The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-07-27
Capture o. GDAN|CA
IS q, -
FIRST BATTLE IN PORTO RICO
WON BY AMERICANS
FOUR SPANIARDS KILLED IN A
BRUSH'W WITH SAILORS
STARS AND STRIPES UNFURLED ON
THE EDGE OF THE BAY

Landing of Gen. Miles Expedition
Accomplished without a Casual
ty ON tho American Side-SOI-
diers Detailed to Capture the
Railroad Leading to Ponce, Ten
Miles Distant From Guanica-
Gen. Brooke,s Troops Expected
to Arrive Within Twenty-Four
HOurs-TroOps at Guanica Pre-
pared for a Night Attack From
Copyrighted by the Associated Press.
PORT OF GUANICA, Island Of Porto
Rlco, July rs (via the Island Of ST.
Thomas. D. w. T., July 26).-The Amer
lean forces, under Gen. Nelson A. Miles,
have had warm skirmish in effecting.
a landing here today Thirty Of the
Gloucester's crew engaged and routed
a body of Spanish troops, killing four
and sustaining no losses. The troops
are under orders to destroy the rail-
road leading to Ponce, about ten miles
east of this place.
From Ponce there is an excellent mil
1tary road running eighty-five miles
north to San Juan.
The whole Of Gen. Brookes force,
with the New Orleans. Annapolis, Gin
cinnati, Lsyden and Wasp, are expect
ed here within twenty-four hours The
ships leftp Guantanamo bay suddenly
on Sunday evening, with the Massa-
chusetts, commanded by Capt. F. J.
Higgfnson. leading. Capt. Higginson
was in charge Of the naval expedition,
which consisted of the Columbia, Dix
lie, Gloucester and Yale. Gen. Miles
went on board the last named vessel.
The troops were on board the trans
ports Nueces, Lampasas, Comanche,
Rita, Union.st, Saltwater, City Of Ma
con and Specialist. This was the or
der in which the transports entered the
harbor here.
The voyage from Guantanamo bay to
this port was uneventful. At noon
yesterday Gen. Miles called for a con-
sultation, announcing that he was de-
termined not to go by San Juan cape,
but by the Mona passage instead
deceive their military authorities. The
course was then changed, and the Dix
lie was sent to warn Gen.. Brooke at
San Juan.
Port Guanica has been fully de-
scribed by Lieut.. Whitney, Of Gen.
Miles staff, who recently made an ad-
venturous tour of Porto Rico.
Ponce, which is situated ten or f1f-
teen miles from this port, Is to the
eastward, and harder place to take
In addition, the water at Ponce is too
shallow for the transports to be able
to go close in shore. Then, again,
Ponce itself is some little distance from
where the troops would have been able
to land if that point had been selected
for the debarkation of the expedition.
One advantage Of this place is that it
is situated close to the railroad connec-
ton with Ponce. which means Of trans
por4tation our troops hope to secure to-
day.
Early this morning the Gloucester, In
charge of Lieutenant Commander
Wainwright, steamed into Guanica har-
Dor in order to reconnoiter the place.
With the fleet waiting outside the gal
liant little fighting yacht braved the
mines, which were supposed to be in
the hal'bor, and found that there were
five fathons of water close in shore.
Guanica bay is a quiet place, sur
rounded by cultivated lands. In the
rear are high mountains, and close to
the beach nestles a village of about
twenty houses.
SPANIARDS SURPRISED.
The Spaniards were completely TAX
en- by surprise. Almost the first they
knew of the approach of the army Of
invasion was in the announcement con-
tanned in the firing of gun from the
Gloucester demanding that the Span
iards haul down their flag, which was
floating from q flagstaff in front Of a
block house, standing to the east of
the village. The first couple Of three
Founders were fired into the hills, right
and left Of the bay, purposely avoiding
the town, lest the projectiles hurt wom-
en- or children. The Gloucester then
hove to. within about 600 yards Of the
shore. and lowered a launch, having
on board Colt rapid-fire gun and
thirty men, under the command Of
Lieut. Huse, which was sent ashore
without encountering opposition.
Quartermaster Beck thereupon told
Woman Lacy to haul down the Span
ish flag, which was done, and they then
raised on the flagstaff the first United
States flag to float over Porto Rican
soil.
Suddenly about thirty Spaniards
opened fire with Mauser rifles on the
American party. Lieut. Huse and his
men responded with great gallantry.
the Colt gun doing effective work.
Normen, who received Cervera's sur
render, and Wood, a volunteer lieuten-
ant, shared the honors with Lieut..
| Huse
Almost Immediately after the Span
iards fired on the Americans, the Glou-
cester opened fire on the enemy with
all her three and six-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 were to be
seen Mastering toward the spot where
the Americans had landed.
Lieut.. Huse then threw up a little
fort, which he named Fort VAIN
wright, and laid barbed wire in the
street in front OF It to repel the expect