The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1898-06-16
WAR NOTES.

Connecticut Infantry arrived at FORT
land at o'clock Friday morning OF
+ their way to garrison Fort Knox, Bucks
port, Me.
f Several Spanish generals are quoted as
saying that SPAN can continue the wal
in Cuba for two years, and that 1T is use
less to talk of peace unless on the basis
of status quo ante bellum.
Word has been received from Ottawa
: that messenger has left there with the
notice of expulsion from Canada OF
Lieutenant Caranzer and Senior Du
Bose, recently attached TO the Spanish
legation at Washington.
"On June Z, Admiral Sampson ordered
the Marblehead, Commander McCulla,
} and the Yankee, Commander Brownson,
, to take possession of the outer bay OF
Guantanamo. These vessels entered the
harbor at daylight on the It'll, driving a
Spanish gunboat into the inner harbor,
and took possession of the lower bay,
which is held by the Marblehead. y
Admiral Sampson sent the Vixen with
flag of truce to the entrance of the
harbor, Thursday, Offering to exchange
for the lieutenant and his party some
prisoners taken from prize OF the
Marblehead off ienfuegos. Admiral
Cervera considered the matter all night
and sent word that he was powerless to
act. He referred the matter to the
military governor and the latter in turn
referred it to General Blanco.
The navy department, Friday, posted
the following bulletin "On June I,
Admiral Sampson ordered the Marble
} head, Commander McCalla, and the
Yankee, Commander Brownson, to take
possession of the outer bay of Guantan-
amo. These vessels entered the harbor
at daylight on the 18th, driving Spanish
gunboat into the inner harbor and took
possession of the lower bay, which is
now held by the Marblehead.
Rear Admiral Sampson, early Satur-
day morning, sent word to capt. Good
, rell of the marines, who was aboard the
Oregon, that the Panther, with $50
marines ON board, would proceed at
once to Guantanamo, accompanied by
the Yosemite. Accordingly the Oregon
and the Marblehead opened fire on the
block house and cable station at the
mouth of Guantanamo harbor, where a
regiment of Spanish infantry was locat-
n
the opanards, and soon the cable station
{ was in ruins. SO accurate was the work
of the American gunners that the Span
, iards quickly were thrown into conster-
nation. They offered some opposition
at first, but it was feeble. When they
, saw the destruction being worked about
them, and realized the futility of their
own efforts, the Spaniards fled precipi-
lately. Capt. Goodrich with 60 marines
; from the Oregon, landed at II O'Clock,
to select a camping place. Crest
Heights, point overlooking the harbof
, and the town of Guantanamo, was chosen
and made ready for the marines who
were coming on the Panther. This is a
| fine site, climatic conditions being very
favorable, and the point being impregn-
t able against attack by the enemy. The
work of landing the men from the
t Panther began at once. In whaleboats
, towed by launches the entire force OF
$50 men were quickly put on ashore.
, They formed under command of Lieut.
Col. Huntington, and went hurrying up
, up to Crest Heights The landing was
effected in an hour without accident
1t was known that 5000 Spaniards were
assembled within five miles of Crest
Heights and the work of fortifying the
: base was begun forthwith. The spirits
of the Americans were high, and the
work of mounting guns went forward SO
rapidly that by $50 o'clock the com.
pany of Anne orleans was capable of resist
ing any force the SpanaIds would be
able to send against it.
The first division Of United States
troops to begin invasion of Cuba sailed
| Jav1iUht 10 u
morning. The expedition comprises 733
officers and l4,564 enlisted men, all
under the command of Major Gen
Shafter.
The expedition was made up of nearly
20 regiments of regular infantry, of from
500 to $50 men each, including besides
the regiments of the 9TH Army Corps
four regiments of infantry that have
been in camp at Mobile and which form.
ed part of Maj. Gen. Coopinger's com.
mand at that rendezvous. The total
force OF regular infantry was about II,
600 men.
There were also two regiments OF
volunteer infantry, about 20O0 men alto
gether, the I'd Regiment Of cavalry from
Mobile, 800 men, and two squadrons each
from 1st, 3D., 9th, 9th and 10th Cavalry
about 1000 men; eight troops of volun-
teer cavalry taken from ROOSEVELT
rough riders. $50 men; four batteries OF
light artillery, 800 men l6 guns; two
batteries of heavy artillery, 200 men and
Is guns; the battalion of engineers, 20(
men signal and hostile corps, etc, about
300 men, grand total of about 1900
men.
The fleet conveying them consisted OF
30 transports, the hospital ship State OF
Texas, barges Bessie and Martha, anC
the tug Capt. Sam.
| Capt. TAYLOR of the battleship Indiana
is in command of the naval fleet which
accompanies the transport ships. The
makeup of the convoy fleet Is still with
. held. Besides the Indiana, one othel
, battleship and a firsit-class cruiser accom-
psny the fleet. The other ships are
, lesser cruisers, gunboats and auxiliary
/ crafts. Five of the naval ships of thu
, fleet first went to Port Tampa, while l.
| remained off Key West, When the fiv,
warslips and the 30 transports reached
? Key West a junction was made with TIN
ii warships at that point and the com
bined fleets started together. Nava
5 officials speak of it as a magnificen
Q marine procession. The war transport
=. stretched out for several miles. Th,
s warships proper, headed by the Indiana
stretched out at least three-quarters o
r mile.
: 1t will be noticed that by far the large
: portion of the expedition is made up o
a infantry, although an unusually larg
k number of artillery is included; and tina