The Red Cloud chief., 1898-07-29
MILES HAS LANDED.
THE EXPEDITION TO PORTO
RICO ASHORE.
Thirty Men From the Gloucester Met the
Knemy. Killing -Four. without an Amer
han Loss-Gen. Miles Pushed the Amy
Ahead 60 Capture Railroads.


PoRro GUANIcA, Porto Rico, July 25,
via st. Thomas. Danish West Indies,
July 20.--The United States military
expedition under the command of
Major General Nelson A. Miles. COM
mandine the army of the United
States which left Guantanamo bay
Thursday evening, was landed here c
sessfuliy Monday, after a skirmish
between n detachment Of the Spanish
troops and q crew Of thirty belonging
70 the launch Of the United States aux
Hilary gunboat Gloucester. Four of
the Spaniards were killed and no
Americans were hurt.
The TROOPS were pushed forward
promptly In order TO capture the rail
road leading TO Ponce. which Is less
than twenty miles east Of this place.
Early Monday morning the Glouces-
ter, In charge Of Lieutenant Command
er Wainwright, steamed into Guanica
harbor In order to reconnoiter the
place. With the feet waiting outside.
the gallant little fighting yacht braved
the mines which were supposed to be
In the harbor, and found that there
was five fathoms Of water close in.
shore.
Guanica bay Is n quiet place sur
rounded by cultivated lands. In tho
rear arc high mountains and close TO
tho beach nestlcs n village Of about
twenty houses.
The S~paniards were taken by sur.
prise. Almost the first they knew OF
the approach Of the army Of invasion
wa In the announcement contained In
the firing Of a gun from the Gloucester
demanding that the ~Spaniards haul
down their flag, which was floating on
. Flagstaff in front Of a blockhouse
standing to the east Of the village.
Tho first couple Of 3-poundcrs were
drcd into the hills right and left Of
the bay, purposely avoiding the town,
lest the projectiles hurt women or
children. The Gloucester then hove
to within about 600 yards OF the shore
and lowered a launch having on board
aColt rapid FIRE gun and thirty men
under the command OF Lieutenant
Huse. These were sent ashore with
out encountering opposition.
Quartermaster Beck thereupon told
Woman Lacy to haul down the Span
iSh nag, which was done. and they
then raised upon the Flagstaff the first
United States Gag to float over Porto
Rican soil.
Suddenly about thirty Spaniards
opened fire with Mauser rifles on the
American party. Lieutenant Huse and
his men responded with great gallant
try, the Colt gun doing effective work.
Norman. who received Cervera's sur.
render, and Wood. 4 volunteer lieu
tenant, shared the honors with Lieu
tenant Huse.
Almost Immediately after the Span.
iards fred upon the Americans the
Gloucester opened fire upon the enemy
with all her , and 6-pounders 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
was to be seen Fastening toward the
spot where the Americans had landed.
Lieutenant Husc then threw I'M n
little fort, which he named Fort Vain.
wright.
WASHINGTON. July :..--At the ses.
sion Of the cabinet to.eay 1t was be,
heved that the landing Of General
Miles at n point on the south coast oi
Porto Rico, near Ponce, IL made at all
vas designed as a feint.
The discussion, il Is understood
brought out the fact that Gen
eral Miles had considered tn,
choice Of three landing points for hi,
forces, not one Of which was Ponce
While not specifically stated, the thre,
points named are suggested as prob
ably Fayard, Guanica and Fuejas
General Miles's instructions were I.
debark 1t one OF these.
Guancia Is OF a deep bay. A move
ment from here toward Ponce woul,
be entirely feasible. From Ponce Z,
San Juan there is a fine militar
road about seventy-four mile
In length. II runs right throug
the heart of the island. II will be owe
this road that General Miles army wi
move when he gets it in thoroug
shape. II Is not his intention to pus
forward for San Juan until all h
forces have landed.
Although Ponce is the second city ,
Porto Rico in population and impo
lance, its defenses are weak and i
garrison Is small. Not much resis
ance Is expected.
The city of Ponce proper has no mi
itary defenscs, but on the hills to Il
north Of the town a series of earth e
trenchmcnts have recently been co
structed. There are about thir,
mountain howitzcrs in Ponce availab
for the defense of the city and ra
road.
The regular garrison at Ponce do
not exceed In number 1000 men.
A President Mt tho Vatican.
Pour I,,lv 80 At noon tn.Aay 4