The Monte Vista journal., 1898-07-30

Washington, July 26.-The War De-
following:
st. Thomas. July 2G. O:30 p. m.-sec-
retary OF War. Washington: Circum-
visable to take harbor OF Guanica first,
fifteen miles west OF Ponce, which was
successfully accomplished between
daylight and II o'clock. Spaniards
surprised. The Gloucester. Command
er Wainwright, first entered the har-
Dor: met slight resistance, fired 4 few
shots. All the transports are now In
the harbor and infantry and artillery
rapidly going ashore. This is a well,
protected harbor. The water il suf-
ticiently deep for all transports and
heavy vessels to anchor within 200
yards Of shore. The Spanish flag was
lowered and the American fing raised
ut IL o'clock to-day. Captain Higg'n-
son with his fleet has rendered able
and earnest assistance. The troops are
In good health and best Of spirits. No
casualties.
,signcd, MILES.
Major General Commanding Army.
Port of Guanica, Island OF Porto
Rico. July %, 2 y. m, via the Island Of
ST. Thomas, Danish West Indies. July
20. Morning.-The United States mill
tnry expedition. under the command
of Major General Nelson A. Miles. COM
manding the army Of the United States.
which left Guantanamo bay during the
evening of Thursday last, July 2lst.
was landed here successfully to-day.
after sklrmish between detachment
s.f l... S,.., A. a .
thirty. belonging to the launch of the
United Suites auxiliary gunboat Glou-
cestcr, formerly Mr.. j. Pierpont Nor
gan's yacht Corsicann.
Forty Spanlar,ls We're killed end no
Americans Were hurt. The troops were
pushed forward promptly In order 10
capture the railroad leading TO Ponce.
which Is only about ten miles east OF
this place.
From Ponce there is nm excellent mil.
itary road running eighty miles north
TO San Juan.
The whole Of General Brookc's force.
with the New Orleans, Annapolis. Gin
cinna'i. Ieyden and Wasp. are expect
ed here within twenty-four hours.
Early this morning the Gloucester,
In charge Of Lieutenant Commander
harbor In order to rcconnoitcr the
place. With the fleet waiting outside
the gallant little fighting yacht braved
the mines which We're supposed to be
In the harbor and found that there
We're five fathoms OF water close In
shore.
Guanlca II n place surrounded by
cultivated lands. In the rear are high
ytn ,i,,ss .t.I 4.
village OF about twenty houses. The
Spaniards Were completely taken by
surprise. Almost the first they knew
OF the approach Of the army Of invn-
sion was the announcement contained
In the firing OF Il gun from the Glou-
ccstcr. demanding that the Spaniar,is
haul down their tiag. which was float
Ing from Flagstaff In front Of u
blockhotisc standing TO the east OF the
village. The first couple Of three
Founders Were fired into the hills right
and left OF the bay. purposcly avoid
Ing the town. lest the proJcciilcs might
hurt women or children.
The Gloucester then hove to within
about G0 yards OF the shore mud low
cred launch. having on n board n
Colt rapid-fripc gun and thirty men.
Husc. who was sent ashore without
encountcring opposition.
Quartermaster Beck thcrcupon told
Ycoman Lacey TO haul down the
Spanish flag. which was done. and
they then raised on the Flagstaff the
first United States fiag to float over
Porto Rican soil.
suddenly about thirty Spaniards
opened fire with Mauscr rifles ON the
American party. Lieutenant Huse
and his men responded with great
rallan'ry. the Colt gun doing effect
I've work. Normcn. who received
Ccrvcra's surrender. and Wood. n vol.
unteer lieutenant, shared the honors
with Lieutenant Husc.
Almost immediately nftcr tho
Americans We're fired ON the Glouccs.
ter opened fire on the enemy with all
her ihrc,-poundcrs which could bc
brought To bear. shciling the town,
nnd also dropping shells Into the hills
TO the west Of Guanic;i. where a mum.
her Of Spanish cavalry Were TO br
seen hnst.nlng toward the spot where
the Americans had landed.
Lieutenant Iiusc then threw I'M
little fort. which he named Fort
wainwright. and laid barb.d wire In
the street In front OF II In order 10
rcpcl the expected cavalry attack.
The lieutenant also mounted the Colt
run and signaled for rcinforcrmcnts.
which Were sent from the Gloucester.
The Associated Press dispatch boat
cynthia III. was III" only boat In the
hnrbor except the Gloucester.
While the Mnuscrx were pcpperiny
all around. Lieutenant Comma ntlcr
Wainwright called To the Associated
Press correspondent. and said:
They fired on us nfter their ing
was down and ours was up. and after
had spared III" town for the sake
of the women and children. The next
town l strike ! will blow up."
Presently n few OF the Spanish cny.
airy Joined those who were lighting
In III" street ~ GnnnIcn. md IN. Coli
harkcd To n purpose. killing four Of
them.
By that time the Gloucester hni tho
rnn.c of the town nnd the block house,
nnd her guns were splitting fire. the
doctor and pnymnstcr helping To
serve III" guns.
Soon afterwards whltc-conic,j, rni.
Ioplng cavnlrymcn were seen climbing
the hills To the westward. and the
foot soldiers wcr. scurry Ing along the
fences from the town.
by 0.ta n. M. with the exception Of
a few guerrilla shots. the town wns
won nnd the enemy wns driven out
Of Its ncighl'orhoo,i.
01,.. Hb.,.l Sssu.. ........ -. A.