The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-07-06
Marines Routed Spanish
BuShwhackcrS.
CRANES GRAPHIC STORY
Defeat of Enemy's Guerillas by
Captain Elliott's Men.
A HALT FOR THE CUBAN SCOUTS

It has become known that Captain
Elliott's recent expedition against the
guerrillas at Guantanamo hay, Cuba,
was moro successful than any one could
imagine at the time. The enemy was
badly routed, but we expected him to
recover In . few days perhaps and come
back to renew his night attacks. But
the firing Of shot near the camp has
been wonderfully rare thing since our
advance and attack. Inasmuch as this
affair was the first serious engagement
of our troops on Cuban soil few de-
tails Of it may be of interest. It was
known that this large guerrilla band had
its headquarters some Eve miles back
from our camp, at q point near the sea-
coast, where was located the only we'll,
according to the Cubans, within four or
Ave leagues Of our position.
Captain Elliott asked permission to
take 900 marines and some Cubans to
drive the enemy from the we'll and
destroy it. Colonel Huntington granted
this request and it was my good for
tune to get leave to accompany it. Aft
er breakfast one morning the companies
of Captain Elliott and Captain Spicer
were formed on the sandy path below
the fortified camp, while the Cubans, 90
in number, were bustling noisily into
some kind Of shape. Most of the latter
were dressed in the white duck clothes
of the American jack tar, which had
been dealt out to them from the stores
of the feet. Some had shoes ON their
feet and some had shoes slung around
their necks with a string, all according
10 taste. They were, in short, peasants
hardy, tireless, accomplishing peas
ants-and they viewed in utter calm
these early morning preparations for
battle.
And also they viewed with the Same
calm the attempts Of their ambitious
officers to make them bear some resefn-
blance to soldiers at "order arms" The
officers had an idea that their men must
drill the same as marines, and they
howled over 1t q good deal. The men
had to be adjusted one by one at the ex-
pense Of considerable physical effort.
but when once in place they viewed
their new position with unalterable
stolidity. Order arms? Oh, very well.
What does it matter? Farther on the
two companies Of marines were going
through short, sharp inspection.
Meanwhile the officers were thinking
of business. Their voices rang out. The
sailor clad Cubans moved slowly of on
q narrow path through the bushes, and
presently the long brown line Of marines
followed them. After the ascent Of q
chalky cliff the camp on the hill, the
ships in the harbor, were all hidden by
the bush we entered, thick, tangled
mass, penetrated by winding path
hardly wide enough for one man. No
word was spoken. One could only hear
the dull trample Of the men, mingling
with the near and far droning Of in
sects raising their tiny voices under the
blazing sky.
A halt was made to give the Cuban
scouts more time. The Cuban colonel,
revolver in one hand, machete In the
other. waited their report before ad-
vancing. Finally the word was given.
The men arose from the grass and
moved ON around the foot Of the ridges.
Out at sea the Dolphin was steaming
along slowly. Presently the word was
passed that the enemy were over the
next ridge. Lieutenant Lucas had mean
time been sent with the first platoon Of
Company O to- keep the hills as the
main body moved around them, and we
could now sec his force and some Gu
bans crawling slowly up the last ridge.
The main body was moving over lower
part of this ridge when the firing broke
out.
II needs little practice to tell the diff
ference in sound between the Lee and
the Mauser. The Lee says, "Prutw It
is fine note, not very metallic. The
Mauser says, "Popr' - plainly and
frankly pop like soda water bottle be-
ing opened close to the ear. We could
hear both sounds now in great plenty.
Prut- prut -pr-r-rut--pr-rutl Pop
pop-poppetty-pop!
1t was very evident that our men had
come upon the enemy and were slug
ging away for all they were worth,
while the Spaniards were pegging away
to the limit To the tune of this furious
shooting Captain Elliott, with Lieuten-
ant Bannon's platoon Of G company
scrambled madly mp the hill, tearing
themselves on the cactus and fighting
their way through the mesquite To the
left we could see that Captain Spicer's
men had rapidly closed mp and were
racing rs.
II took only three minutes to reach
the scene of activity, and, incidentally,
the activity was considerable and fierce.
Then along the top Of our particular
hill. mingled with tho cactus and chap
arral. was q long. irregular line Of men
fighting the first part of the first action
of the Spanieh war. Toiling, sweating