The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1898-08-05
PORTO RICANS GLAD
Inhabitants of Juan Diaz Greet
American Troops with Delight.
LOOTlNC BY SPANIARDS CONTINUES.
Gen. Brooke Arrives at Ponce with the
Troops on the St Louis-Amer,can
Troops Reach Coama-Cabie
Communication Opened.

Ponce, Porto Rico, Aug AIN spite
of the brave words of the pronuncia-
mento of Capt. Gen. Macias, Spanish
power in Porto Rico is rapidly crum-
bling. Mr.. =. G. Hanna, United States
consul at san Juan until war was de-
clared. gives the Associated press the
following text of dispatch received
by him from Spanish official in the
northern part of the island: Resist
ance is impossible. The volunteers
have refused to march and we have no
ammunition" Mr.. Hanna has all along
insisted that the native Porto Ricans
were eager for change from Spanish
TO American rule, and that the only
danger in the island was from the
Spanish regulars under the direct com
mand OF the captain general.
Gen. Miles has not yet directed a
general forward movement in advance
of the arrival of the main body of the
troops. Col. Rulings is still at the
front and has occupied Juan Diaz, the
first important town on the road to
San Juan. The inhabitants, crazy
with delight, met the troops with
home made American flags
Pickets have been thrown out TO feel
for the enemy. Deserters from volun-
teers who are coming in constantly
report that there is a small force OF
Spanish regulars at Coamo, midway
between Juan Diaz and Aibonito on
the road to San Juan. They also
say that Gen. otega is on the way with
reinforcements and that the main body
of regulars is concentrating in Aibon-
ito. a small skirmish recently oc-
Cured at Fortuna, between a few reg
ulars who were foraging and the resi-
dents of the village. Yesterday $50
volunteers, including 10 officers, signed
ehe parole.
There is no reason to change the
opinion that II any stand is made be-
| fore San Juan is reached il will be at
Aibonito, where the mountain pass
gives the enemy great opportunity.
At Guayamo, - miles east of Ponce,
200 Spanish regulars, under instruc-
tions from the captain general, seized
the funds of the town. The residents
resisted and Gen. Miles was appealed
to for help. He has advised naval
demonstration in front of the town.
Troops may be sent if the reported
presence of the Spanish regulars is
confirmed. Tales of looting and out.
raging continue, the reports covering
numerous small towns in the province
of Ponce.
Mr.. Hanna is busy in assisting TO
adjust local conditions to the new
state of affairs. He is endeavoring to
establish American post offices 10 all
the important centers of occupied ter
ritory, and he has frequent intervie ws
with merchants and bankers on the
question of money premium, an awk-
ward question that is giving the Amer
lean aud local financiers much trouble.
The arrival of Gen. Brooke, with the
troops on board the auxiliary cruiser
ST. Louis, is highly gratifying to Gen.
Miles. who says that positively moth
ing is to be done prematurely.
The American troops have reached
Coamo, about 10 miles northeast OF
Ponce, on the road 10 San Juan. Thus
far they have met with no resistance.
Cable communication has been
opened, but the line will not be in full
operation for several days.