The San Francisco call., 1898-05-14
Superior Force of Spaniards Routed in a Spirited Engagement Near
 CdbdndS.
Loss of the Enemy About Twenty in Killed and Wounded While but One of the Invaders
 Receives Scratch.

ON BOARD THE HERALD-CALL DISPATCH BOAT ALBERT F. DEWEY, OFF CABANAS, CUBA, May 12.-(Via Key West, Fla, May 13.l-This evening a force of Ameri- can regular troops landed on Cuban soil near Cabanas and fought brisk skirmish with a greatly superior body of Spanish troops. The Span iards lost about twenty killed and wounded. On the American side one civilian got slight scratch.
 The object of the expedition was to land arms, ammunition, clothing and equipments for the insurgents, but owing to the Cubans failing to CO., operate, as was arranged, the muni- tions of war were not landed. Scouts, however, were sent to the insurgent camp after darkness had set in, and a further attempt will be made to land arms tomorrow at daylight.
 The expedition, which left Key West on Wednesday night, consisted of companies E and G of the First United States Infantry, numbering 15O men, under command of Captain J. A. Dorst, of Miles staff, and Cap tain O'Connell. It sailed on the steamer Gussie, and brought 500 rifles, 10000 rounds of ammunition and large supply of food and cloth ing.
 The Gussie, which was accompa- nied by two newspaper boats, arrived off Havana just after dawn this morning, and was promptly stopped by the blockading squadron. We ex- plained our object, and the commo- dore detached the gunboat Manning as an escort.
 Leaving Havana, we steamed west ward for nearly forty miles, passing Mariel About a mile and a half west of Cabanas the vessels stood within less than half-mile of the shore and anchored. Immediately several hundred Spanish cavalry ap- peared among the palms and under growth, evidently quite aware of our intentions.
 There was no use trying to go ashore in small boats while these feI- lows were there, so the Manning opened fire with shrapnel at 600 yards. The sound of the guns brought up the gunboat Wasp, which was cruising a few miles westward, and she also opened fire This proved too much for the Spaniards, and in few minutes we could see them rid ing at full gallop for the shelter of the hills.
 Later we found they had left plen- oF s,,f cover of the woods.
 A boat was lowered from the star board side of the Gussie. A spirited scramble as to who should get into it took place. Every soldier was eager to go. Finally Captain O'Con- nell, of Company E, and twelve sol diers put off for the breakers. Be- fore the boat was ten feet away from the ship another followed. In it were eleven soldiers and Lieutenant Co1born of Company G. With mis- directed energy the soldiers tugged on the oars, and, not being experts, their progress was slow.
 Unable to get over the reef, Cap tain O'Connell hesitated, but Private Messler, who was in the bow, solved the problem by springing into the water and wading ashore. His ex- ample was quickly followed by all the men, they dragging the boat. Many stumbled and went under en- tirely, but all got ashore safely, though soaking wet.
 Lieutenant Colborn claims the honor of having been the first United States soldier in Cuba. It was close race between him and Private Messler.
 The men immediately deployed in skir1nish line, plunged into the bushes and were lost to view
 While another boat was being low cred an attempt was made to land horses. They were made to leap overheard and then led with halters by soldiers in a boat. The first | horse became unmanageable and swan around the ship several times before he could be headed for the shore.
 While the landing of horses was occupying the attention of all of the ships there came the crack of mus ketry in the brush 100 yards from shore. Volley quickly followed vol ley. The firing was immediately an- swered by our pickets.
 For ten minutes the firing was all most continuous. None of the com batants could be seen from the ships, but pretty soon rising smoke over the