The Dickinson press. (Dickinson, Stark County, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1883-1927, 1898-06-18
ROUTED THE BNEMY
huNTINoToN's MARINES ATTACKED
A SPANISH CAMP,

WIptng II on the Earth-Forty of the
Dens Meet Death and Th@ir Only We
Il Dsstroysh-tubaus Co-opersto With
the Americans and ls Some Excrllent
wsrk-Twe Of Their Number Killed
aad Fsur Wouadsi In the Fight.
GUANTANAMO BAY. June IA, via
Kingston, June 16.-The United States
marines under Lieutenant Colonel
Robert w. Huntington made their
6rst aggressive movement against the
Spanish guerrillas during the day and
completely routed the enemy.
Tho foroe Of marines was under Cap
tain Elliott and the cooperating Gu
bans were under Colonel Laborda.
The combined forces razed 4 Spanish
camp about I've miles from the Ameri.
can position. destroyed tho only we'll
in the vicinity and killed about 40
spaniards. One American marine was
slightly wounded. Two Cubnns wera
killed and four wounded.
II is impossible TO estimate tho mum.
ber Of Spaniards engaged owing to
their guerrilla methods OF fighting, but
1t il believed there were at least 400.
Marines Behaved Spiendidly.
The marines behaved splendidly,
their marksmanship being excellent,
even under the severe fire of the en-.
emy.
The captured camp lies about five
miles southeast of the rifle pits of the
marines, and WAS an important base
for tho enemy, as it contained the only
we'll within six or seven miles. Lieu
tenant Colonel Huntington decided on
the attack early in the day, and q:
about 8 O'Clock the force started aero IS
the mountain. The marines were com.
pelled to march in single file, following
the mountain trail. Meanwhile the
Cubans darted backward and forward,
to right and left. ON the scout 1t was
noon when, from hilltop. the Amer.
leans caught sight of the Spanish camp
lying on ridge below. It consisted Of
one large house. the officers quarters,
surrounded by numerous "shacks" and
huts, all
Clustering About the Precious Well.
The Americans began a cautious ad.
vance and were within 200 yards of the
enemy before the crack of rifle from
the Spanish lines announced that the
Spaniards had discovered them.
The troops quickly moved into line OF
battle, with the Cubans OH tho left OF
the flank. The enemy's bullets were
whirling over the Americans, but the
marines settled down to their work al
unconcernedly as though at target
practice. .u
Very few Spaniards wero in sight
They were lying behind the huts and
in the bush. but the puffs of smoke re-
vealed their positions and enabled the
Americans to do effective work. Fo,
20 minutes both sides maintained ter.
rife fire. The Spanish shots were gen
orally wild and spasmodic, while the
Americans ooolly fired away,
AounI08 Cate1olby ana Nno0slnG 10 AtIl
For tho most part the Americans firing
was done individually, but ut times the
officers would direct firing by squads
always with telling effect. 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 1l.ny Of
their dead. Fifteen bodies were found
scattered through the brush. No time
time was lost in burning the buildings
and filing the we'll with earth and
stones. 5-
The Dolphin landed water and am
munition az an attack was expected or
the return march, but none was made
Colonel Huntington believes the de
struction Of the camp and we'll will Sc
riously cripple the bushwhacking oper
ations Of the enemy.