Evening journal., 1898-07-27
NILES MEN LANDED.
Encamped at Port Guanico,
In Porto Rico.
SKIRMISH WITH SPANISH TROOPS
Enemy's Cavalry oppose the Landing.
Wainwright Distinguishes HImself-No
Americans Killed In the Encounter.
Plans Of Campaign Kept Secret.


Plans Of Campaign Kept Secret.
PORT OF GUANICO. Island Of Porto
Rico. July 25. via st. Thomas, Danish
West Indies. July 27.-The United States
military expedition under the COM
mand Of Major General Nelson A. Miles
commanding the army Of the United
States. which left Guantanamo bay dur
ing the evening Of Thursday last, July
p, was landed here successfully today.
after skirmlsh with detachment Of
Spanish troops and a crew Of 80 be-
longing 10 the launch OF the United
states auxiliary gunboat Gloucester
formerly Mr. J. Pierpunt Morgan 8
steam yacht Corsair.
Four Of the Spaniards were killed, and
no Americans We're hurt.
The whole Of General Brooke's force,
with the New Orleans, Annapolis. Gin
cinnati Leyden and Wasp. is expected
here within "a hours.
The ships left Guantanamo bay sud-
denly on Tuesday evening. with the
Massachusetts, commanded by Captain
T. J. Higginson, leading. Captain Hig-
ginson was In charge of the naval ex-
pedition, which consisted of the Column
bia, Dixie, Gloucester and Yale.
General Miles was on board the last
named vessel The troops were on board
the transports Nueces, Lampasas. Co
manche, Rita, Unionist Saltwater, City
of Macon and Specialist This was the
order In which the transports entered
the harbor here.
The voyage from Guantanamo bay to
this port was uneventful
At noon yesterday General Miles call
ed for consultation. announcing that
he was determined not to go by San
Juan cape, but to 20 by the Mona pas
sage instead. land here. surprise the
Spanlards and deceive their military
authorities. The course was then chang
ed and the Dixie was then sent to warn
General Brooke at Cape San Juan.
Port Guanico (also written Guanica)
has been fully described by Lieutenant
Whitney OF General Miles staff, who
recently made an adventurous tour of
Porto Rico.
Ponce, which Is situated about ten
miles, according to some maps and
about Is miles according to other maps,
from this port. is. to the eastward and
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 itself Is some
little distance from where the troops
would have been able to land If that
point had been selected for the debarka-
tlon of the expedition.
From Ponce there is an excellent mil
itary road running S5 miles north to
San Juan de Porto Rico, the capital Of
the island
one advantage OF that place is that II
\ fu aff faA glp -. a
ing with Ponce, which means OF trans
portation our troops hope to secure to-
] day.
Early this morning the Gloucester, in
charFN Of Lieutenant Commander VAIN
wright, formerly OF the Maine and one
of the heroes of the naval battle Off
Santiago de Cuba. steamed into Guani-
co harbOr In order to reconnOiter the
place. With the fleet waiting outside.
the gallant little fighting yacht Glouces-
ter braved the mines which were sup
posed to be in this ,harbor and, upon
sounding, found that there were five
fathoms Of water close inshore.
The Spanlands we're completely taken
| by surprise. Almost the first they knew
of the army of invasion was in the an
nouncement contained in the firing Of
a gun from the Gloucester, saucily de-
manding that the Spaniards haul down
the flag Of Spain. which was floating
from blockhouse standing TO the east
Of the village.
The first couple Of Founders were
fred into the hills right and left Of the
bay in order to scare the enemy. az the
/ fighting yacht purposely avoided firing
into the town. lest her prOjectiles hurt
the women and children.
Quartermaster Beck thereupon told
Yeoman Lacy to haul down the Span
ish flag. which was done. and they then
raised on the Flagstaff the first United
states flag to float over Porto Rican
soil
Suddenly about go Spanlards opened
fire with Mauser rifles on the American
party Lieutenant Huse and his men
responded with great gallantry, theColt
gun doing effective work Mormon. who
received Admiral Cervera's surrender.
and Wood. volunteer lieutenant shar-
ed the honors with Lieutenant Huse
Almost Immediately after the Span
iards fired on the Americans the
Gloucester opened fire on the enemy
with all her 3 and 6 Founders which
could be brought to bear shelling the
town and also dropping shells into the
hills TO the west Of Guanico where a
number Of Spanish cavalry were to he
seen Fastening toward the spot where
the Americans had landed
Lieutenant Huse then threw up q lit
tie fort. which he named Fort Vain
wright, and laid harbed wire in the
street In front OF it in order to repel
the expected cavalry attack. The lieu
tenant also mounted the Colt gun and
signaled for re-enforcements. which
were sent from the Gloucester.
Presently few of the Spanish cavalry
Joined these who We're fighting in the
streets of Guanlco. but the Colt barked
10 a purpose. killing four Of them.
BY this time the Gloucester had the
range of the town and of the block
house, and all her guns We're splitting
fire. the doctor and the paymaster help
ling to serve the guns.
The Gloucester then hove TO within
about 600 yards of the shore and low
cred launch, having on board a Colt
rapid fire gun and 30 men. under the
command Of Lieutenant Huse. and she
was sent ashore without encountering
any opposition.
BY 9:45 o'clock, with the exception OF
a few guerrilla shots, tire town was
won. and the enemy was driven out OF
Its neighbOrhood.
After Lieutenant Huse had captured
the place he deployed his small force