The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-06-24
5000 LANDED ON FIRST DAY.
incidents OF the Invasion of Cuba by
United States Soldiers

Copyright. 1898, by the Associated Pressl
bAlQOdHl HARBOR, Cuba, on board the
Associated Press dispatch boat Wanda
June p, p. m, via Kingston Jamaica.
Thursday, June %, $50 a. NAT O'Clock
this afternoon 5000 trained American SOL
diers were encamped in the hills in and
around Baiquiri, and 10000 more rest m
their arms on the transports off shore. ready
to join those who have debarked as soon as
the available launches and small boats can
carry them ashore.
The time and sea and weather were pro-
pitious for the army of invasion The navv
and army co-operated splendidly and as the
Dig warships closed in on the shore to pave
the way Tor the approach of the transports
and then went back again, three cheers for
the navy went up from 10000 throats on the
troop ships and three cheers for the armv
rose from ship after ship as the troop ships
moved in to take their share in the hazard
Gus game. 1t was war, and it was magnifl-
cent
The Cuban insurgents too, bore their
share in the enterprise, honorably and well.
Five thousand of them, in mountain fast
nesses and dark thickets of ravines, lay ali
last night on their guns watching every
road and mountain path leading from San
tiago de Cuba to Guantanamo. A thousand
OF them were within sight of Baiquiri MAX
ing the approach of the Spaniards under
cover of the darkness an impossibilty.
AT O'Clock this morning as the Associ-
ated Press dispatch boat approached Bal
quiri, the entire island of Cuba seemed
wrapped in soft mist like that of the dog
days in northern latitudes Dull and thick
clouds lay on the eastern horizon. and the
color was reflected in the gray water of the
ocean which gently undulated in the law
breeze. Distant objects loomed dmly. but
1t was seen that many of the troop ships
that had been lying several miles in the
offing, had drawn in towards shore while
three or four war ships lay menacingly near
the harbor approach. All around trans
ports, steam launches and small boats were
bobbing about like corks the first indication
of the true object of the undertaking ahead.
An hour later the sun was rising in the
eastern sky, touching the mountain tops
with patches OF light green and revealing
the great semicircle of troop ships, some
close to the cost line. others a mile dis
tant with their decks crowded with eager.
expectant men, impatient to begin the great
movement Of destiny-to make new chap
ter in the history of America, the first in
vasion by our army of a foreign country in
half a century.
PART OF THE TOWN BURNED.
AS the dispatch boat ran closer in near
where the New Orleans was lying, with her
great Armstrong guns trained on Baiquiri,
tongues of lurid fame and black smoke were
seen rising from the town, the inevitable
consequence of war and a sure sign that the
Spaniards had gone, leaving ruin behind
them. The captain of the New Orleans
shouted the news to the dispatch boat add
ing: You had better keep off a little. You
are in range. They have rifle on the hill
on the eastern side of Baiquri"
There is steep. rocky hill known as
Punta Baiquiri, rising almost perpendicu-
larly at the place indicated. 1t is verita-
bic Gribaltar in possibilities of defense.
From the staff at it's summit the Spanish
flag was defiantly floating at sunset last
night; but 1t was gone this morning. and
with it the small Spanish guard which had
maintained the signal station. Between
nightfall and dawn the Spaniards had
taken the alarm and fed from the place
firing the town they left. The flames
were watched with interest from the ships
Two sharp explosions were heard. At first
they were thought to be the report of guns
from Spanish masked batteries, but they
proved 10 be the explosion of ammunition
in the burning buildings.
Three hours waiting made the men on the
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