The Yale expositor., 1898-08-05
Gen. Miles Expedition Landed on
Porto Pico.
The PORT OF GUANlCA TAKEN.
The First Brush with the Spanish Re-
suited in Four Dons Biting the Dust,
but not an American Hurt-To Take
Ponce Next.

u crew OF 30 marines belonging 10 the
launch of the U. S. auxiliary gunboat
Gloucester. Four of the Spaniards
were killed and no Americans were
hurt. The troops were pushed for
ward promptly in order to capture the
railroad leading 10 Ponce, which is
only about 10 miles east of the place
From Ponce there is an excellent mill
tary road running IS miles north to
San Juan.
This move on the part of Gen. Miles
was a distinct change from the plan of
campaign as mapped out by the war
department. 1t was intended that Gen
Miles expedition should sail to the
north of the island and land at Fajardo,
while the forces under Gen. Brooke
were to take Guanica. The latter was
to capture Ponce and then march to
San Piedras where he was to join Gen.
Miles and from there the campaign
against San Juan was to be conducted
1t was not until they were nearing
Porto Rico that Gen. Miles held con-
sultation and changed the plans, and
then the feet sailed south through the
Mona passage and Mt daylight anchored
off Guanica bay, which is quiet place
surrounded by cultivated lands In
the rear are high mountains and close
to the beach nestles a village of about
20 houses.
The Spaniacds were completely taken
by surprise Almost the first they
knew of the approach of the army of
invasion was in the announcement con-
tanned in the firing of a gun from the
Gloucester. demanding that the Span
iards haul down their flag, which was
floating from the flagstaff in front of
blockhouse standing to the east of the
village. The Gloucester then hove to
within about 500 yards of the shore
and lowered launch, having on board
a Colt rapid-fire gun and 30 men under
the command of Lieut.. Huse, which
was sent ashore without encountering
opposition, and hauled down the Span
ish flag, and they then raised on the
flagstaff the first L. 5. dag to float over
Porto Rican soil.
Suddenly about 30 Spaniards opened
fire with Mauser rifles on the American
party. Lieut.. Husc and his men re-
sponded with great gallantry, the Colt
gun doing effective work. Almost inn
mediately after the Spaniards fired on
the Americans, the Gloucester opened
fire on the enemy with all her three
and siX-poundcrs which could be
brought 10 bear. Smelling the town and
also dropping shells into the hills to
the west of Guanica, where a number
of Spanish cavalry were to be seen
fastening toward the spot where the
Americans had landed. Lieut.. Huse
then threw up a little fort which he
named Fort Wainwright, and laid
barbed wire in the street in front of it in
order TO repel the expected cavalry at
tack The lieutenant also mounted
the Colt gun and signaled for rein
forcements, which were sent from the
Gloucester.
Presently few of the Spanish cav
airy joined those who were fighting in
the street of Guanica, but the Colt
barked to purpose, killing four of
them. by that time the Gloucester
had the range and soon afterwards
white-coated, galloping cavalrymen
were seen climbing the hills to the
westward and the foot soldiers were
scurrying along the fences from the
town. by 10 o'clock, the town was
won and the enemy was driven out of
the neighborhood.
Ponce is the second city of the island,
has n splendid harbor and will make
good base of operations. 1t is sure to
fall shortly before the combined at
tack of our army and navy. The main
fighting until San Juan de Porto Rico
is reached will be along the line of
splendid military road leading from
Ponce to San Juan.
The Red Cross nurses on the Lam
pasas and detachment of regulars
were the first to land from the trans
ports. After Lieut. Huse had captured
the place he deployed his forces into
the suburbs. But he was soon rein
forced by the regulars, who were fol-
lowed by Co. G., Sixth Illinois, and
then by other troops in quick sue
cession.
Gen. Miles went ashore about noon,
AFTER stopping 10 BOARD the gloucester
and thank Lieut.. Commander Vain
wright for his gallant action.
The spirit of the troops, men and Off
GERS, is admirable. The Massachusetts
and Illinois contingents, which had
been coopcd up on board the Yale and
Rita off Santiago for fortnight, were
delighted to get ashore.
Guanica is the most lovely spot yet
occupied by our forces. IL is the seat
of the coffee and sugar industries and
large herds of cattle are pasturing in
the meadows, which are bordered by
cocoanut palms.
Two explosions, evidently caused by
some spy, occurred in the nitro-gly-
cerin house of the Hercules Powder