The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-07-27
General Miles Reports His
Whole Army
MAKING SAFELANDING
At Guanica, Fifteen Miles From
Ponce.
Troops to Be Pushed Forward
Without Delay.

partment has posted the following:
st. Thomas, July e. 1898, 9:35 o. m
Secretary of War, Washington: Cir
cumstances were such that I deemed it
advisable to take the harbor of Guam
lea first, Is miles west of Ponce, which
was successfully accomplished between
oayLght and II o'clock Spaniards sur
pr1sed. The Gloucester, Commander
w wainwright, first entered the harbOr;
met with slight resistance; fired a few
shots. All the transports are now in
the harbor and infantry and artillery
rapidly going ashore. This is well
protected harbor. The water is suffi-
GENTLY deep for all transports and
yards. of the shore. The Spanish flag
was lowered and the American flag
raised at IL o'clock today. Captain
Higginson, with his feet, has rendered
able and earnest assistance. The troops
in good health and best of spirits No
casualties. (Signed) MILES,
Major General Commanding
Copyright. 1898, by Associated Press.)
Port of Guanica, Island of Porto Rico,
July 25, via the Island of ST. Thomas,
Danish West Indies, July 27.-The Uni
ted States military expedition under
command of Major General Nelson A.
Miles, commanding the army of the
United States, which left Guantanamo
bay during the evening of Thursday
last, July q, was landed here success
fully today after a skirmish with a de-
tachment of the Spanish troops and
crew of 80 belonging to the launch of
the United States auxiliary -gunboat
Gloucester, formerly Mr.. J. PierpOnt
Morgan's steam yacht Corsair. Four
of the Spaniards were killed and no
Americans were hurt.
The troops were pushed forward
promptly in order to capture the rail-
road leading to Ponce, which is only
about ten miles east of this place.
From Ponce there is an excellent mil
itary road running 80 miles north to
San Juan.
The whole of General Brooke's forces,
with the New Orleans, Anna polls, Gin.
ctnnatt, Leyden and Wasp are expected
here within "a hours.
The ships left Guantanamo bay sud
denly on Thursday evening, with the
Massachusetts, commanded by Captain
F. ]. Higginson, leading.
Captain HigginsOn was in charge of
the naval expedition. which consisted
of the Columbia, Dixie, Gloucester and
Yale. General Miles was on board the
last named vessel. The troops were on
board the transports Nueces, Lampasas,
COmanche, Rita, Unionist, Saltwater
City Of Macon and Specialist. This was
the order in which the transports en-
tered the harbor here.
The voyage from Guantanamo bay to
this port was uneventful At noon yes
terday General Miles called for a con-
sultation, announcing that he was de-
termined not to go by San Juan CAPE
but by the Mona passage instead, land
there, surprise the Spaniards and de-
ceive their military authorities. The
course was then changed and the Dixie
was sent to warn General Brooke at
Cape Juan.
Advantages of Guanica.
Port Guanica has been fully described
by Lieutenant Whitney Of General
Miles staff, who recently made an ad-
venturous tour to Porto Rico.
Ponce, which is situated ten or fif-
hi &c To- Ioa
ward and harder place to take. In
addition, the water at Ponce is too
shallow for the transports to be able to
get close in shore. Then, again, Ponce
itself is some little distance from where
the troops would have been able to land
If that point had been selected for the
debarkation of the expedition.
One advantage of this place is that it
is situated close to the railroad connec-
ton with Ponce, which means of trans
portation our troops hope to secure to-
day.
Early this morning the Gloucester in
charge of Lieutenant Commander Vain
wright, steamed into Guanica harbor
IN order to recOnnOiter the place. With
the fleet waiting outside, the gallant lit
tie Hghting yacht braved the mines
which were supposed to be in the har-
Dor and found that there were only five
fathOms of water close in shore.
Guanica bay is a quiet place, sur
rounded by cultivated lands. In the
rear are high mountains and close to
the beach nestIes a village of about 20
houses.
The Spaniards were completely taken
by surprise. Almost the first they
knew Of the approach Of the army of
invasion was in the announcement con-
tanned in the firing of a gun from the
demanding that the Span
iards haul down their flag, which was
floating from a Flagstaff in front of a
block house standing to the east of the
village. The first couple of three-pOun-
q int lie sob md
left of the bay, purposely avoiding the
town, lest the projectile hurt women
and children. The Gloucester hove to
within about 600 yards of the shore and
lowered launch having on board a
Colt rapid fire gun and thirty men I'M
der the command of Lieutenant HuSe
which was sent ashore without encOun-
tering opposition.
QuartermaSter Back thereupOn told
Yoeman Lacy to haul down the Spanish
flag, which was done, and they then
raised on the Flagstaff the first United
States flag to float over Porto Rican
soil.
Suddenly about thirty spaniards
opened fire with Mauser rifles on the
American party. Lieutenant Huse and
his men responded with great ga1lantry,
the Colt gun doing effective work Nor
men, who received Cervera's surrender,
and Wood, a volunteer lieutenant,
shared the honors with Lieutenant
Huse.
Gloucester Opens Fire.
Almost Immediately after the Span
lards fired on the Americans the GlOu-
cester opened fire on the enemy with all
her three and six-pounders which could
be brought to bear, shelling the town
and also dropping shells into the hills
to the west of Guanica, where a number
Of Spanish cavalry were to be seen
Fastening toward the spot where the
Americans had landed.
Lieutenant Huse then threw up q lit
file fort which he named Fort VAIN