The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-08-03
Now Numbers 5000 Men and
is Larger
Than That of the Spaniards in
Porto Rico.
WILL WAIT FOR MORE
Before Making an Advance on
San Juan.
People Welcome the Invaders
Wherever They Go.

Ponce, Island of Porto Rico, via st.
Thomas, D. W. L, Aug. 3.-The Porto
Ricans of Ponce lined the streets by
the hundreds and filed the air with
cheering on the arrival of General
GarretsOns brigade from Yauco. The
arrival of these troops and those on the
ST Louis makes the fighting strengths
of the Americans now operating near
Ponce about nine thousand men, equal
to the entire force of Spanish regular
troops the island.
General Garretson's camp is tempor-
arily near the second and third Wis
consin regiments on the outskirts of the
town. The brigade marched seventeen
miles from Yauco to Ausby, where they
arrived travel stained and mud be
spattered. Almost the entire population
saw the troops pass through the city
and gave them cheer after cheer, par
ticularly as the artillery numbered by.
The officers at the front, including Chief
Hulings' Pennsylvanians and Captains
Austin WheelOck, Burns and Hall.
commanding the four advance COM
panleS, do not believe the Spaniards
will make an advance. They claim the
enemy will act only on the defensive.
There was some firing last night be-
tween Captain Austin's pickets and the
Spaniards in the brush, but no damage
was done.
All the American troops are restless.
due to false alarms of the approach of
the Spaniards, and they are anxious for
an encounter with the enemy. It is the
general belief, however, that there viii
be no forward movement of the main
body of our troops until the other
transports arrive They are expected
every hour.
The troops on board the St Louis are
reported to be in good health. She
brought twelve representatives of the
of NTgavrT Y hoe
business is to influence the people Of the
island not to resist the American adj
vance Their good offices are not nee
essary.
Saturday caused the utmost consterna-
ton at San Juan de Porto Rico, where
it was believed to have signiffed that
the place would be bOmbarded within
twenty-fOur hours.
Our Troops at COamO.
Copyright, 1898, by Associated Press.)
Ponce, via St. Thomas, D. w. l.,
Aug. Am outpost of the American
army has now halted at COamO, about
twO-thirds of the way to A1bOn1to, on
the road to San Juan.
Col Hulings' advancing this morning
met detail sent out to reconnoitre,
which reported that there was no sign
of the enemy. The latter, it was said,
had retreated to AibOnitO, where they
would make a stand. A delegation of
the citizens of CoamO came out and
Col Hulings was rendered the freedom
of the city as an American soldier
The citizens reported that the Span
ish had carried away all the money that
was not secreted. The stories of Span
ish barbarity have been exaggerated.
There is no authentic case of destruc-
ton of private property or outrage up
on women. Gen. Otega is st1I at AlDon-
ito. with probably a thousand Spanish
soldiers Gen. Stone, with small
force went this afternoon to Adjuntas,
where Spanish OutrageS were reported
on Saturday He will occupy the town,
proclaim American rule, establish COM
munica ton with the surrounding coun-
try and push on to Acebo, on the north
coast.
The protected cruiser Columbia. which
went ashore on an uncharted reef, While
entering the harbOr of Ponce has peen
hoated off without injury.