Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1898-07-29
adetanhment Of regulars were the tirss
to land from the Transports.

TO land from the Transports.
Landing the Troops.
After Lieut.. Huse had captured the
place he deployed his small force into
the suburbs. But he was soon reen.
forced by the regulars, who were fol.
flowed by company G, of the Sixth ILL.
nois, and then by other troops in quick
succession. All the boats of the men
Of war and the transports were used
in the work Of landing the troops, each
steam launch towing four or five boats
loaded to the sails with soldiers. But
everything progressed in an orderly
manner and according to the plans OF
Gen. Miles. The latter went ashore
ut about noon. after stopping to board
the Gloucester and thank Lieut.. Com
mander Wainwright for his gallant
action.
OficinIs Surprised.
Washington, July 27.-The news of
| the landing of Gen. Miles at Guanica,
on the southeast shore of Puerto Rico,
came as a genuine surprise to the war
department. 1t had been all carefully
planned that he was to make his land
ing at another point, as remote as pos
sible from the place where he actually
landed, so there was little wonder that
the officials received the first news of
the landing with incredulity, and even
went to the length of supposing that
the story had been put afioat in order
TO distract attention from the point
which had been selected. Just why
Gen. Miles made this wide departure
from the plans of the department is
not known, but it is supposed that he
gathered some information since he
lett Siboney that induced him to make
| the change. The result, however, has
| been to perplex the department Of
ficials deeply and to considerably de-
range their carefully prepared pro-
gramme for the remainder of the ex-
| petition. 1t will now be necessary to
intercept the sections of the expedi-
ton already at sea heading for certain
selected points on the coast of Puerto
Rico and to advise them of the change
in the plans.
| Gen. Wilson's brigade Ia now APP
preaching the island, being due there
to-day. and reiniorcements will fol-
low at intervals of one or two days
until the whole force of 10000 men is
landed, unless events connected with
the peace negotiations make it eX-
| pedient to stop further movements.
| However, it is matter for congratula-
ton to the war department that Gen.
Miles has managed to set foot on
Puerto Rico before the first overtures
for peace and thus to place the island
In the same position as Cuba and the
philippines, namely, as territory at
least partially in the possession of the
| United States at the beginning of the
negotiations.
,lGuanica. the point of debarkation Of
| the Puerto Rican expeditionary force, is
| small town of 1000 Inhabitants ON the
southern coast of the island. On rough
| calculation 1t Is less than 20 miles air
line distant from Ponce and 65 miles from
| San Juan, against which the assault is to
be directed. Guanica is about six miles
south of Yauco. Of which city 1t forms the
port. and with which 1t is connected by q
good road. The town Is situated on q bay
| of the same name. which forms one of the
best ports in the whole island. The banks
| to the right are steep and form good
| natural wharf. Three vessels can lie along
| side and unload by means of gang planks
| Vessels of 80 feet draft can enter the bay
| easily and proceed close in shore. The con-
| spicuous advantage of this port. aside from
| the excellent ,harbor facilities for the
| transports, is the utter absence OF fortifica-
| tons or mines.]
| The Engagement at bahia Honda.
Havana, July 81 (From Spanish
Source 1.-The following is the official
report, made Tuesday, of the engage.
| ment between The Spanish forces and
the American marines on Saturday,
July 90, near Bahia Honda, IS miles
| west of Havana, on the north coast of
| the province Of Pinar del Rio.
ION July % Senior AIanzanal. mayor of
Bahai Honda, left the town about sun
| rise. with forces of all arms. proceeding
| in northerly direction toward Manimani
| creek and Goberna6ora beach, to the west
| of the entrance OF the bay OH which the
| town Of Bahia Honda is situated, 1t had
been reported that American ships had
| been seen there the day before (F'riday).
| On arriving, the Spanish forces opened
| with artillery and musketry fire, COM
| pellng the American ship in the offing to
| withdraw, with several losses on board.
| OF the landing party four We're killed,
| among them lieutenant, as was ascer-
| tanned from documents on his person. Our
| troops also sank the boat used in the land
| ing. with eight men, and captured one new
| Remington. a Bordan ard n hundred
cartridges. The Spanish losses were three
| slightly wounded"
Troops Occupy Guantanamo.
Santiago, de Cuba, July Fl. The
First United States infantry, under
Lieut.. Col. Bisbee, went to Guanta-
namo Monday afternoon in order to
occupy that place.
Spanish Vandalism.
Guantanamo Bay, Santiago de Cuba,
July 27.-The Prairie arrived here
from Nipe bay Monday evening and re-
ported all quiet.
The Spaniards Monday night sunk
the Spanish gunboat Sandoval, which
has been lying near Caimanera. This
is looked upon as being gross breach
of the terms of the surrender, which
the Spaniards then had knowledge of,
especially considering the fact that
food has been sent by the United States
navy into Caimanera.
Must Surrender Soon.
1t is difficult to see how the large
body of Spanish troops at Holguin can
fail to surrender very soon, although
reinforced by Spanish forces from
Gibara. Holguin is one of the COM
handing points in eastern Cuba, and
the surrender of its garrison will be an
important event in the war. News
from there is expected shortly, and
upon it will depend some of the plans
OF our commanders.