Griggs courier., 1898-06-17
OUR FLAG Is THERE.

The Stars and Stripes Are Now Float
ing ON Cuban Soil.
OFF Guantanamo, Cuba, Friday, June
10, via Port Antonio, Monday, June 10.
The invasion of Cuba by the Ameri-
can forces began Friday. Six hun
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 a 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 +trcopship Panther ar
rived with GOO marines. These under the
command of f'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 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 a few shots.
Raised the Stars and Stripes.
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
We're 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 brown
column Of marines filed up the narrow
path, eventually taking up position at
the top of the hill. AS soon as the Amer
ican flag was swung out to the breeze
from the flagstaff of the captured Span
ish camp, the Oregon steamed away to
reioin the fleet 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 be
landed at will.
still Watching Cervera.
The squadrons of Rear Admiral Samp-
son and Commodore Schley are still of
Santiago, maintaining a strict watch
day and night to prevent the possi-
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 OF. the point,
that the Spanish cruisers And two tor
pedo boat .destroyers are there, but
these vessels are regarded by naval ex-
perts. after all. as .'men in buckram."
AS q high. naval officer remarked:
"Spain throughout her whole history
has never sought naval fight and
never will. She has always lodged and
is lodging now.t Cervera never intended
to fight. He intended to dodge and he
has succeeded. Spain will never send
another feet to these waters during the
present war;"
Seals Fate OF Santiago.
London, June 13. Rear Admiral
sampson's acquisition of a; base for
coaling. and supplies at Guantanamo is
universally recognized as practically
sealing the fate of Santiago, although it
+.