The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-08-09
Flank Movement to be
Made ON the Spanish.
MORE TROOPS LANDING.
The Commander Of Ponce Court.Nar.
tailed and Shot-Suieide Of Second in
Command-Skfrmishes With the En-
emy-Reeonnoftering Parties-Span.
fards Strongly Posted-General Ad.
vance TO Await More Troop.-Wel-
comes TO Our Soldiers.

Ponce, August 3, via st. Thomas,
D. w l., August 3, delayed in trans
mission)-The transport Massachu-
sets having on board troops A and c.
of the New York cavalry, the Phila-
delphia troop, the Sixth cavalry and
the eighth infantry is aground here.
The Romania with four batteries of
artillery, under the command of Major
Rodney, is aground at Aguanica. The
transport Washington, with the Fourth
Pennsylvania regiment, and the Sc
neca, with Colonel Quirto's regiment,
are landing today at Guanica. The
Eleventh and Ninteenth regular in
fantry and troop B of the second cav
airy have disembarked here.
Ponce, Island Of Porto Rico, August
$50 far as known no further for
ward movement viii be made by the
American troops until the arrival Of
more troopships which are expected
hourly. The Spaniards are expected
to make their first stand at Sibonito,
t%hirty-fve miles from here, where two
or three thousand Spanish regulars
are believed to be entrenched. The
present prospect is that there will be
actual fighting for several days.
Madrid, August 4, $50 p. m.-An
official dispatch from San Juan de
Porto Rico says Colonel Sam Martin,
who was in command of the Spanish
garrison at Ponce has been court
martialed and shot for abandoning
the place without resistance. Lieuten-
ant Colonel Puiz, the second in COM
mand, committed suicide.
Ponce, August 3, via kingston, ia
maica, August 4, $40 a. m.-The
Spaniards are reported to be advanc-
ing though it is not general believed.
In addition to the regular fortifica-
lions at AibOnitO on the road to San
Juan, it is reported that the enemy
has mined the cliffs, preparatory to
blockading the road if obliged to re-
tire.
San Martin, the Spanish commander
here, who evacuated this place with
out orders, is a prisoner at San Juan
de Porto Rico. He will be tried for
cowardice and will probably be exc
cuted.
A BRUSH WITH THE SPANISH.
Ponce, Porto Rico, August 2, Via ST.
Thomas, D. w. l., August 3.-General
Roy Stone, while accommodating north
wards along the road leading to Are
cibo,o n the north coast with a company
of the Second Wisconsin regiment,
encountered opposition at Utuado,
where a small force of Spanish reg
ularS and volunteers had been in
structed by Captain General Macais to
resist to the bitter end. The Span
iards refused to surrender, and Gen.
eral Stone telephoned back to Adjutas
that he would push on, aided by a force
of natives armed with machetes. Be-
fore the messengers left Adjutantas
where twelve men had been left, a
Spanish force was reported to be be-
tween General Stone and Adjutantas,
picketed on the trail between Adju-
tantas and Utuado in the heart Of the
mountains. AS the troops have to
move in single file, ten men can stop
a regiment
THE PLAN OF CAMPAIGN.
Ponce, August 2, Via st. Thomas,
D. w. l., August 8, delayed in trans
mission)-The plan of campaign is
not fully determined upon but the nat
ural strength of the Spanish position
at AibOnito and the character of the
defensive works erected there necessi-
tates a flank movement. The turning
movement was inaugurated today,
when General Brooke landed 5000 men
sixty miles east of here.
1t is possible that a second column
may move on the left flank also in
case the present advance in front will
be shown to be only a feint. General
Stone is making a dashing reconnOis-
sance mort. in the direction of Arecibo
He went into Adjuntas last night
with five men and four correspon-
dents, and today he brought his COM
mand on along the Utuado road as far
as Adjutantas. The road rises west
Of the Cayey range, and is rough, but
practicable for cavalry and infantry.
If it is found passable at Utuado a
light column Of troops may be push
ed across. to the north coast and strike
in on San Juan on the left flank. But
if General Brooke is successful it is
probable that General Otega will find
Aibonito untenable in which case the
whole Of u army, after affecting a
junction viii move on the main road.
STREWED THE STREETS WITH
FLOWERS.
General Stone met with a most en-
thusiastic welcome from the natives
in the villages and towns through
which he passed. Women and chill
dren strewed the streets with flowers
and as he passed houses and town
halls few home made flags. Behind
him moved c company of the Second
Wisconsin regiment, under Lieutenant
Bodiner. The enemy, numbering
about 400, preceded him. The enemy
has for hours been in full retreat.
Our advance has not been extended be-