Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-06-16
SPANISH IN RETREAT
Col. Huntington's Marines Take the Aggres-
sive at Camp Mc0alla.
Make n Sortie and Drive Back the
,Guerrillas, killing and Can
turing Many.
Copyright. 1898. by the Associated Press,

| copyright 1SyS. by .the Associated Press.)
| GUANTANAMO BAY June H. pm,
via Kingston. Jamaica, June Is. = The
| United States marines. under Lieut.. Col.
Robert w. Huntington, made their first
aggressive movement against the Spanish
| guerrillas today and completely routed the
| enemy.
! The force of marines was under Capt.
Elliott, and the cooperating Cubans were
under Col. Laborda. The combined forces
| raded Spanish camp about five miles
| from the American position. destroyed the
| only well in the vicinity and killed about
| forty Spaniards.
| One American marine was slightly wound
| ed. Two Cubans We're killed and four
| wounded.
| 1t is impossible to estimate the number
| of Spaniards engaged owing to their guer-
rilla methods of fighting, but it is believed
there were at least 100.
The marines behaved splendidly. their
craftsmanship being excellent even under
| the severe fire of the enemy
The captured camp lies about five miles
southeast of the rifle pits of the marines
and was an important base for the enc
my, as ii contained the only well within
six or seven miles.
The Americans began a cautious advance
and were within 200 yards of the enemy be-
fore the crack of q rifle from the Spanish
lines announced that the Spaniard had
discovered them
Cubans Join the Attack.
The troops quickly moved into line of bat
tie, with the Cubans on the left flank The
enemys bullets whirling viciously
over the Americans, but the marines set
tied down to their work as unconcernedly
as though at target practice.
Very few Spaniards We're in sight. They
were lying behind the huts, and in the
brush. but the puffs of smoke revealed
hnl 1aa no
to do effective work. For twenty minutes
both sides maintained terrific fire. The
Spanish shots were generally wild and spas
modc. while the Americans coolly fired
away, aiming carefully and shooting to kill
For the most part the Americans firing
was done individually, but at times the
officers could direct firing by squads al
ways with telling effect.
1t was beginning to loOg as though bay
onet charge down the slope would be neces-
sary to dslodge the enemy, when suddenly
the latter began to break for a thicket a
hundred yards further Little groups
could be seen fleeing from the camp, sepa-
rating. darling through the brush and zig
tagging to escape the bullets.
American Fire Deadly.
1t was then the American fire became
most deadly. Man after man could be seen
to fall in a vain rush for shelter, and the
| fire from the Spanish became scattering
and almost ceased.
W. No'''iiS roy t'tiu anu louT MouUupu,
| and Private Walker of Company D had to
| limp to the rear with slight wound in his
ankle. a
The easy victory put the command in high
spirits. The little black Cuban warriors
waved their machetes ana howled curses at
! the Spanish in savage fashion Their firing
| had been wild throughout, but they all dis
| played the utmost contempt for the Spanish
bullets, apparently being absolutely with
| out fear.
| AS the enemy began breaking from the
| camp the Dolphin, which lay out a sea,
| was signaled and began pitching shells to-
| ward the thicket for which the Spaniards
| were making. Meanwhile Lieutenant Ma
| gill was seen coming with forty men as
| reinforcements, and Captain Mahoney was
| on the way with a hundred more. hut be-
! fore either could reach the scene tn. trou-
bic was over.
Spanish In Retreat.
AS the Spanish retreated the Americans
| moved slowly forward, firing as they went,
| and by the time the camp was reached the
enemy had all got away, taking their
| wounded and probably many of their dead.
| Fifteen bodies were found scattered through
| the brush, but the Americans were unable
! to examine the spot where their firing had
! been most deadly. No time was lost in
| burning the buildings and filling the well
| with earth and stones.
| The Dolphin landed water and ammuni-
| ton, as an attack was expected on the re-
! turn march, but none was made. Evident
| ly the Spaniards were too thoroughly beat
| Ell to attempt further fighting. The ma
| rines did not reach the American camp I'M
| til after nightfall, and as they had been
| without food since the early morning they
| were thoroughly exhausted
Colonel Huntington believes the destruc-
| ton of the camp and well will seriously
| cripple the bushwhacking operations of the
| enemy.
BEGAN WITH 4 GENERAL ATTACK.
| This Repulsed, Our Men Follow Tn
the Advantage.