The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-06-12
TROOPS CAN NOW
LAND AT WILL

The Marines viii Hold the Place Until the
Arrival of Expected Troops, in the Mean
time Scouting in the Vicinity, with the
Marblehead, Vixen and Dolphin Lying by to
Protect Them.
Copyrighted 1898 by Associated Press.)
Off Guantanamo, Cuba, Friday, June
10.-lNia Port Antonio, Jamaica, Sat
nrday, June III a. m.-The invasion
Of Cuba by the American forces began
to-day. Six hundred marines pitched their
tents about the smoking ruins Of the out
er fortifcations of Guantanamo and the
stars and stripes for the first time float
from Spanish flagstaff in Cuba.
TO Captain Clark and the battleship
Oregon belong the honor of accomplish
Ing the first successful landing Of the
War. Forty marines from the battle
ship went ashore this morning and occu-l
pied the left entrance Of the bay until
Il
hundred marines. These under COM
mand of Lieutenant Colonel w. r. Hun
tington, arrived at 3 o'clock and within
half an hour they had burned the build
ings of the Spanish camp and had set
fire to the miserable little village which
crouched on the beach under the hilltop
Of Guantanamo. The whole operation of
silencing the guns and landing the forces
was as easy as placing Sunday school
picnic The Marblehead, backed by the
Vixen and Dolphin, opened fire on the
earthworks yesterday. The shore to the
right of the entrance was lined with
guns and rifle pits but the Spaniards
sfampeded after firing Il few shots. The
city Of Guantanamo lies four miles up
the bay and little Spanish gunboat
came down to help the shore batteries.
But she stayed just long enough to turn
around. Numerous shots were fired by
the Spaniards but not one landed and
no Americans were injured.
The Marblehead, Dolphin, Vixen and
two Golfers have been off the entrance
Of the harbor for several days and yes
terday morning they sailed into the chan
nell Il mile further up they opened fire
sending so shots ut the Notifications on
the left. The hills on the right of the
entrance were deserted. There are no
dqfences on the right sid of the harbor.
No attempt was made to land until the
Oregon steamed in early this morning.
Captain Clark Immediately sent forty
marines ashore and twenty from the
Marblehead followed. They found evi-
lence Of Il very hasty departure by the
Spaniards. Watches, hammocks and am
munition were scattered about the earth
works, and Spanish flag was found in
one of the rife pits. The little detach
ment of marines held the place until
the Panther arrived, when they were
recalled and the work of decentralization
began. The first boat load had scarcely
landed when the village burst into lames.
Company Ii, under Lieut. Hall, was 1le
first ashore, and without the loss OF q
moment, the column started up the
steep, rocky hillside to the earthworks.
For an honr brown column Of marines
filed up the narrow path, eventually TAX
ing up position at the top of the hill.
As soon as the American flag was swung
out to the breeze from the flagstaff of
the captured Spanish camp. the Oregon
steamed away to rejoin the fleet off San
tiago. The marines will hold the positiou
until the arrival of the expected troons
in the meantime scouting in the vicinity
with the Marblehead, Vixen and Dol
phin lying by to protect them.
Rear Admiral Sampson now has har-
Dor and base of supplies, on the south
side Of the island and troops can be
landed at will
The troopship, Panther, reached the
fleet off Santiago early to-day
On her way over the Yosemite fired a
dozen shells into the port of Daigairc,
(BaiquirD. but received no response.
Guntanamo is but forty miles east of
Santiago de Cuba and is a splendid To-
cation for n base of supplies for the
blockading fleet. Tt is understood that
the Island of Cuba is entirely cut off
from cable communication with the ont