New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-08-18
SPANIARDS LOST HEART.
THE PORTO RICAN COAST-GENERAL
STONES Reconnaissance.

first iandPa was made al Guanlca tnere were
small detached forces at various little points,
miles from support. which might have been sur
prised and cut to pieces. or captured. had the
enemy been bold and dashing.
With only two regiments ashore guarding the
Armys base. and without cavalry or guns.
Colonel Hulings. with two battalions Of the 18th
Pennsylvania. advanced out on the main road
to San Juan. over which the Spaniards re-
treated and established two companies at Juana
Diaz. eight miles away Six companies were
held in reserve in the rear Of the town
Considering the force at his command. Colonel
Hungs disposed his mon admirably. but the
Spaniards who at first considerably outnum
bered Colonel Hulingss force. could AZ any time
have fankcd him. The broad fields which
stretch away each side Of the military road
covered with growing sugarcane from six
to ten feet high. and would afford shelter to an
army corps. But the Spaniards did rot at
tempt 10 modest the small invading force. al
though they must have had plenty Of Informal
ton regarding our location and numbers. They
did not ever, attempt II waylay the little de-
tachments Which Colonel Hulings sent out on
the various roads for recommending purposes.
Occasionally these reconnoitring parties would
run into n Spanish outpost and retire. but the
next day when a reconnoissance I'm force would
roach the spoa the Spaniards would have dis
appeared
ATTACKS PLANNED. THEN ABANDONED
Evidences were continually found between
Juana Diaz and Coamo. fourteen miles beyond.
Of contemplated resistance. which had been
abandoned the sight Of our uniforms Bridges
were found ready for mining. trenches were
begun and abandoned The Spaniard seems 70
fight hes; when his back is against the wall.
He seems n dread tho first onset. but once the
fighting is begun he shows utter indiffor
ence to death. Thus. without striking blow.
the main Spanish force which had been sta
toned here retrcated all the way to Aibonito.
while the sman carrisons in the towns and
villages after committing all sorts NJ depredn-
lions and terrorizing the inhabitants were all
drawn In at thai point
Perhaps II is M wonder that they grew faint
hearted when confronted with the Americans
who had dealt them such heavy blows ny land
and sea hut II must also he said in their de-
fence that san Martin their commander here,
was considered a rank coward for evacuating
Ponce. and IT took the Spanish troops some
time to rally after tho demoralizinG example
So, by him When Otega. his superior. took
command san Martin was sent to san Juan
under arrest.
contributed also to the early decentralization -
the regulars II is tribute to the soldiers ~
Spain. however. that not one of them deserted.
The volunteers are n poor lot. Most Of them
are natives or Spaniards anxious 20 get into
the public service They Joined the army he
cause no man can 1--we tho public In any
capacity IN Porto Rco unless he is enrolled as
n volunteer With tn" prospect ~ immediate
American control over tho island these people
took the ars, opportunity - des"riing
French ship captain who was At Guanica
when the first landing was made there saws he
heard volunteers denouncing the American
pigs" that day with abundant Spanish pro-
family. who two days later. were greeting our
soldiers AT Ponce with profuse protcstations ~
friendship for us and rnaiedictons upon Spain
and everything Spanish These two-fac"d
wre,ches are simply time-servcrs Many Of the
Standards Of the better class make no such pro-
,osta,ions. although they are genuinely glad
tina, the end Of Spanish rule. with as oxactions
and expressions is at hand They do not for
get that they are Spaniards. proud n a rae"
whose achievements were SO many and so great.
and they view with grief the rum ~ SPANS
military glory
NATIVES WELCOME THE TROOPS.
Tho Porto Rican natives especially the poorer
classes have given us the most enthusiastic
welcome They had dreamed FOR wears Of tn"
time when the hand ~ the oppressor would
he removed from their throats. and now II has
come With the exception Of a few II the rich.
they seem IN care little about tho independence"
Of the island The old rcvoutiorists. ambitious
for nollt,cal powcr. inquire anxiously II the
United States will retain possession OF the ISL
and and shout enthusiastically for Puerto
,s.,Tt, hut
little FOR Independence perfectly satisfied with
the conviction that tho Americans nave come
10 drive out the Spaniards
Last Tuesday General stone made recon
NOTHING expedition into the mountains north OF
Ponce.
General Miles had ascerta,ncd that the enc
,nv.s no.ition AT Aibonito was almost inpreg-
ma BILE and he had decided 10 turn tn" left flank
Of the Spanish position by landing General
Rrooke's forces AT Arroyo and thence moving
his column to Cayey. in tho rear Of the Spanish
nosition at Aibonto The advisabily OF
movement by our left flank vas also discussed
This could he done II the ROAD across IN" noun
tains TO Arncibo on the north coast was passa-
General stones expedition was composed Of
signal men and Company {. OF the "a Nlscon-
sin.
FINE PIECE OF ENGINEERING.
The road led straight up 10 the top of the
mountain for ten miles II rises to an altitude
OF ; 900 feet. and Is an extension Of the military
road from San Juan to Ponce which cost 70
600 900 pesos. II is "A fine piece Of engineering
work At times II Is hewn out Of the solid rock.
hanging over sheer cliffs n thousand feet deep.
At others 1t spans gorges with stone bridges.
Everything is covered with luxurious tropical
verdure. even the rocks. Brilliant Towering
plants and trees mark the green with vivid
colors.
The completed military road ends at tho top.
and then the expedition started on TO Adjuntas.
ten miles on The wagons used had no brakes.
and the little ponies the descent, had TO run
10 keep away from the wheels.