Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1898-06-16
OLD GLORY FLOATS.
Stars and Stripes Are Planted on Gu
ban Soil by u Force of Amer
lean Marines.


10, via Port Antonio, Monday, June 10.
The invasion of Cuba by the Ameri-
can forces began Friday. Six hum
dred marines have pitched their tents
about the smoking ruins Of the outer
Notifications of Guantanamo and the
stars and stripes for the first time float
on Spanish flagstaff in Cuba.
To Capt. Clark and the battleship
Oregon belong the honor of accomplish
ing the first successful landing of the
war. Forty marines from the battle
ship went ashore Saturday morning
and occupied the left entrance of the
bay until the troopship Panther ar
rived with 600 marines. These under the
command of Lieut.. Col. r. w. Hunting
ton arrived at three o'clock, and with
in half an hour they had burned the
buildings of the Spanish camp and had
set fire to the miserable little village
which crouched on the beach under the
hilltop of Guantanamo. The whole
operation of silencing the guns and
landing the forces was as easy as plac-
ing a Sunday school picnic. The Mar
blehead, backed by the Vixen and Dol
phin, opened fire on the earthworks
Friday. The shores to the right of the
entrance were lined with guns and
rifle pits, but the Spaniards stampeded
after firing few shots.
The main fort lies within the city
limits and is still to be reduced but it
is not in difficult position, and the
American officers say it can be taken in
Is minutes when desired.
The Marblehead, Dolphin, Vixen and
two golfers have been off the entrance
of the harbor for several days, and Fri
day morning they sailed into the chan
mel. A mile further up they opened
fire, sending so shots at the fortifica-
tons on the left. The hills on, the right
| of the entrance were deserted. There
are no defenses on the right side of the
| harbor.
No attempt to land was made until
the Oregon steamed in early Saturday
morning. Capt. Clark Immediately sent
40 marines ashore, and 20 from the
Marblehead followed. They found evil
dence of very hasty departure by the
Spaniards. Watches, hammocks and
ammunition were scattered about the
earthworks and Spanish flag was
found in one of the rifle pits. The little
detachment of marines held the place
until the Panther arrived, when they
were recalled, and the work of disem.
barking began. The first boatload had
scarcely landed, when the village burst
into flames. Company B, under Lieut.
Hall, was the first ashore. and without
the loss of a moment the column start.
ed up the steep, rocky hillside to the
earthworks. For an hour a brown
column of marines filed up the narrow
path, eventually taking up position al
the top of the hill. As soon as the Amer.
lean flag was swung out to the breeze
from the flagstaff of the captured Span
ish camp, the Oregon steamed away tc
reioin the feet off Santiago.
The marines will hold the position un.
til the arrival of the expected troops
in the meantime scouting the vicinity
with the Marblehead, Vixen and Dol
phin lying by to protect them.
Rear Admiral Sampson now has har
Dor and base of supplies on the south
side of the island, and troops can bt
landed at will.
The squadrons of Rear Admiral Samp
son and Commodore Schley are still of
Santiago, maintaining a strict watcl
day and night to prevent the posi-
bility of the escape of Admiral Cervera
From men who have landed to take OBJ
servations of the harbor it is learned
definitely, all agreeing on the point
that the Spanish cruisers and two tor
pedo boat destroyers are there, blu
these vessels are regarded by naval ex
perts, after all, as "men in buckram.
AS high naval officer remarked
"Spain throughout her whole histor,
has never sought a naval fight an,
never will. She has always lodged AM
! is lodging now. Cervera never intende,
, to fight. He intended to dodge and h
has succeeded. Spain will never sem
another fleet to these waters during tn
, present war"
I Washington, June 13. Admira
, Sampson asks promotion for Lieut.
, Hobson and similar reward for his fol
: lowers in the daring Merrimac exploit
y at Santiago, the request being made i
5 his official report telling of their valol
e In this report Admiral Sampson with
held no measure of credit from Hob
son, as well for conceiving and work
ing out the details of the project as TO
I it's glorious execution. It was no
! clearly understood at first just why
, staff officer rather than line Office
f should be selected for the perilous VI
dertaking, particularly in view of tn
: readiness and eagerness with whic
!. such an assignment would be accepte
: by any line officer of the navy. The II
e port satisfactorily explains this. Tn
q man whose brain conceived the projet
/. and whose skill and energy worked OF
e the details was undoubtedly the on
S whose bravery and heroism should ext
Il cute the work.
e Madrid, June 13.-The following di
e patch has been received here from Cap
Gen. Blanco: One American cruise
f and two gunboats are before Havana
4 two are before Mariel one NJ Cardena