Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-07-27

SLIGHT sxIRMrsH WITH ENEMY,
AND NO AMERICAN HURT.
The splNIlRDS WERE SURPRISED.
Our Troops Pushed Forward Prompt-
Iy to Capture Railway to Ponce,
whence There is an Excellent Mill
tnry Road to San Juan.

Copyright, lses, by the Associated Press.)
PORT OF GUANICA, ISLAND OF POR-
TO RICO. July 18th, p. NJ, via the IS
LAND OF ST. THOMAS. d. w. l., July 2s.
Morning United States military ex-
pedition under the command OF Major
General Nelson A. Miles, commanding
the army OF the United States. which
left Guantanamo bay during the evening
OF Thursday last, July 2lst. was landed
here successfully to-day. after a skir-
mish between a detachment OF Spanish
troops and crew Of thirty belonging 20
the launch Of the United States auxiliary
gunboat Gloucester. formerly Mr.. J. Pier
pont Morgan's yacht Corsair. Four of
the Spaniards were killed, but no Ameri-
cans were hurt.
The troops were pushed forward
promptly, in order to capture the railroad
leading to Ponce, which is on,y about ten
miles east OF this place. From Ponce
there Is an excellent military road run
ming eighty-five miles north to San Juan.
BROOKES FORCE EXPECTED.
The whole of General Brooke's force,
with the New Orleans annapolis. Cin-
cinnati, Leyden, and Wasp, are expected
here within twenty-four hours.
The ships left Guantanamo bay sud-
denly on Thursday evening, with the
Massachusetts, commanded by Captain
f. ]. Higginson, leading. Captain Hig-
ginson was in charge of the naval expo
ditioh, which consisted, in addition TO
the Massachusetts,, of the Columbia.
Dixie, Gloucester. and Yale. General
Miles was on board the last-named ves-
sci. The troops were on board the trans
ports Nueces, Lampasas, Comanche,
Rita, Unionist, Saltwater, City of Macon.
and Specialist. This was the order in
which the transports entered the harbor
here.
MILESS STRATEGY.
The voyage from Guantanamo bay to
this port was uneventful. At noon yes
terday General Miles called consulta-
tion, announcing that he was Determined
not to go by San Juan cape, but by the
Mona Passage instead; land here, sur
prise the Spaniards, and deceive their
military authorities. The course was then
changed, and the Dixie was sent to warn
General Brooke at Cape San Juan.
Port Guanica has been fully described
by Lieutenant Whitney, of General Miles's
staff, who recently made an adventurous
tour of Porto Rico.
Ponce, which Is situated ten or fifteen
miles from this port. Is to the eastward,
and q harder place to take. In addition,
the water at Ponce is too shallow for the
transports to be able to get close in-shore.
Then, again, Ponce Is some little distance
from the place where the troops would
have to be landed IL that point had been
selected for the debarkation Of the expe-
dition.
GUANICA'S ADVANTAGES.
One advantage of this place is that II is
situated close to the railroad connecting
with Ponce, which means OF transporta-
ton our troops hope to secure to-day.
Early this morning the Gloucester. In
charge of Iieutenant-Commands Vain
wright, steamed into Guanica Earbor, In
order to reconnoitre the place. with tho
feet waiting outside, the gallant little
fighting yacht braved the mines which
were supposed to be in the harbor, and
found that there were five fathoms OF
water close in-shore.
Guanica Bay is a quiet place. surround
ed by cultivated lands. In the rear are
high mountains. and close TO the beach
nestles village of about twenty houses.
SPANISH SURPRISED.
The Spaniards were taken by surprise.
Almost the first they knew OF the ap-
proach of the army of Invasion was the
demand, contained in the firing of a gun
from the Gloucester, demanding that the
Spaniards haul down their flag, which
was floating from a flagstaff in front OF
a block-house standing TO the east of the
village The first couple OF 3-pounder
shots were fired into the hills right and
left Of the bay, purpose!y avoiding the
town, lest the projectiles hurt women or
children.
The Gloucester then hove TO within
about coo yards of the shore, and lowered
n launch. having on board a Colt rapid
fire gun and thirty men, under the COM
mand OF Lieutenant Huse, which force
was sent ashore without encountering OBJ
position. Quartermaster Beck thereupon
told Yeoman Lacy TO haul down the
Spanish flag, which was done. and the
first United States flag to float over Porto
Rican soil was then raised on the flag
staff
SpANIARDS OPEN FIRE.
Suddenly about thirty Spanlards opened
fire with Mauser rifles upon the party.
Lieutenant Huse and his men responded
with great gallantry, the Colt gun doing
effective work. Norman, who received Ad-
mral Cerveras surrender, and Wood, a
volunteer lieutenant, shared the honorS
with Lieutenant Huse.
Almost Immediately after the Spaniards
fired on the Americans, the Gloucester
opened fire on the enemy with all her
g. and 6-pounders which could be brought
TO bear. shelling the town and dropping
shells into the hills to the west Of Qua
Mica, where a number of Spanish cavalry
were TO be seen Fastening toward the spot
where the Americans had landed.
FORT WAINWRIGHT
Lieutenant Huse then threw up little
fort. which ne named Fort Wainwright,
and laid barbed-wire in the street in front
Of Ii. in order 10 repel the expected cav
airy attack. The Lieutenant also mount
ed the Colt gun and signalled for rein-
which were sent from the
Gloucester.
The Associated Press dispatch-boat
Cynthia III. was the only boat in the har-
bor. except the Gloucester.
While the Mausers were peppering all
around. I.ieutenant-Commander VAIN
wright called 10 the Associated Press cor
respondent and said:
'aThey fired on US after their flag was
iown and ours was up, after had spared |
he town for the sake OF the women and |
children, and the next town 1 strike
will blow up."