New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-06-27
BRAVE WORK OF MARINES
FULL STORY OF THE FIGHTING AT
GUANTANAMO


Guantanamo. Wednesday. June 10. via Port Antonio.
Jamaica June l6-ScourCed by a blazing tropical
SUM- harassed by the persistent fire OF dare-devll
Spanish guerlas and Handicapped ~ lack or
training and absolute nexperience, the SIX nun
6red marines OF Lieutenant Huntngtons com
roard have within the week battered their way TO
WIN, should be to them lasting fame. Schooled for
the easy life Of marines aboard snip and unified
for severe physical eXcrtOn by weeks Of inactivity
on the cramped decks Of the troopship PantneT'
they have rushed into the hardships and dangers OF
a guerilla campaign with the steady nerves ana
natient endurance Of veterans of dozen wars.
When the story OF the war with Spain shall have
leen told there Will be part Of it more creditaole
70 Americans and American arms than that which
shall deal with the events Of the week since the
Panther disembarked her troops in Guantanamo
Harbor. One American officer and five privates
have been killed but at least one hundred Spanish
deaths settle that score.
The Panther steamed up TO the blockadins fleet
or Santiago al 10 O'Clock Friday morning, June TO-
and thirty minutes later had put bout under
ders from Admiral Sampson 70 proceed to Guanta-
nano and land the troops. The harbor Hes thirty
eight miles of Santiago de Cuba. and is one OF
the best on the southern coast Of tho island. The
town and fort from which the bay takes its name
lie about five miles back from the coast winding
channel leading from the main inlet. To the left Of
the entrance is a strip OF low. swampy land while
q, the right rises range OF steep rocky hills oX-
tending from the shore line inland for "A mile, and
then s,oping off into The lowlands on which the city
stands on these bluffs. 4 half-rl:le from the sea
line tho SpaniGrds had thrown w ear:hworks ana
dug rough rife pits commanding the entrance. and
the day preceding the Panthers arrival the Marble
head had sent to shell this spot. Captain Nc
Gala found his task an easy one. Scarcely a half
dozen Spanish volleys We're fired al the Maroehead,
and TWO dozen shells drove the enemy. officers and
men, panic stricken to the mountains beyond. When
the troop ship arrived she found nothing to prevent
the immediate disembarking. and before nightfall
the marines had taken possession Of the hill and
were gayly making camp delighted to escape from
the tedium of life ABOARD the transport
CAMP IN FANCIED SECURITY.
The cowardly retreat of the enemy under the
Marbleheads guns had led the American officers
TO believe that there was little possibility or an
attack and but slight preparations were mace 10
repe! one. Just before sunset the troops were
thrown into line ana for the first time the Am'ri-
can flag was run up a Spanish Flagstaff, ana 'he
vanguard Of the army OF invasion saluted t"e
Stars and Stripes on Cuban soil. The sun-bhS-
tered barren hilltop took on an appearance more
pleasing to American eyes the whte-waIed
tents sprang up around the flagstaff and tS uni
forms of the American soldiers grew numerous
among the faded vegetation and jutting rocks
on the narrow beach at the base Of the nil lay a
struggling little village OF thatched nsherihen ;
huts with a store and a brightly painted
cable Office. The Inhabitants had fed the day ne
fore and without instructions from the feet. Colo
mel Huntington ordered the miserable little place
burned delighted marine thrust brand from
campfire into thatch Of the nearest novel ana
in A moment the sea breeze had swept the flames
down the narrow street leapinG among the N'npers
which burned like matchwood a cheer burst from
tho men in the camp above. and was echoed from
the little feet lying half mile off shore. Through
the evening the men frolicked and sang. but by ~
o'clock the camp quiet, save for the tramp
and voices Of the sentries.
THE MIDNIGHT SURPRISE
About midnight the crack OF single rife from
the bush 70 the east of the camp gave the FIRST
warning OF the presence Of the enemy The quick
challenge OF a sentry was answered by scatter
Ing volley from the brush and In moment the NIL
was alive with startled. halfawake marines crop
ing for guns and acting mechanically under the
sharn commands OF their officers. Within two min
utes one hundred American rifles had sent their
bullets in the direction OF the enemy and I'VE min
utes later hail OF lead was hammering through
the chaparral. every OF the six hundred at his
most The guerillas scattered in all directions. but
throughout the night their bullets whirled over the
cann al intervals each volley drawing the IRE OF
Hun;ngton's men As the nigAt were on without He-
termned attack the men began 10 view the araT as a
huge Joke and much difficulty was experienced ny
the officers in keeping their commands under sheIter
Throughout Saturday there were frequent scatter
ing shots from tie bushwhackers and returns from
tho hill hut no damage done in Camp McCalla
and nrobablv little to the enemy. The latter fought
In true guerilla fashion. covering their bodies Win
palm leaves and gently waving large leaves over
their heads Thus disguised they crept among the
rank ground growth almost at will the sharpest
be,ng unable 10 detect them except when they fred
Dnring the dav the earthworks strength
ened and additional rife pits were dug, and Satur-
day night the wisdom Of the measure was proved
From dark until daylight the marines lay undei
=, almost continuous fire. Early in the night a
Rr-n Cd n a q
cren, clo.e 10 the hilltop dashed through the line
~ sen,ries and running straight across the east
ward side Of the camp. poured VoI!ey among 'he
startled Americans. II was then TIA; gibbs inc
surgeon was killed with sergeant and TWO men
The gueriHas evidently acting under
sui,,od cbiAftain for their attacks and changes oil
nos,ion came with hewildering frequency. They
fred from the hills back OF the American position
from the low point toward the sea line from th'
drsction OF the city and twice cropt into th'
bushes on the beach, between the marines ana tn'
warships in the bay. They covered their approache
and retreats with marvellous cunning. and o!del
and more experienced men than the marines nish
have been pardoned had they been stamIeded
But through 1t all the splendid ieIo"S COON
blazed away guided by the rife flashes OF tn
enemy and II there Was faint heart in the ST.
hundred IL was not found out
With dawn Sunday the bushwhackers retrea'e'
into the hills and. although there was scattere'
firing. little work done. until about ocioc" j
the afternoon. ~ that hour oody OF Hpd''S'
skirmishers was discovered a h;tle more IMAM
mile to the eastward. and the Panther ana IN
Marblchead let go their guns. apparently win 'el'
ing effect The loss OF life among the spanish mus
have been heavy. although there was 10 opp"'
tunitv accurately 10 determine how many WEI
killed Toward night Colonel La Borda o. IN
CUBAN Army. arrived with sixty men. ana the,
camp was pitched the site OF the burning vi
lage supply camp under the guard OF went
marines having also been placed there. VIZ
darkness began the bit,crest night OF the week 10
;hs Americans.
SECOND NIGHTS FIGHTING.