Omaha daily bee., 1898-07-31
INVASION LIKE A FETE DAY
Porto Ricans Receive Our Troops Like
Liberators, Not Intruders.
THREE AMERICANS WOUNDED IN SKlRMlsH
AIcnIdc Receives General Miles with
Extreme Courtesy ana Asks
His Pleasure with II
Town.

PONCE, Porto Rico, Thursday, July %,
Evening.-(Via st. Thomas, Friday Morning,
July 29)-The American conquest OF Porto
Rico has begun auspiciously. The Spanish
have abandoned Ponce, the principal port
on the southern coast Of the island and In
many respects its most progressive city.
Last night General Miles landed and this
morning took possession and raised the stars
and stripes. The inhabitants received the
Americans with open arms and gave them
the widest and NOSE exaggerated welcome,
indicating that the population was ripe for
the revolt, which was predicted as soon as
American troops touched the shore.
The forces landed at Guanica on Monday
have been moved and now hold the terminus
Of the railway connecting Yarico with Ponce.
They encountered no opposition except on
Tuesday morning at daylight, when the ad-
vance skirmishers pushed into a force Of
Spaniards occupying a house on the Yaucoa
road. The sklrmishers, under a hot fire,
fell back and then again came CALAMITY for
ward, driving the enemy for a mile from
the Notifications into the bush. In the en-
counter three Americans were wounded.
They are;
Captain Edward j. Gibbons, Company A.,
shot IN the left leg.
Captain b. A. Bostwick, Company L, in
the left arm, slightly.
Private James Drummond, Company X, in
the neck.
The enemy lost three killed and fourteen
wounded.
Found Ponce Ready to C%npitulate.
After the action 1t was believed that the
enemy intended to contest the advance from
Guanica. General Miles made preparations
to send General Wilson'S troops to Ponce
with a view of throwing them upon Ponce
and the enemy and then closing in on the
latter from both directions. He sent word
to Captain Higginson of the battleship
Massachusetts yesterday to be ready to
cover the landing today. An officer accord
ingly was sent ashore yesterday afternoon to
formally demand the surrender of the port
OF Ponce, three miles from the city of
Ponce. The officer was greatly surprised to
learn that not only the port but the city
Of Ponce was ready to capitulate.
The Spanish commandant, Julison San
Martin, with 1000 men, without artillery.
had been taken completely by surprise by
the invasion occurring in this quarter. on
the advice of the British consul he decided
to make no resistance. A force of marines
was Immediately landed from the Annapolis
anu III american nag "do hploNNi 0NNi Viz
customs house in the port of Ponce. During
the night the Spanish troops retired from
the city along the military road toward San
Juan, where it is probable that Captain Cen
eral Macias will eventually concentrate all
the Spanish forces in the island.
In the morning General Miles established
headquarters at the customs house and
raised the American flag.
Among the prizes found in the harbor
were seventy lighters used in loading sugar
ships, and these were used instead of cut
tiers to convey the troops ashore, during
which operation not a man or animal was
injured.
Received Like Liberators.
The scene when the soldiers reached the
wharves along the water front was remark
able. Thousands of residents of the city.
men, women and children, lined the water
front and shouts of Joy and cries of Viva
los Americanos!'' 'Buenos Dias!" Porto
Rico Libre!" greeted them. The soldiers
were received like liberators rather than in
truders. The red-shirted fremen came down
to the wharf in q body and cheered Justify.
Captain Dions, with Company K of the Six
teenth regiment. Immediately marched to
the city and established a provost guard in
the municipal building, the soldiers being
Dllleteu IN the lTeSCOeu anu SOlu uSCOTdLeu
room of the alcalde.
On every hand the greatest satisfaction
was evidenced. Women adorned themselves
In their brightest gowns and waved their
hands and smiled as the troops marched
through the streets. Public vehicles did a
thriving business in conveying the curious
the harbor to view the American ships. The
doors Of the merchant houses were opened
and the whole city presented the appear
ance of celebrating a fete. The poor are es-
pecially rejoiced.
The city of Ponce is romantic and pic
turesque. with buildings of old Moorish and
Spanish architecture. Its broad plazas and
blue, pink and green-tinted houses present
a pleasing appearance and its streets are
clean and well paved. The inhabitants are
mostly native Porto Ricans, a well defined
race, resulting from a blend of Spanish and
original Caribs, with a sprinkling Of for
eigners, mostly French and Germans, and
a few English and Americans.
All the approaches to the city are care
fully guarded tonight. General Henry will
effect a ~juncture with General Wilson here
as soon as possible and their troops will
await the arrival of the other troops now
on the way. The military road TO San Juan
is broad and we'll beaten and will offer no
such difficult passage of artillery and supply
trains as did the soggy and almost I'M
broken trails of Cuba to the advance of Cen
eral Shafter.
sharp Engagement Near Town.
The Spanish made a stand at a small town,
resisting General Henry's advance, seven
miles north Of Ponce, tonight. Artillery fire
could be seen distinctly as the dispatch boat
bearing this news left at I o'clock in the
evening.
Information received by General Miles in
dicates that there are less than 1000 reg
ulars and 5000 volunteers In the island,
Generals Miles and Wilson with their
STATS, accompanied by the British, French,
German and Danish %consuls, called upon the
alcalde this afternoon, The latter gave them
a gracious welcome and asked to be ad-
yised as to General Miles desires as to
the government of the city. General Miles
informed him that IL was not his purpose