Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1898-07-30
NILES FIRST VICTORY.
His Advance Guard HoistS Our
Flag in Porto Rico.
SHORT FIGHT WITH sPANIARDs.


Rest Put to Flight, While Our Sol
diers Escape Uniniured-The Entire
Force Landed without Mishap.
Port Of Guanica, Porto Rico, via st.
Thomas, ID. w. l.. July 27.-The United
States military expedition under the
command of Major General Nelson A.
Miles was landed here successfully on
Monday, after a slirmish with a de-
tachment of the Spanish troops and
crew OF 30 belonging to the launch of
the United States auxiliary gunboat
Gloucester. formerly Mr.. ]. Pierpont
Morgan's steam yacht Corsair. Four of
the Spaniards were killed and no
Americans were hurt
The American troops will be pushed
forward promptly in order to capture
the railroad leading to Ponce which is
only about ten miles east Of this pace.
From Ponce there is an excellent milf
tary road running s5 miles north to San
Juan
At noon on Monday General Miles
called for a consultation, announcing
that he was determined not to go by
San Juan cape, but by the Mona pas
sage instead. land here, surprise the
Spaniards and deceive their military
authorities. The course was then
changed and the Dixie was sent to
warn General Brooke at Cape San Juan.
Early Monday morning the Glouces-
ter. In charge of Lieutenant Com
mander Wainwright, steamed into
Guanica harbor in order to reconnoiter
the place. With the fleet waiting out
side. the gallant little fighting yacht
Gloucester braved the mines which
were supposed to be in this harbor and
found that there were FIVE fathoms Of
water close in shore. Guanica Bay is
quiet place, surrounded by cultivated
lands. In the rear are high mountains,
and close to the beach nestles a village
of about 21 houses.
The Spaniards were completely taken
by surprise. Almost the first they knew
of the approach of the army of in
vasion ives in the announcement con-
tained In the firing Of a gun from the
Gloucester. demanding that the Span
iards haul down their flag. which was
floating from the fiagstaff In front of
blochhouse 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 projectile hurt wo-
men or children. The Gloucester then
hove to within about SOC yards of the
shore and lowered a launch, having on
board Colt rapid fire gun, and 80 men
under the command of Lieutenant
Huse, which was sent ashore without
encountering opposition.
Quartermaster Beck thereupon told
Yeoman Lacy TO haul down the Span
ish flag, which was done. and they
then raised on the Flagstaff the frs.
United States flag to float over Porto
Rican soil.
Suddenly about 80 Spaniards opened
fire with Mauser rifles on the Ameri-
can party. Lieutenant Huse and his
men responded with great gallantry
the Colt gun doing effective work. Nor.
mon. who received Admiral Cervera's
surrender. and Wood, volunteer lieu.
tenant, shared the honors with Lieu.
| tenant Huse.
Almost Immediately after the Span
iards fred on the Americans the Glou
cester opened fire on the enemy with al
her and 6 Founders which could b,
brought TO bear, Smelling the town anC
also dropping shells into the hills {,
the west of Guanica- where a number O
Spanish cavalry were to be seeI
Fastening toward the spot where tn.
Americans landed.
Lieutenant Huse then threw up {
little fort. which he named Fort Vain
wright, and laid barbed wire in tn,
street in front of II in order to repel tn
expected cavalry attack The lfeuten
ant also mounted the Colt gun ans
signalled for reinforcements. whicI
were sent from the Gloucester
Presently few OF the Spanish cav
| airy Joined those who were fighting IL
the street OF Guanica, but the Col
bar1ed to purpose. killing four.
| By that time the Gloucester had tn,
| range Of the town ard OF the block
house, and all her guns were spittfnf
fire. the doctor and the paymaste]
helping to serve the guns.
Soon afterwards white coated. gal
| ioping cava1rymen were seen clinbins
the hills to the westward and the foo
soldiers were scurrying along tn,
fences from the town.
BY 9;<5, with the exception Of q few
| guerilla shots. the town was won anS
the enemy driven out OF its neighbor
| hood.
After Lieutenant Huse had captured
the place he deployed his small fore,
into the suburbs. But he was sool
reinforced by the regulars. who wer,
followed by Company @ of the Sixtl
Illinois, and then by other troops n
quick succession. All the boats OF tn.
msn-of-war and the transports wer
used IN the work OF landing the troops
each steam launch towing four or flv
boats loaded to the rails with soldiers
But everything progressed In an or
deriy manner ana according 20 th,
plans Of General Miles The latte
went ashore at about noon. after stop
ping to board the Gloucester and thanl
| Lieutenant Commander Wainwrfeh
for his gallant action.
ouanica is the most lovely spot xe