Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1898-08-04
NILES EXPEDITION.
The General Waiting for More
Troops at Ponce, Porto Rico.
SPANISH TROOPS APPLY The TORCH.
Natives Thirst for Vengeance Against the
voiuntesrs Gen. Miles Tel-graphs That
Volunteers Ara surrsndering aud
People Welcome Americans

OF Inc army IL expecteu Ior several
days The transports with Gen.
Brooke's army corps and the remainder
OF the First corps are arriving slowly.
Our troops will probably remain here
quietly until the bulk OF the army has
disembarked. Gen. Miles will retain
his headquarters at the custom house
at the port OF Ponce, while Gen. Will
son will be In immediate command OF
the troops In the city. During the
night all sorts OF wild rumors were
brought In TO Gen. Wilson. The first
was that the Spanish we're TO attack
the city in force. In view Of this, a
strong line OF outposts was maintained
by Gen. Ernst and the men slept on
their arms This report, however,
soon gave way to rumors that the
Spanish were retreating, putting en-.
tire villages, plantation buildings and
houses to the torch, numbering and
ravaging as they went
Some Of the wealthy plantation
owners Of the vicinity became horror
stricken and appealed wildly to Gen.
Wilson to dispatch troops TO the res
cue, but it was manifestly impossible
10 divide SO small force. None Of
the reports were confirmed when day.
light came except that the Spaniards
were in full retreat That they In.
dulged In excesses OF cruel. vindictive
character is doubtless true, but the
town Of Juana Dias, which was RI.
ported to have been burned, Is known
to be standing.
Gen. Jose Garcia. who Is In immedi-
ate command Of the Spanish regulars
not believed to number more than
5OO-was deserted by most OF the Span
ish volunteers In his command during
the night, and they began struggling
back to the city with the dawn. They
Immediately presented themselves to
the provost marshal and surrendered
their arms The appearance Of the
volunteers aroused In the breasts OF the
natives who had suffered at their hands
in the past, especially the political
prisoners who were released when we
took the city, q desire for revenge
and they began 10 ferret out all the
Spanisrds In the city who had ever
been In the volunteer service and
dragged them TO the plaza Blood.
hounds could not have been more saw
age. Most Of the SpAniards In hiding,
upon being discovered, were hauled In
triumph by hooting, jeerlng mobs to
Gen. Wilson's headquarters or to the
provost marshals office In the munic-
ipal building. Some Of the natives
even began looting the residences OF
the Spaniards. They mistook liberty
for license and were crazed with Q
thirst for vengeance.
Gen. Wilson, however, soon taught
them that revenge could not be
wreaked under protection Of our flag,
and peremptorily ordered that the ar
rest Of Spanish suspects should cease.
Such volunteers as presented them
selves were, however, received and
released after their names had been
taken. They will all be formally pa
rolled. Many Of them had been forced
into the service Of Spain to escape
persecution.
without seeing or hearing anything
Of the enemy, the advance guard OF
Gen. Henry's division, which landed
at Guanica on Tuesday, arrived here
yesterday, taking the cities Of Yauco,
Tallaboa, Sabana Grande and Ponu.
elias. Attempts by the Spaniards to
blow up bridges and otherwise destroy
the railroad between Yauco and Ponce
failed, only q few fat cars being
burned. Our troops have fred up the
locomotives and are now operating the
road from end to end, carrying sup
plies, messages and men.
Az Yauco the Americans were wei.
coined in an address made by the al.
cade and q public proclamation was
issued dated; "Yauco, Porto Rico,
United States of America, July a."
Maj Webb Hayes, OF the Sixth Ohio,
son OF former President Hayes, hauled
up the flag on the palace amid cheers
from the populace. The people seemed
really glad that the Americans were
here; but they fear an uprising of the
natives in the interior, who, it 10 as.
serted, will rob, kill and destroy prop
erty in revenge for many years Of
Spanish misrule.
DISPATCH FROM GEN. MILES.
Washington, Aug. l.-Gen. Miles, In
command Of the Porto Rican expedi
ton, sent the following dispatch tt
Secretary Alger, which was made pub
lie at the war department at ton O'Clock
last night:
Ponce, Porto Rico July 81 -Four kilograms
received and answered by letter Volunteers
ore surrenderlng themselves with arms ant
ammunition. Four-Afths OF the people or,
Overjoyed at the arrival Of the army. Two
thousand from one place have volunteered tt
serve Thss are bringing in transportation
beef cattle and other needed supplies IN,
custom house has already yielded 'i4,0O
As soon as all the troops are dlsem
barked they will be In readiness to move
Please send my national colors ths
can be spared to be given to the different mi
inequalities IreQuest that the question Of TIL
tarifI rate TO be charged In the parts OF Port,
Rico occupied by our forces be submitted t,
the president for his action. the previously OK
tstlpr tariff remaining meanwhile In force Al
70 the government anu military occupations,
have already given instructions based upoI
the Instructions issued by the president In tn,
| case OF the Phlippine islands and similar /,