The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-09-13
GENERAL SCHWAN'S EXPEDITION
Across Porto Rico, Least Known But
Most EmDOrtant

New York, Sept. PA letter to the
Evening Post dated Mayaguez. Porto Rico
Aug. &c, says:
BY one Of those mysterious dispersal
tons for which it is difficult to account,
the only one Of the four expeditions which
started across the island of Porto Rico
and met with any special degree of sue
cess was unacompanied by any newspa-
per correspondent. 1t was a small expe-
ditiOn and composed of regulars and COM
manded by regular army officer, Brig.
Gen. Swan. Brooke Henry, and Wilson
were in command of the other expedi-
tions, and it was assumed, from the num-
Der of their forces and the routes which
they were to follow. that any of these
presented opportunities for more interest
ing and more important news matter
than that OF Gen. Schwan, with his little
bunch Of regulars. That was where an
opportunity was lost AS an important
and interesting campaign, none of the
others have ever rivalled Schwan's move
around the western end Of the island
No one Of the others met with d greater
success. No one covered so much ter
ritory, or covered so much in, so short
time. No one raised the American flag
in so many towns and cities.
Gen. Henry was sent across the island.
from Ponce, almost due northward to
Arecibo. His command was a small one.
and it went into a country which had al
ready been opened up by Gen. Stone and
the engineer and Signal Corps, who had
entered Adjuntas and Uturado. and were
even then on the outskirts of Arecibo.
on the northern coast. Some Importance
seemed to be given to this expedition
by rumors that the general-in-chief would
follow that routine and enter San Juan by
the way of Arecibo. Gen. Brooke had
landed at Arroyo. and was holding that
place and Guayama. and was preparing
Tor his move on the rear of the Spanish
forces which were said 20 be behind strong
entertainments at Aybonito. Gen. VIII
son commanded what was plainly intend
ed 10 be the main expedition 10 San Juan
until, by his junction with Gen. Brooke
at Aybonito, the command of both the
expeditions, which would then be formed
into one army, would develop upon Gen.
Brooke, the ranking officer and the COM
handing officer of the corps in which Gen.
Wilson commanded division. There was
no doubt that this double expedition con-
stituted the focal point in the cam
paisn and that Aybonito was to be re-
garded as the point of the decisive bat
tie. 1t was known that the Spanish troops
were there, and that they were making
their position into a sort Of modern lit
tie Thermopylae. Yet, for some reason
for which l cannot give, our movement
against. them was very slow. Every day
helped and strengthened our opponents.
and they We're given many days. some
time We may learn why no sharper push
was made by our troops.
With the Mayaguez expedition. under
Gen. Schwan, the case was different. He
got ready and started out. The force con-
sisted Of about 1900 regulars Of the Elev-
enth Infantry, Two batteries of regular
artillery. and one troop Of regular cavalry.
II was 70 make a general sweep Of the
west coast and the country behind IL.
eastward TO the route taken by Gen.
Henry. Some Of the troops had been land
ed at Guanica and some at Ponce. \
junction was effected al Yauco. and the
whole started on It's westward trip as
an independent expedition. It possessed
S-lt % ~ - -sk4st- tues \ Or4Salle--Ccn-
eral commanded what was barely more than
a single regiment. Il included all three
arms OF the service, which was wholly
correct. though lis artillery detachment
was entirely out Of al proportion 10 the
infantry. \ platoon Of two guns was all
the artillery which Is usually supposed %
accompany p regiment OF infantry.
though the point IS necessarily elastic and
dependent upon general conditions. As
q matter Of fact a single platoon was all
that did any service on This trip.
The command started II q very business
like way. and appears TO have kepg I'D
THAI attitude throughout its course. Il
was accompanied by is wagon-train. and
il kept moving. Beyond Yuaco i, was TIE
first il the Held. IN front of il was a force
which wstS its numerical equal. II not its
superior. Il occupied S2bana Gran6e ana
san German practically without ooposi-
ton Ssbana Gran6e is ;he center % q
municipal jurisdiction which includes A
population - $500 or go San German
IS city Of SEQ with q Jurisdiction COW
eriug So.0o. As 7 came from Yaaco l
noticed that almost every house between