Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1898-08-04
7 THE WAR IN PORTO RICO.
Gen. Miles Quietly Awaiting the
Arrival of the Remainder
of His Forces.
SPANISH TROOPS IN FULL RETREAT.
-Four Cities Surrender to an Insignificant
Force of Americans-WIdan and Disquiet-
Ing Runners that Proved To Be I'M
fOunded-Spanish Volunteers Desert
Natives Joining Our Army.

PONCE. Aug. mo forward move
ment of the army is expected for sew
eral days. The transports with Gen.
Brooke's army corps, and the remain
der of the first corps, are arriving slow
~. Our troops will probably remain
here quietly until the bulk of the army
has disembarked. Three transports
arrived yesterday.
Gen. Miles will retain his headquar-
tiers at the customhouse at the port of
Ponce, while Gen. Wilson will be liz
immediate command of the troops in
the city. Gen. Wilson pushed Gen.
Ernest's brigade, consisting of the Sec
ond and Third Wisconsin and the Six
teenth Pennsylvania regiments, out a
mile and half on the military road,
after dusk Saturday night, retaining
two companies of the Sixteenth to act
as provost guard in the city.
All Sorts of Wild Rumors Brought In.
Capt. Allison has been appointed
provost marshal, and with the aid of
the local constabu1ary has preserved
excellent order, although almost the
entire population of the city remained
in the streets celebrating the arrival
after midnight. During the night all
sorts of wild rumors were brought in
to Gen. Wilson. The first was that the
Spanish were to attack the city in
force. In view of this strong line of
outpost was maintained by Gen.
Ernest and the men slept on their
arms.
Another Disquieting Rumor.
This report, however, soon gave way
to rumors that the Spanish were re-
treating, putting entire villages anc
plantations to the torch and numbering
and ravishing as they went. Some of
the wealthy plantation owners of the
vicinity became terror-stricken and
appealed wildly to Gen. Wilson to dis
patch troops to the rescue, but it was
manifestly impossible to divide so
small force.
The Spaniards In Full Retreat.
None of the reports were confirmed
when daylight came, except that the
Spaniards were in full retreat. That
| they INDUCED in excuses of cruel,
vindictive character is doubtless true,
but the town of Juana Diaz, which
was reported to have been burned, is
known to be standing this morning.
Spanish Volunteers Desert.
Gen. Jose Garcia, who is in immedi-
ate command of the Spanish regulars
not believed to number more than 500
was deserted by most of the Spanish
volunteers in his command during the
night, and they began struggling back
| to the city with the dawn. They i'm
mediately presented themselves to the
| provost marshal and surrendered their
| arms.
| Natives Thirsting for Revenge Upon the
Cruel Spaniards.
The appearance of the volunteers
aroused in the breasts of the natives,
who had suffered at their hands in the
past, especially the political prisoners
| who were released when we took the
city. desire for revenge, and they be-
gan to ferret out all the Spaniards in
| the city who had ever been in the vol
unteer service and dragged them to
the plaza. Bloodhounds could not have
| been more savage.