The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-08-15
LAST FIGHT OF THE WAR
Spaniards Made Vigorous Defense
in Porto Rico.
FURTHER FIGHTING PREVENTED

FURTHER FIGHTING PREVENTED
BY Orders Received From Washing
ton-Governor General Maclas Ig-
nored "a IAae of Truce Sent by Con-
eral Wilson.
Coamo, Porto Rico, Aug. 15.--General
Wilson moved one Lancaster battery,
out to the front Friday afternoon for.
the purpose of shelling the Spanish po-
stion on the crest of the mountain at
the head Of the pass through which.
the road winds. The enemy occupied
position of great natural strength.
protected by seven lines of entrench-
ments and a battery of two howitzers.
The Spaniards were eager for the fray,
and earlier in the day had fired upon
Colonel Biddle. Of the engineer corps.
who. with platoon of Troop c. of New
York. was accommodating on their right
flank.
As our battery rounded curve in
the road 1000 yards away the enemy
opened an artillery and infantry fire.
Four companies of the Third Wiscon-
sin, which were posted on the bluffs
to the right of the road. were not per-
mitted to respond to the infantry fire.
The guns advanced at gallop in the
face of a terrific fire, were unlimbered
and were soon hurling common shell
and shrapne at the enemy at lively
rate, striking the emplacements, bat
teries and entertainments with the
rhythmic regularity of a trip hammer.
The enemy soon abandoned one gun,
but continued to serve the other at in
tervals for over an hour. They had
our range, and their shrapne burst
repeatedly over our men. One shell
burst the fragments killing Corporal
Swanson, Of Company L. and seri-
ously wounding Corporal Yanke and
Privates Bunce and Vought. Captain
Lee and Private Sizer, Of Company F,
We're wounded by Mauser bullets. In
about two hours the enemy abandoned
the other gun and began fleeing from
the entertainments toward banana
grove in the rear. Our guns shelled
them as they ran.
One gun was now ordered to advance
to a position quarter of mile fur
ther on. 1t had just reached the new
position when Spanish infantry re-
Inducements filed into the trenches and
fired down deadly fire upon our men.
compelling the battery to retire at a
galop. Then both the enemy's how
itzers reopened and shrapnel screamed
and Mausers sang. Another gun gal
loped from the rear, but our ammuni-
tion was exhausted. Lieutenant Haines
was shot in the body by a Mauser just
before his gun retired, the ball fol-
lowing a rib.
The orders issued for two companies
to advance were countermanded and
the firing soon ceased. Colonel Bliss,
of General Wilson's staff, went forward
to the enemy's line with flag of truce
and explained that peace negotiations
were almost concluded and that their
position was untenable and demanded
their surrender The Spanish have no
communication with the outside world
and the commander asked until Satur-
day morning in order that he might
communicate with Governor General
Macias at San Juan.
General Wilson and his staff viewed
fridays action from a hill at the right
of the battery. The enemy's guns were
fired from a high elevation with low
velocity. The Spaniards had the ranges
as accurately as they had at Santiago.
Their position from the front was al
most impregnable. Estimates of the
strength of the enemy range from 500
to 1000. Their position was five miles
from Abonito.
"Tell the American general If he de-
sres no further shedding of blood to re-
main where he is" This was the reply
that the Spanish commander, Colonel
Nuevillas, sent on Saturday morning
to General Wilson's demand for the
surrender of Aibonito.
A fight would certainly have oc-
Cured but for orders received from
Washington on Saturday noon. The
orders to advance issued to General
Ernst's brigade were countermanded
upon receipt of the presidents order to
suspend hostilitles.
General Wilson sent a party with a
flag Of truce to notify the Spaniards
of the suspension Of hostilities, but the
flag was not respected. This was by
order Of Governor General Maci.-. AS
General Macias has no communication
with Madrid he may thus cut himself
off from official notification of the sit
uation, although natives have been
sent through the Spanish lines to
spread the news that a cessation Of
hostilities had been ordered.
The soldiers of the American army
generally receive the news of peace
with delight although some are dis
appointed that there is to be no fur
ther fighting, and many officers express
regret at the suspension of hostilities
in the midst of the campaign.
The peace news has stopped all for
ward movement of the American army
in Porto Rico. General Wilson, at
Coamo, and General Schwan. at Maya
guez, will remain al those places Gen.
eral Henry, who is at Utado. will re-
turn to Adputas, and General Brooke,
who has advanced beyond Guyana,
will return to that town. General Miles
expects to do nothing pending the ar
rival at San Juan of the peace COM