The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1898-08-11
DAVE AT PORTO RICO
MASSACHUSETTS ACTS AS CON-
VOY FOR MILES.
LANDING TROOPS AT GUANICA
Porto Rico is a Beautiful Garden Spot
and the Navy is Anxious to Possess
It.-Incidents of the Voyage and
Landing.

Porto Rico, July Goth.
Nv Dear Folks-I don't remember
whether had time to write and tell
you about our leaving Guantanamo for
Porto Rico, but we did SO on last
Thursday at about 3 p. m. The
Massachusetts was made senior ship
of naval convoy to take the army
under Gen. Miles in transport from
Guantanamo to Cape San Juan. There
were eight transports and the Massa-
chusetts, Yale, Columbia, Dixie and
Gloucester.
The Annapolis, Wasp and Leyden
were to JON us at San Juan and golfers
to come after the feet later. Cadets
were sent aboard the transports to act
as signal officers, and as our captain
had the whole matter to arrange, [, as
his clerk, had my hands full for some
time and was on the go, tell you.
Things came out all right and we
headed eastward. While in the wind
ward passage between Cuba and Haiti
we sighted several schooners and sent
the Gloucester and. Dixie to overhaul
them. Visions Of prizes came up before
us, but they were soon dispelled, for
none of them we're Spanish. The
Columbia was sent to Haiti with dis
patch for General Miles and soon re-
joined US.
The weather was fine and as we
passed along the northern coast of
Haiti and San Domingo it was very
fine sight to see the two lines of ships
astern of us.
On Sunday morning, when little
northwest of Porto Rico we headed
south through Mona Passage, after
having sent the Dixie to San Juan and
Cape San Juan to communicate with
our forces there.
It seems that the General had chang
ed his original intention to land at Cape
San Juan and concluded to land here
where the enemy has no Notifications.
This morning the shady outlines Of
Porto Rico, our prize, began to
appear dimly in the eastern horizon.
At 6 o'clock we were off this
port, and all OF the ships headed
boldly for the entrance. The entrance
has high hills on each side, but the
little village is easily seen from outside.
The Gloucester ran in to find the bat
teries, if any, and to pick up mines.
She found none of either. The navy
vessels then anchored at the harbOr's
mouth, the water inside being too shall
low fer the large ships. The Glouces-
ter sent a company of men ashore and
soon drew the Spanish guard out. The
transports soon ran in and the troops
we're landed on Spanish soil once more
without any resistance and to the
enemy's complete surprise. We
have about 300 men here. The Gen
eral intends to march right on to a
port fifteen miles east of here called
Ponce, from which there is fine mill
tary road all the way to San Juan.
At Ponce there are about 1000 men,
so we will have little trouble in settling
any small difficulties as to who is to
possess the city. think our forces, as
soon as the remaining transports ar
rive, will not be long in marching on
toward San Juan, but when there they
will have large force to meet Pm
afraid.
AS far as l know now our ship will
remain here for a few days at least
The mail goes north tomorrow by the
Yale.
The island here, am told, is a beau
tiful summer garden, everything is
green and all the conditions are so
agreeable. Some day when the " war
is over" and Porto Rico. is ours hope
to come and spend vacation on some
fine spot like this. Your loving
Dave.