Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1898-06-23

Copyright, 1893, by Associated Press.)
United States Camp, East Side of
Entrance to Guantanamo Bay, June
l4.-By the Associated Press Dispatch
Boat Wanda. via Kingston, JAM, June
1.-THE United States marines under
Lieut.. Col. Robert w. Huntington
made their first aggressive movement
against TIE Spanish gnerrillas to-day
and completely routed the, enemy. The
and the cooperating Cubens were un-
force of marines was under Capt. Elli-
oft and the cooperating Cubans were
under Col. Laborda. The combined
forces RACED a Spanish camp about
five miles from the American position,
destroyed the only we'll in the vicinity
and killed about forty Spaniards. One
American marine was slightly wound
ed. Two Cubans were killed and four
wounded. 1t is impossible to estimate
the number Of Spaniards engaged 'ow-
ing to their guerrilla methods of fight
ing, but it is believed there were at
least 400. The marines behaved splen-
dldly, their craftsmanship being eX-
cellent, even under the severe fire of
the enemy. The captured camp lies
about five miles southeast of the rifle
pits Of the marines, and was an i'm
portant base for the enemy, as it con-
TUNED the only we'll within six or sew
en- miles. Lieut.. Col. Huntington
Decided on the Attack
cary in the day and at about 8 o'clock
the force started across the mountain.
1t was noon when, from a hilltop, the
Americans caught sight of the Spanish
camp lying in a ridge below. The
Americans began cautious advance
and were within 200 yards of the ene-
my before the crack of rifle from the
Spanish lines announced that the
Spaniards had discovered them. The
troops quickly moved into line Of bat
tie, with the Cubans on the left of the
flank. The enemies bullets were
whirling over the Americans but the
marines settled down to their work as
unconcernedly as though at target
practice. Very few Spaniards were in
sight. They were lying behind the
huts and in the bush, but the puffs of
smoke revealed their positions and en-
abled the Americans to do effective
work. For twenty minutes both sides
maintained terrific fire. The Spanish
shots were generally wild and spas
modic, while the Americans coolly
fired away, aiming carefully and
shooting to kill. For the most part
the Americans firing was done indi-
vidaually, but at times the officers
would direct firing by squads, always
with telling effect. 1t was beginning
to look as though a bayonet charge
down the hill would he necessary to
dislodge the enemy, when suddenly the
latter began to break for a thicket a
hundred yards further on. Little
groups could be seen
Fleeing From the Camp,
separating, darting through the brush
and zigzagging to escape the bullets.
1t was then the American fire became
most deadly. Man after man could be
seen to fall in a vain rush for shelter,
and the fire from the Spanish became
scattering and almost ceased. Two
Cubans lay dead and four wounded,
and Private Walker, Of Company D,
had to limp to the rear with a slight
wound in his ankle. The easy victory
put the command in high spirits. The
little black Cuban warriors waved
their machetes and howled curses at
the Spanish in savage fashion. AS
the enemy began breaking from camp
the Dolphin, which lay out at sea, was
signalled and began pitching shells
toward the thicket for which the
Spanish were making. AS the Spanish
retreated the Americans moved slowly
forward, firing as they went, and by
the time the camp was reached the
enemy had all got away, taking their
wounded and probably many of their
dead. Fifteen bodies were found scat
tered through the brush, but the
Americans were unable to examine the
spot where their firing had been most
deadly. No time was lost in burning
the buildings and filling the well with
earth and stones. The dolphin landed
water and ammunition as an attack
was expected on the return march,
but none was made.