Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1898-08-04
A HOLIDAY EXPEDITION.
Such Seems to be the Nature of the Porto
Rican INVASION.


Rican Invasion.
Ponce, Porto Rico, Aug. 1.-The in
vasion OF Porto Rico br the American
army has many elements of holiday
festivities. The troops are received by
the natives with unbounded demon
strations of Joy.
There has been little fighting since
the landing was made. Several unim.
portant places have surrendered with.
out a shot being fred and the Spanish
regulars are in full retreat ahead Of
the American army.
Attempts by the Spaniards to blow
up bridges and otherwise destroy the
railroad between Yauco and Ponce
failed. only few fat cars being burn
ed. Our troops have fired up the loco
motives and are now operating them
from end to end, carrying supplies and
men.
At Yauco, the Americans were well
coined in an address made by the al
calde and a public proclamation was
issued, dated "Yauco, Porto Rico, U.
o VI Amerlcd, July ~.
Major Webb Hayes of the Sixth Ohio,
son of former President Hayes, hauled
up the flag on the palace amid cheers
from the populace. The people seemed
really glad that the Americans were
here, but they fear an uprising of the
natives in the interior, who, it is as,
serted, will raid kill and destroy
property in revenge for many years of
Spanish misrule
General Henry has made report to
this effect to General Miles and ad-
vises that guard be left to protect
the captured cities The empty trans
ports have left for Tampa.
The news that Spain had consented
to sue for peace was received here in
dispatch to the Associated Press and
was at once taken to General Miles
The general wrinkled his grave brow
when he read it and said he did not
know what effect 1t would have on his
expedition, but he proposed to push on
ahead and take San Juan, pending or
ders from the president. The Associ-
ated Press dispatch boat carried the
information out to the fleet, and there
was cele ebration at the first indica-
tion of weakening on Spain's part.
Outside of the typhoid fever on the
transports and in Guanica, the general
health of the army continues excel
lent ard there has been no trace of
yellow fever thus far.
General Jose Garcia, who is in com
mand of the Spanish regulars-not be-
lieving to number more than 5oo-was
deserted by most of the Spanish vol
unteers in his command during the
night and they began struggling back
to the city with the dawn. They inn
mediately presented themselves to the
provost marshal and surrendered their
arms.
The appearance of the volunteers
aroused in the breasts of the natives,
who had suffered at their hands in the
past, especially the political prisoners
who were released when we took the
city, desire for revenge and they be-
gan to ferret out all the Spaniards in
the city who had ever been in the vol.
unteer service and dragged them to
the plaza.
Bloodhounds could not have been
more savage, for most of the Spaniards
in hiding, when discovered, were drag
ged by jeering, hooting mobs to Gen.
Wilson's headquarters or to the provost
marshals Office in the municipal build.
ing. Some of the natives even began
looting the residences of the Spaniards,
They mistook liberty for license and
we're crazed wi n a thirst for revenge.
General Wilson, however. soon
taught that revenge could not be
wreaked under the protection of our
flag and premptorily ordered that the
arrest of Spanish suspects should cease.
Such volunteers as presented them
selves were, however, received and re-
leased after their names had been
taken. They will all report tomorrow
and be formally paroled Many of
them had been forced into the service
of Spain to escape prosecution.