The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-08-05
Spaniards Concentrated at .Afbonita,
on the Road to San Juan, and
Battle Probable.
GENERAL STONE ADVANCING
NO MOVEMENT IN FORCE UNTIL
MORE TRANSPORTS ARRIVE.
List Of Officers Assigned to Wade's
Experimentation Indiana still
Waiting at Newport News.

IISnI d scouting party under Major Reed,
of the Sixteenth Pennsylvania, was fired
on by Spanish outpost between Juana
Diaz and Coamo. The fire was returned
and It is believed that one Spaniard was
wounded.
The transport Roumanian. which went
aground at Guanica, has been hoated and
the four batteries of artillery. including the
Twenty-seventh Indiana, have disembarked
No word has been received as to the prog
ress of Decentralization at Arroyo. So
far as known. no forward movement will be
made. by the American troops until the ar
rival of more transports. which ex-
pected hourly There has been no fighting
up to the present, so far known. The
Spaniards are expected TO make their first
stand at Aibonito thirty-five miles from
here, on the road to San Juan, where
1900 or 5000 Spanish regulars are be-
iieved to be intrenched The present
prospect is that there will be no
actual fighting for several days. The
report that the Spaniards advancing is
not generally believed. In addition to the
regular Notifications at Aibonito on the
road to San Juan. it is reported that the en-
envy has mined the cliffs preparatory to
blocking the road if obliged to retire.
northwards along the road leading to Are
cibo, on the north coast, with company of
1 the Second Wisconsin, encountered opposi-
tion at Utuado, where small force of
Spanish regulars and volunteers had been
instructed by Captain General Macias to
resist to the bitter end. The Spaniards re-
fused to surrender. and General Stone tele-
,~phoned back to Adjuntas that he would
cb m nv Of cd
with machetes. Before the messengers
started from Adjuntas. where twelve men
had been left, Spanish force was reported
to be between General Stone and Adjuntas,
picketed on the trail between Adjuntas and
Utuado. in the heart of the mountains. AS
the troops have to move in single file, ten
men can stop regiment. General Stones
messengers rode all night.
The plan of campaign is not fully deter
mined on but the natural strength of the
Spanish position at Aibonito and the char
acter of the defensive works erected there
necessitates a flank movement: The turn
ing movement was inaugurated Tuesday,
when Gen. Brooke landed 1900 men at Ar
royO, sixty miles east of here. From there
he can strike the military road leading to
San Juan at Cayey, beyond Aibonita. This
will compel the Spanish commander Gen.
Otega. who has great reputation, to ADAM
don his stronghold be caught between
two fires 1t is possible that a second COL
umn may move on his left flank also, in
which case the present advance on his front
will be shown to be only feint.
As stated, General Stone is making
dashing reconnaissance north in the direc-
ton of Arecibo. He went into Adjuntas
Monday night with five men and four cor
respondents, and Tuesday he brought his
command on along the Utuado road. The
road rises west of Cayey range and is rough
but practicable for cavalry and infantry. If
1t is found passa BILE at Utuado a light
column of troops may be pushed across to
the north coast and strike in on San Juan
on the left flank. But if General Brooke is
will find Abonito untenable, in which case
the whole of our army, after effecting
junction, will move on the main road.
General Stone met with most enthuS-
iastic welcome from the natives in the viii
lagos and towns through which he passed.
Women and children strewed the streets
with flowers and as he passed houses and
town halls flew homemade American flags.
Behind him moved Company &, of the Sec
ond Wisconsin Regiment under Lieutenant
Bodiner. The enemy, umbering about four
hundred, preceded him. The enemy has for
hours been in full retreat Our. advance has
not extended beyond Juan Diaz, though re-
General Garretson's brigade and the bat
teries are camped just beyond Ponce.
A general advance will not be ordered I'M
til all, of General Miless plans are per-
fected, but when the advance is once be-
gun ii will be very rapid. The fleet will
lombard San Juan and make other diver
sions to keep the enemy busy at every
point. There are constant alarms at the out
posts, but there has been no fighting as yet.
The transports Massachusetts, having
board Troops A and of the New York
Cavalry, the Philadelphia troop, the Sixth
Cavalry and the Eighth Infantry, is
aground in the bay here. The
transport Washington, with the Fourth
Pennsylvania Regiment. and the Seneca,
terday at Guanica. The Eleventh and Nine
teenth regular infantry regiments and
Troop b. of the Second Cavalry have dis
embarked here.
Sam Martin the Spanish commander
here, who evacuated this place without
orders is a prisoner at San Juan de Puerto
Rico. He will be tried for cowardice and
probably will be executed.
Trouble I'm the Sixth Massachusetts,.
BOSTON. Aug. A special cablegram to
the Journal from Ponce. Porto Rico, says:
"A tremendous sensation has occurred in
the Sixth Massachusetts Regiment. which
is in General Garretsons brigade The fric-
tion between the line officers of the regi-
nent and the officers of the brigade. which
has been growing ever since the brigade left
Cuba. reached its climax Monday. when
Colonel Woodward. Lieutenant. Colonel
Chattin. Major Taylor. Chaplain Dousseault
and Captain Geodel. of Company X. re-
IT.