Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-07-27

tie fort which he named Fort
Wainwright.
The lieutenant also mounted the
Colt gun ard signalled for Press
dispatch boat Cynthia H., which
was the only boat in the harbor
except the Gloucester.
While the Mausers were pepper
ing all around Lieut.. Commander
Wainwright called to the Associa-
ted Press correspondent and said:
They fired on us after their
flag was down and ours was up,
and after | had spared the town
for the sake of the women and chill
dren. The next town | strike will
blow up
Presently few of the Spanish
cavalry joined those who were
fighting in the street of Guanica,
but the Colt barked to a purpose,
killing four of them.
By that time the Gloucester had
the range of the town and Of the
blockhouse and all her guns were
splitting fire, the doctor and the
paymaster helping to serve the
guns.
Soon afterwards. white coated
galloping cavalrymen were seen
climbing the hills to the westward
and the foot soldiers were scurry-
ing along the fences from the town.
By 9:45, with the exception Of a
few guerilla shots, the town was
won and the enemy was driven out
Of the neighborhood
The Red Cross nurses on the
Lampasas and a detachment of
regulars were the first to land
from the transports.
After Lieut. Huse had captured
the place he deployed his small
force into the suburbs. But he
was soon reinforced by the regu-
lars, who were followed by Com
pany G, of the Sixth Illinois, and
then by other troops in quick sue
cession. All the boats of the
men of war and the transports
were used in the work of landing
the troops, each steam launch
towing four or five boats loaded to
the rails with soldiers. But every
thing progressed in an orderly
manner and according to the plans
Of Gen. Miles. The latter went
ashore about noon, after stopping
to board the Gloucester and thank
Lieut.. Commander Wainwright for
his gallant action.
Gen. Miles said to the corre-
spondent Of the Associated Press:
"Guanica and Cinga are in the
disaffected portion Of the island.
Metteo, the insurgent leader, lives
at Yauco, a few miles inland. Had
we landed at Cape San Juan
line Of rifle pits might have stop
ped our advance"
There is no doubt that General
Miles's plans are being kept abso-
lutely' secret.
The spirits of the troops, men
and officers is admirable.
Guanica is the most lovely spot
yet occupied by our forces. 1t Is
the seat of the coffee and sugar in
dustries and large herds of cattle
are pasturing in the meadows,
which are bordered by cocoanut
palms. Many head of cattle and a
large number of horses have been
driven into the mountains by their
owners. Some of them will be re-
captured.
Ponce is the second city Of the
island, has a splendid harbor and
will make a good base of opera
lions.
There were fifteen large coast
ers this afternoon at Guanica Bay,
but only two barges were captur-
ed.
The town Of Ponce is sure to
fall shortly before the combined
attack of our army and navy.
Later in the day the Dixie spoke
to the dispatch boat of the Asso-
ciated Press. 1t was then about
9 O'Clock at night, and the COM
mander of the Dixie said he had
been almost around the island OF
Porto Rico and had not seen any
men of war or transports except
the New Orleans, which was block
aiding the port of San Juan de
Porto Rico.
A heavy gale was blowing, caus-
ing the dispatch boat to take
nineteen hours in making the 123
miles to st. Thomas. The Associ-
ated Press boat is the only dis
patch boat with the fleet.
Washington, D. c., July 26.-The
news of the landing Of Gen. Miles
at Guanica, on the southwest shore
of Porto Rico, came as genuine
surprise to the war department. 1t
had all been carefully planned that