The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-06-14
ATTACKED BY THE SPANlARDS.
The Marines who Landed at Gunnta-
namo Have n Brush with the Enemy.

namo Have n Brush with the Enemy.
The New York Suns special correspon-
dent at Guantanamo cables his paper the
following detailed account of the attack
made by tho sFniards upon the force Of
marines who Gnded at that place last
Friday: .,o
DAMP MCALLA. GUANTANAMO
RAY. Jne lit was thought scarcely
probable that the Spaniards would ven
ture 20 attack the marines OF the FIRST
Battalion Of Marines OF Brooklyn VINO
landed here on Friday afternoon but II
turned out that the belief was III found
"a The men were busily engaged all
Friday afternoon In establishing their
camp. which was named camp McCaha
I'm honor of the commander OF the Mar
blehead. They were tired enough wheh
taps were sounded and though al the
tents were not up they slept sounaiy an
night Although no attack was realIy
expected. every precaution was taken to
guard against surprise and tie sentinels
were acutely alert. The night passed
without alarm. and this morning the
work OF completing the camp was re-
sirmed with the greatest activity.
The day passed without incident OF note
until AGO +. NJ. when the sharp reports
OF three OF the enemy's rifles were hearu.
The shots went wild, but In an instant
the camp was aroused.
As might have been expected the at
tack came from dense growth OF llopl-
cal bushes some little distance from the
camn proper. The only surprising thing
was that tho Spaniards OF Guantahalno
raw should show themselves more ven
turesome than those elsewhere In the
island and make the FIRST advance
The landing Of the last marines and
baggage had Just been completed as the
shots were heard. A large number or
the men were hauling water up the steep
hil on the top OF which the camp Is Sit
mated. while others who had been Work
ing hard all day beneath the burning
sun were refreshing themselves swim
ming I'm the bay about half mile away
from the camp.
A guard Of twenty men, In command
of Sergeant Smith. was posted az the
southern or landward approach 20 the
camp. which. az before stated. Is on the
Great on the HIN. This hill falls away
sIightlv 20 a foot-hill which is backed
ND against high mountain which inter-
venes between the camp and the Carib-
bean Sea.
West Of the guards was the western
line Of the harbor. while 20 the north
and behind Fisherman's Point. where the
landing OF the marines was made were
the cruiser Marbehead, the transport
Panther and the torpedo-boat Porter.
To the east was a lagoon that puts IN 10
the foothills above mentioned
All the land except that occupied by the
Americans was covered with woods and
thick brush. The only road was mule
path skirtng the mountain.
Suddenly. at 4:30 o'clock. the guard was
fired on from tho foothills. and number
of Spanlards appeared I'm the brush at
the head OF the lagoon.
The bullets whistled through the air.
and for the moment startled the guards.
IL was only for an instant, however. Al
most instantly they returned the fire
with rapid volleys.
As soon as the shots were heard the
men came running from the camp ground
and the shore 20 the aid OF their COM
rades. Many OF them who had been
swimming did not have a shred OF cloth
| ing on. but this made no difference In
their fighting qualities. They had dash
! ed from the water. Selling their arms as
| they ran, and made for the camp.
Col. Huntington. commanding the ma
rines. formed his men in semi-circle on
| the far slope OF the hill, and they We're
| ordered 10 kneel. In few moments the
| mountains were ItoVhhnt'o w..
| sillades the Americans poured into the
woods and bushes. There was no excite
| ment beyond that natural 20 an occasion
| OF the sort. The men obeyed orders In
| stantly and there was no firing without
| orders. as is generally the case when
| troops 10 into action for the first time.
In fact, they acted as well as veterans
| The Spaniards had in the meantime re-
| heated their fire on the guards. but did
not try TO pick out the men after theii
| formation.
| The attack was no~cxactly In the ma
ture OF a surprise 10 the commander OF
the camp A few minutes before the mrs.
shots were fred a Cuban dashed into the
camp with the news that the enemy were
preparing 10 attack. He said he thought
there were 200 spaniards In the woods
and was anxious that the Amsriean'