New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-08-15
GENERAL WILSON'S MEN HAVE 4 SHARP
ENGAGEMENT WITH SPANIA1tDS
IN MOUNTAINS

At the Front with General Wilson's Column.
Five Miles Beyond Coamo. Porto Rico Aug.
l. delayed in transmission)-Gcncral Wilson
moved one Lancaster battery out TO the front
this afternoon for the purpose of shelling the
Spanish position on the crest of the mountain
at the head Of the pass through which the road
winds The enemy occupied position Of great
natural strength. protected by seven lines Of in
trenchmeats and battery OF two howitzers.
The Spaniards eager for the fray and
earlier in the day had fired upon Colonel Riddle.
of the Engineer Corps who. with a platoon OF
Troop c. of New-York. was reconnoitring
their right flank.
As our battery rounded a curve in the road
two thousand yards away. the enemy opened
an artillery and infantry fire. Four companies
Of the Sd Wisconsin. which were posted on the
bluffs to the right Of the road. were not per
mitted To respond to the infantry fire. The
guns were advanced at a gallop in the face of
terrific fire. and were soon hurting common
shell and shrapnel at the enemy at Il lively
rate. striking the emplacemcnts, batteries and
intrenchments. The enemy soon abandoned one
gun but continued to serve the other at inter
walls for over an hour. They had our range, and
their shells burst repeatedly over our men
one shell killed Corporal Swanson, of Company
L. and seriously wounded Corporal Yanke and
Prvates Bunce and Nought.
Captain Paget. the British Army officer who
is with the American forces for the purpose OF
observing the operations in the field distin-
guished himself by aiding Or. Woodbury.
Here Captain Lee and Private Sizer. Of Com
pany f. were wounded by Mauser bullets. In
about two hours the enemy abandoned the
other gun and the men began to flee from the
intrenchments toward banana grove in the
gorge. our guns shelled them as they ran.
one gun was now ordered to advance 10 a
position a quarter Of mile further on. II had
just reached the new position when Spanish In
fantry reinforcements filed into the trenches
and sent a deadly fire upon our men, compel
ling the battery to retire at a galop. Then both
the enemy's howitZers reOpcncd, and shrapnol
screamed and Mausers sang Another gun
galloped from the rear. but our ammunition
was exhausted.
Lieutenant Haines was shot in the body by
a Mauser Just before his gun retired. the ball
following a rib
The orders issued for two companies TO ad-
vance were countermanded, and the firing soon
ceased.
Colonel Bliss Of General Wilson's staT. went
forward TO the enemy's line with flag Of truce
and explained that peace negotiations were al
most concluded and that their position was un-
tenabe and emanded their surrender. The
Spanish have no connection with the outside
world and the commander asked for delay un-
Ill tomorrow morning in order that he might
communicate with GovernOr-Genera Macias at
San Juan.
General Wilson and his STAFF viewed to-day's
action from a hu at the right Of the battery
The enemy's guns We're fired from a high ccva-
tion. The SYaniards have the ranges ~ accu-
rately as they had at Santiago. Their position
from the front IS almost imprcgnablc but ii can
be turned.
Estimates Of the strength Of the enemy range
from 800 to 1000 Their position is five miles
from Aibonito