Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1898-07-30
MILES FIRST VICTORY.
His Advance Guard HOSTS Our
Flag in Porto Rico.
SHORT FIGHT WITH sPAEIARDs.

Four of the Enemy Killed and the
Rest Put to Flight, While Our SOL
diers Escape Uninjured-The Entire
Force Landed without Mishap.
Port OF Guaniea, Porto Rico, via ST.
Thomas, D. W. l.. July 27.-The United
States military expedition under the
command of Major General Nelson A.
Miles was landed here successfully on
Monday. after a skirmish with de-
tachment of the Spanish troops and a
crew OF 30 belonging to the launch OF
the United States auxiliary gunboat
Gloucester. formerly Mr.. j. Pierpont
Morgan's steam yacht Corsair. Four of
the Spaniards were killed and no
Americans were hurt.
Early Monday morning the Glouces-
ter, in charge of Lieutenant Com
mander Wainwright. steamed into
Guanica harbor in order to reconnoiter
the place. With the fleet waiting out
side, the gallant little fighting yacht
Gloucester braved the mines which
were supposed to be in this harbor and
found that there were five fathoms of
water close in shore. Guanica Bay is
lands. In the rear are high mountains,
and close to the beach nestles a village
of about Fl houses.
The Spaniards were completely taken
by surprise. Almost the first they knew
of the approach of the army of in
vasion was In the announcement con-
tanned in the firing of gun from the
Gloucester, demanding that the Span
| n. aakr sfnt xxyafs
floating from the flagstaff in front of
a blockhouse standing to the east of
the village. The first couple Of three
Founders were fired into the hills right
and left of the bay, purposely avoiding
the town, lest the projectile hurt wo-
men or children. The Gloucester then
hove to within about 600 yards of the
shore and lowered a launch, having on
board Colt rapid fire gun, and 30 men
under the command of Lieutenant
Huse, which was sent ashore without
encountering opposition.
Quartermaster Beck thereupon told
Yeoman Lacy to haul down the Span
ish flag, which was done, and they
then raised on the flagstaff the first
United States flag to float over Porto
Rican soil
Suddenly about 80 Spaniards opened
fire with Mauser rifles on the Ameri-
can party. Lieutenant Huse and his
men responded with great gallantry,
the Colt gun doing effective work. Nor
mon, who received Admiral Cervera' s
surrender and Wood, a volunteer lieu
tenant, shared the honors with Lieu
tenant Huse.
Almost Immediately after the Span
| n -.
cester opened fire on the enemy with all
her and 6 Founders which could be
brought to bear, Smelling the town and
also dropping shells into the hills to
| the west of Guanica where a number OF
| Spanish cavalry were to be seer
| Fastening toward the spot where the
| Americans landed.
Lieutenant Huse then threw up a
| little fort, which he named Fort Vain
wright. and laid barbed wire in the
street in front of it in order to repel the
| expected cavalry attack. The lieuten-
ant also mounted the Colt gun and
signalled for reinforcements, which
were sent from the Gloucester.
Presently a few of the Spanish cav
airy joined those who were fighting in
the street of Guanica, but the Colt
By that time the Gloucester had the
range of the town and of the block
house, and all her guns were splitting
fire, the doctor and the paymaster
helping to serve the guns
Soon afterwards white coated. gall
Looping cavalrymen were seen climbing
the hills to the westward and the foot
soldiers were scurrying along the
fences from the town.
BY 9:45, with the exception of few
guerilla shots, the town was won and
the enemy driven out of its neighbor-
hood
Guanica is the most lovely spot yet
occupied by our forces. 1t is the seat
of the coffee and sugar industry. and
large herds of cattle are pasturing the
meadows, which are bordered by cocoa
nut palms. Many head of cattle and a
large number of horses have been
driven into the mountains by their
owners. Some of them will be recap
tured.
ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS REVOLT.