The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-07-27
Al mnnMAs

war department at ll:SO posted the fol-
lowing:
ST. THOMAS.
July 26, 1898, $3.50 p. m.
Secretary OF War, Washington, d. C.
Circumstances were such that deem
ed It advisable to take the harbor of
Guanlca first, fifteen miles west of Pom
&c, which was successfully accomplish
ed between daylight and II o'clock.
spanIards surprised. The Gloucester,
Commander Wainwright. first entered
the harbor; met with slight resistance;
fired a few shots. All the transports
are now in the harbor and infantry and
artillery rapidly going ashore. This is a
well protected harbor, sufficiently deep
for all transports and heavy vessels 10
anchor within 200 yards Of shore. The
Spanish nag was lowered and the
American fiag raised at u o'clock to-
day. Captain Higglnson with his fleet
has rendered able and earnest assist
anee. Troops In good health and best
of spirits. No casualties.
Csigned.) MILES,
Major General Commanding Army.
Copyright, 1895, by the associated Press9
PORT OF GUAN1CA, Island Of Porto
Rico, Iuly 25, 2 p. M, via the Island
of St Thomas, Danish West indies,
July 20 CMornang) The United States
military expedition under the command
Of Major General Nelson A. Miles, conn
manding the army Of the United States
which left Guantanamo Bay during
the evening of Thurs6ay last. July y
was landed here successfully to-day af-
ter q slzirmish with q detachment Of the
Spanish troops and a crew Of thirty be-
longing to the launch Of the UIgted
States auxiliary glnboat Gloucester,
formerly Mr.. ]. Pierpont MorgaAIs
steam yacht Corsair. Four Of the
Spaniaris were killed, and no Ameri-
cans were hurt. The troops were push
ed forward promptly in order to cap
ture the railroad leading to Ponce,
which Is only about ten miles cost OF
this place.
From Porce there iS an excellent mH-
hary road running elghty-hve miles
north TO San Juan. The w4aoie Of Gen
eral Brooke's force, with the New Or
leans, Annapolis, Cincinnati, Leyden
ard Wasp, are expected hero within
twenty-four hOUTR
The ships LEFT Guantanamo Bay sud-
denly ON Thursday evening. with the
Massachusetts,, commanded by Captain
F, ]. Hgginson, leadfng. Captain Hlg-
ginson was in charge Of the naval ex-
pedition, which consisted Of the Column
bla, Dixie, Gloucester and Yate. Gem
eral Miles waB on board the last named
vessel. The troops were on board the
transports Nueces, Lampasa8. Conan
che, Rita, Unionist, Saltwater, CHy Of
Macon and Specialist. THIS was the or
der in which the transports entered the
harbor here. .-l.-
Muss Changes his Plans.
The voyage from Guantanamo Bay to
this port was uneveuttui. At noon yes
terday General Miles, called for a con-
sultation announcing that he was de-
ternhned not to so to San Juan Cape.
but by the Mona passage instead, land
here, surprise the Spaniards and de-
ceive their military authorities The
course was then charged, and the Dixie
was sent to warn General Brooke at
Cape San Juan
by Lieutenant Whitney, OF General
Miles stafT. who recently made an ad-
venturOus tour Of Porto Rico.
Ponce. which Is situated ten or fifteen
miles from this port, is to the eastward,
and a harder place to take. In addi-
tson, the water az Ponce 10 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
II that point had been selected for the
debarlcatlon OF the expedition,
One advantage Of this place is that
II Is situated close to the railroad con-
nection with Ponce, which meang OF
transportation our troops hope TO Sc
cure to-day.
Barey this morning the Gloucester, in
charge OF Lieutenant Commander
Wainwright, steamed Into GuRnica har-
Dor IN order to reconnOiter the place.
with the feet waiting outside, the gal
liant little fighting yacht braved the
mines which were shown TO be in the
water and found that there were I've
fathoms OF water close inshore.
Gunulca Bay II a quiet plnce, sur
rounded by cultivated lands In the
rear are high mountains, and close TO
the beach nestleB q village OF ABOUT
twenty houses.
spAniur,ia Taken by sUrpris'.
The spaniards were completely taken
by surprise. AimpBt the arst they
knew OF the approach Of the army OF
Invasion was in the announcement con-
iained in the firing Of the gun from the
Gloucester, demanding that the Span
Iards hhuF down their nag, which was
floating from ilagEtnn in front OF
blOclthouse stand'ng to the east Of tho
village. The first couple Of three
Founders were fired into the hills right
and lept by the bay, purposefy avoid
Ing the town lest the proiectlles hurt
women and children. The Gloucester
=