Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1898-07-28
OLD GLORY RAISED.
Miles Lands in Porto Rico and the
Spanish Flag Is Hauled Down.
A SMALL ENGAGEMENT At CUANICA.
-Four spaniards Killed but No Americans
Hurt-A Little Fort Built-Gen. Miles
Sends u Dispatch About the
Situation.

Port OF Guanica, Porto Rico, July 25
via St Thomas, d. W. l., July 26. The
United States military expedition un
der the command Of Maj Gen. Nelson
A. Miles, which left antanamt
bay during the evening Of Thursday
last, was landed here successfully to
day, after skirmish with a detacn.
ment OF the Spanish troops and crew
OF 80 belonging to the launch Of the
United States gunboat Glouces.
ter. Four Spaniards were killed and
no Americans hurt. The troops were
pushed forward promptly in order to
capture the railroad leading to Ponce,
which is only about ten miles east Of
this place. From Ponce there is an ex-
cellent military road running so miles
north to San Juan. The whole of
Gen. Brooke's force, with the New Or
leans, Annapolis, Cincinnati, Leyden
and Wasp, are expected here within "a
hours.
The voyage from Guantanamo bay
to this port was uneventful. At noon
Sunday Gen. Miles called for con.
sultation, announcing that he was de-
termined not to 60 by San Juan cape,
but by the Mona passage instead, land
here, surprise the Spaniards and de-
ceive their military authorities. The
course was then changed and the
Dixie was sent to warn Gen. Brooke
at Cape Juan. Ponce, which is sitn-
ated 10 or Is miles from this port, is
to the eastward and harder place to
take. In addition, the water at Ponce
is too shallow for the transports to be
able to get close In shore. Then,
again, Ponce itself Is some little dis
lance from where the troops would
have been able to land If that point
had been selected for the debarkation
of the expedition. One advantage of
this place is that it is situated close to
the railroad connection with Ponce,
which means Of transportation our
troops hope to secure to-day.
Monday morning the Gloucester, in
charge of Lieutenant Commander
Wainwright, steamed into Guanica
harbor in order to reconnoiter the
place. With the feet waiting outside,
the gallant little fighting yacht braved
the mines which were supposed
10 be in the harbor and found that
here was five fathoms Of water close
n shore. The Spaniards were taken
by surprise. Almost the first they
snew Of the approach Of the army OF
INVASION was in the announcement
in the firing Of gun from
he Gloucester demanding that the
'paniards haul down their flag, which
vas floating from flagstaff in front
II blockhouse standing to the east
II the village. The Gloucester then
love to within about 600 yards of the |
hore and lowered launch having |
IN board Colt rapid fire gun and 80
men under the command of Lieut..
iuse These were sent ashore with.
nut encountering opposition. Quar-.
ermaster Beck thereupon told Yeo-
nan Lacy to haul down the Spanish
lag, which was done, and they then
aised upon the flagstaff the first
United States flag to float over Porto
lcan soil.
Suddenly about 80 Spaniards opened
ire with Mauser rifles on the Ameri.
an party. Lieut.. Huse and his men
with great gallantry, the
olt gun doing effective work. Nor
len, who received Cervera's surrender,
nd Wood, volunteer lieutenant,
haired the honors with Huse. AL
lost Immediately after the Spaniards
red upon the Americans the Glouces-
err opened fire upon the enemy, shell.
ng the town and also dropping shells
nto the hills to the west of Guanica,
there a number Of Spanish cavalry
,as to be seen Fastening toward the
pot where the Americans had landed.
lieut. Huse then threw up little
ort, which he named Fort Vain
right
GEN. MILES SENDS A DISPATCH.
Washington, July ~ The following
ispatch was received yesterday from
len. Miles:
St Thomas, July o. = Secretary OF War,
Washington; Circumstances were such that
deemed II advisable to take the harbOr OF
uanca first 10 miles west Of Ponce, which
as successfully accomplished between day
ght and II o'clock. Spanards surprised. The
loucester, Commander Wainwright first en-
red the harbor; met with slight resistance,
red few shots All the transports are now
/ the harbor and infantry and artillery rap
lily going ashore. This Is q well protected
arbor The water is sufficiently deep for all
ansports and heavy vessels to anchor within
% yards OF shore The Spanish flag was low
red and the American flag raised at II o'clock
,-day, Capt Hlgglnson, with his fleet, has
,ndered able and earnest assistance. The
oops in good health and best Of spirits No
Isualties Miles, Major General Command
X Army.
FEVER STILL RACES