The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-07-27

iards fired on the Americans, the Glou-
cester opened fire on the enemy with
all her three and six Founders which
could be brought to bear, shelling the
town and also dropping shells into the
hills to the west of Guanica, where
II number of Spanish cavalry were to be
seen Fastening toward the spot where
the Americans had landed. Lieutenant
Huse then threw UP little fort which
he named for Lieutenant Wainwright
and laid barbed wire in the street in
front of it in order to repel the ex-
pected cavalry attack. The Lieutenant
also mounted the Colt gun and sgnalled
for reinforcements, which were sent from
the Gloucester. The Associated Press
dispatch boat Cynthia III was the only
boat in the harbOr except the Glouces-
ter.
While the MauSerS were pepperng all
around Lieutenant Commander VAIN
correspondent and said: 'They fired on
us after their flag was down and ours
was up after | had spared the town for
the sake of the women and children.
The next town | strike | will blow up
Presently a few of the Spanish cavalry
joined those who We're fighting in the
street of Guanica. but the Colt barked
TO n purpose. killing four of them
BY that time the Gloucester had the
range of the town and of the block house
and all her guns We're splitting fire.
the doctor and the paymaster helping
to serve the guns.
Soon afterward galloping cavalrymen
were seen climbing the hills TO the west
ward and the foot soldiers were Scurry-
ing along the fences from the town
by 9:40 with the exception of few
guerilla shots, the town was won and
the enemy was driven out of its neigh
borhood.
The Red Cross nurses on the Lam
pasas and a detachment of regulars were
the first to land from the TRANSPORTS.
After Lieutenant Huse had captured
the place he deployed his small force
into the suburbs. But he was soon
reinforced by the regulars. who were
followed by Company G, of the Sixth
Illinois and then by other troops in
quick successionA All the boats of
the men-ofwar and the transports were
used in the work of landing the troops,
each steam launch towing four or five
boats loaded to the rails with soldiers.
Everything progressed III an orderly
manner, and according to the plans of
General Miles. The latter went ashore
at about noon, after stopping to board
the Gloucester and thank Lieutenant
Wainwright for his gallant action
Guanica is the most lovely spot YET
occupied by our forces. 1t is the seat
of the coffee and sugar industry and
large herds of cattle are pasturing i'm
tho mpo oUoVS which ora bor1arod hv M
coanut palms. Many head of cattle and
n large number of horses have been
driven into the mountains by their own
erS. Some of them will be recap
tured.
Ponce is the second city of the island,
has a splendid harbor and will make IA
good base of operations.
There were fifteen large coasters this
afternoon at Guanica Bay, but only two
barges were captured.
1t is likely that the Spanish garrison
from Ponce may try to surprise our
people tonight But it will only be an
affair of outposts.
The town of Ponce is sure TO fall
shortly before the combined attack
of our army and navy. The main fight
ing until San Juan de Porto Rico is
reached. will be along the line Of a
SpIeHulu mlltary road leading from
Ponce to San Juan de Porto Rico. But
every precaution will be taken to lessen
our casualties even to the use of the
street-sheds. of which a supply was
brought with the expedition.
The health of the troops is excel
lent, except among the Massachusetts
men. They have been packed on the
Yale for about fifteen days and thirty
cases of typhoid fever have developed
among the soldiers. Parker, of the
Sixth Massachusetts, died on Friday and
was buried at sea.
Later in the day the Dixie spoke the
dispatch boat of the Associated Press. 1t
was then about nine o'clock at night
and the commander of the Dixie said
he had been almost around the Island
of Porto Rico and had not seen any
men of war or transports. except the
New Orleans, which was blockading the
port of San Juan de Porto Rico.
A heavy gale was blowing. causing
the dispatch boat to take nineteen hours
in making the 125 miles to ST. Thomas.
The Associated Press boat is the only
Il ligtNu ufnh