The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-08-07
CONQUEST OF PORTO rico |
DETAILED ACCOUNT OF THE
CAPTURE OF GUANICA
How the PluoIky Commandev of the
Gloucester Made It Easy for
American Troops to Land on
Porto Rican SOil-Practice Work
In EntrencAing That VIII Become
Historical. Va

AAStOEAc0ks
Correspondence of the Associated Press.
GUANlCA, Island of Porto Rico, July
70 (v1a st. Thomas, D. w. l.. July 3d.
Wnen the dispatch boat Cynthia II. ar
rived at Guantanamo bay last Thurs
day, Gen. Miles and his squadron were
Just starting for Porto Rico. Thereupon
the boat put to sea and followed the
transports and their conveying war;
ships TO Porto Rico. Gen. Miles, on
sunday morning, headed into the Mona
passage, and it become known that the
southern and not the northern coast
OF Porto Rico was to be the scene of
the landing Of the American army
early on Monday morning the
gloucester, formerly J. Pierpont Nor
cams yacht COrsair, commanded by
Lieutenant Commander Wainwright,
turned toward the Porto Rican coast
and steamed into the harbor Of Qua
MICA The Gloucester went ahead Of
tne massachusetts,, the Yale and the
columbia, her lead line constantly 60
ing. and her commander pointing out
the safest anchorage for the big war.
SHIPS. AS the Massachusetts, and her
consorts let go their anchors, Lieuten-
ant Commander Wainwright headed
the Gloucester into the port, and for
time she was lost TO view. Shortly af-
w. WA No eiiS ISpOICS VI ilST
ers were heard, and then silence fol-
lowed
line Cynthia obtained permission to
enter the harbor and steamed in after
the gloucester. AS the Cynthia entered
the harbor, those on board of her saw
the launch of the Gloucester, with
rap1d-tre Colt gun in her bow, land
ABOUT thirty sailors, under Lieut.. Huse.
STARS AND STRIPES.
The party advanced on the run to the
spot from which the Spanish flag was
flying. The red and yellow of Spain
was quickly hauled down and then up
went the Stars and Stripes on the
Spanish flagstaff, hearty cheers rising.
few minutes later there was a spat-
ter of bullets on and around the Glou-
cester and the dispatch boat, from a
squad of Spanish soldiers who were
main street Of sGuanica, which runs d.
rect from the beach. In less time than
it takes to- tell it the treacherous
guerrilla Likes foes, who had not fired
shot while their flag was up, were
fleeing in every direction before the an
swering fire Of the Americans ashore,
backed up by the guns Of the Glouces-
ter, On board of which even the doctor
and paymaster took a hand in serving
the pieces. The four siX-pounders of
the converted yacht shelled the block
house and the hills to the west, sending
some Spanish cavalry, on their way to
reinforce Guaniea, scurrying toward the
mountains. ~ -
Ashore, Lieut.. Huse and his men had
not been idle. GAS much for practice
as anything" as he put it. they threw
up an entrenehment across the street..
mounted the colt rapid fire gun on its
center, tangled some barbed wire in
front Of the entertainment, to repel
possible cavalry charge, .signaled for
reinforcements and then opened fire on
the Spaniards with the colt, with the
result that four of the enemy were soon
killed, while not one Of the Americans
was injured. ( 3t@
= ~. LANDING EASY - -
Gen. Miles stopped on his way ashore,
| boarded the Gloucester and warmly
| thanked Lieutenant Commander VAIN
| wright, for, had not the Spaniards
been uncovered by the .Gloucester's fire.
many Americans would have been sac
| rificed in the landing of the troops
which followed Immediately.
The landing Of the troops was easily
accomplished, having been carefully
planned. A strong detachment of
troops was sent to Yauco, small
place about five miles inland, which
forms the western terminus OF the
railway leading to Ponce, fifteen miles
distant due east.
Porto Rico is healthful, If ordinary
care is taken, and fears Of yellow fever
as an epidemic need not be enter
tanned. ii
At the request of Col. Whitney, of
Gen. Miles staff. who made the famous
reconnaissance Of Porto Rico, the Gym
thia- will take from st. Thomas to
Guanica Philip c. Hanna. consul of
the United States at Porto Rico. who
left San Juan at. about the time Gen.
Fitzhugh Lee left Havana. and who
has been in st. Thomas ever since. He
will be able to assist Gen. Miles in a
number of ways. He will take with
him several Porto Rican guides for the
use Of the army.
| Gen. Miles thinks the only troops to
| be feared in Porto Rico are about 5000
Spanish regulars and 1000 colonial
| troops.