Evening star., 1898-08-05
FAJARD0 Is FORTIFIED
Small Spanish Battery to Oppose
American Landing.
WARSHlPS ARE GATHERING THERE
Awaiting Shots From Shore Before
SheIIng the Enemy.
OFFICERS ESIGN ALTON 8

Special Cable Dispatch TO The Evening Star.
Copyright 1881
OFF FAJARDO, Porto Rico, August
| (via ST. Thomas, August 4.-Our warships
rendezvouing here, awaiting orders.
The Spanish have erected a small bat
| terry to oppose the landing of our troops.
They will not open fire, so our ships are
not shelling II.
Desire Annexation.
PONCE. Porto Rico, August 4. noon (via
St. Thomas, August 5).-In Porto Rico no
| desire is expressed for anything except an
nexation to the United States. Trade con-
nections and political sympathies are most
ly American.
The Spanish volunteers say that they
were impressed into service against their
inclination, ana wherever our army has it's
headquarters they are glad to surrender
and take the oath OF the new allegiance.
The English and French settlers are
strongly pro-American. Gen. Roy Stone
was entertained by a delighted English
planter, who mad not spoken his own
tongue for twenty years.
The natives would probably organize a
revolt if Porto Rico did not become one of
the United States.
Maj Gen. Wilson has moved headquar-
ters from Ponce to Juan Diaz
OF the 9th Massachusetts officers the
colonel, lieutenant colonel and three majors
and three captains resigned They were
charged with incompetency and lack of DIS
cpline.
ARRAYO BAY, Porto Rico. August 8,
evening (via st Thomas, August 4.-Under
brilliant moon and the searchlight OF the
cruiser Cincinnati, the Last Of Hains Brig
ade has been landed, and Gen. Brooke has
established his headquarters.
Gen. Grants 18th New York is expected.
The artillery and cavalry from New York
are wanted, but the transport Massachu-
sets is stuck in the mud at Ponce with
them on board. The design is to take
Guayama tomorrow and advance over tne
mountain TO Cayey.
Beyond is Aibonita, where the enemy is
concentrating, movement which Gen.
Bro oke will lead off, while our troops on
the Ponce road come up behind them, AMI
thus stand at the Thermopalayan pass at
Afbonlta. This may possibly be circumvent-
ed and the Spanish scared farther to San
Juan.
Guayama is garrisoned by three battaI-
ions of 15O men. The Spanish cavalry which
was sent to attack the Gloucester's marines
wounded. As already detailed, fifteen men
wearing Red Cross badges sent to recover
them this morning were captured.
The British consul recognizing a physi-
clan. dentist and apothecary all were re-
leased. They said that the Spanish volun-
teers sympathized with the United States,
to which the district exports sugar and
molasses.
The Cincinnati and Gloucester will shell
Guayama to cover the advance of our
troops, but have order not TO injure the
church, which is the finest on the island.
The town, at the foot of a SLOPE hides
among trees. Resistance is unlikely till our
troops are over the mountain.
Guerrillas are shooting at our outposts
north of Arroyo and Ponce. The trouble in
the 9th Mass lchusetts is partly attributed
to the fact that white soldiers refuse TO re-
turn the salutations of negro officers of
the negro company. The examination, no
doubt, will end in separation, which will
be, in effect, a disbandment. Porto Rican
whites are puzzled. and ask, "wnl the
blacks be better off under the Americans
than under the Spaniards?"