cliffs. preparatory
to blocking the road If obliged to re-
tire.
San Martin, the Spanish commander
here, who evacuated THIS place without
| orders. is a prisoner at San Juan de
| Porto Rico He will be tried for cow
ardice and probably will be executed.
Ponce, Island of Porto Rico. August
$50 far as known no further for
ward movement viii be made by the
American troops until the arrival of