Evening star., 1898-08-08

Gen. Miles In spite of this brave talk,
it is understood that the Spanish officers
of minor rank have refused to fight or to
mperil their lives in the defense of San
Juan.
Col. San Martin. who evacuated Ponce
on the approach of the American army
of invasion, is reported to have been tried
by court-martial and shot, and Col. Puig,
who evacuated Guanica when the Amer
leans landed, committed suicide at Utuado,
on the road between Ad3untas and Are
cibo, on the north coast, yesterday.
Capture of auayamn.
Gen. Brooke's advance guard entered
Guayama Friday last, after sharp skir-
mish, in which several en- both sides were
wounded. The general advance was delay
ed by the grounding of the transport Mas
sachusetts, with Gen. Brooke's headquar
ters aboard. The Massachusetts fioated
Friday night and was to have proceeded
to Arroyo Saturday. The cavalry troops
will go overland, if peace is declared. The
plans of the army are to cross the island.
and they ill probably be unmolested.
The Spanish force at Guayama, number
ing 500, were driven back toward Cayey
with the loss of one killed and two wound
ed. OF the Americans, Privates Gordon,
Walcott and Reffee of the 4th Ohio were
wounded, none fatally. Gen. Haines occu-
pied the town.
Mai. FlagIer, while accommodating near
Coamo Friday night, ran into the enemy S
were fired, but no one was injured.
General Advance.
A general advance of the American
forces at Ponce began Saturday morning.
The remainder of Gen. Ernsts brigade,
constituting the advance center, supported
by two batteries. moved out at o'clock,
and a part of the 11th Infantry of Gen.
Henry's division started to the left to-
ward Adjuntas.
Troop A of New York, the Philadelphia
City Troop and Troop II of the 9th regu-
lars We're then conveying Gen. Brookes S
transportation column along the coast road
through Salinas to Arroyo.
Gen. Wilson has moved the headquar-
ters of his division from Ponce to Juan
DiaZ.
Gen. Schwan, with the 11th Regular In
fantry and two batteries. moved Saturday
through Yauco toward Mayaguez.
Gen. Brooke on that day was moving
north from Guayama with 10000 men.
Wire communication with Gen. Brooke
on the right has not yet beer established.
Col Rice Of Gen. Miles staff will prob
ably be assigned to the command of the
9Th Massachusetts.
Seizure ut FnjnrlO.
An official dispatch to Madrid from Porto
Rico, dated August Z, says the Americans
yesterday seized the custom house in the
village of F'ajardo, which place was with
out a garrison.
An American column, the dispatch also
adds, supported by artillery, advanced on
Guayama. The SpaniardS made a brave
defense, but were forced to withdraw to
Alturas. Seventeen of the Spaniards were
killed.
Marine Camp Broken Up.
The marine camp at Playa del Este was
broken up on the afternoon of August 5,
and the marine battalion was transferred
to the auxiliary cruiser Resolute for SER
vice in other parts of Cuba. The main
body of the fleet will be ready for any
kind of service, awaiting orders from,
Washington. The idea rather gains ground
that the navys active part in the war Is
nearly over.
Rear Admiral Sampson, as he watched
the flames at Camp McCalla lighting the
hills, paid high encomiums to the marines