The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-07-27
III ROMBARD PONCE.
PLANS WE'RE CHANGED.
government officials, As Well As
spaniards. Were Surprised.


Spaniards, Were Surprised.
Washington, July 26.-Secretary AL
er has received a dispatch from Cen
nal Miles, confirming the Associated
Press cable announcing the landing at
Guanica.
The news of the landing of General
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 he
was to make his landing at another
point, as remote as possible from the
place where he actually landed, so
there was little wonder that the Off
Gals received the first news of the
landing with iDcredulity, and even
went to the length of supposing that
the story had been put afioat in order
to distract attention from the point
which had been selected Just why
General Miles made this wide depart
ure from the plans Of the department
is not known, but it is supposed that
he had gathered some information
since he left Siboney that induced him
to make the change. The result, how
ever, has been TIC perplex the depart
ment officials deeply and to consider
ably derange their carefully prepared
programme for the remainder of the
expedition. 1t will now be necessary
TO the SEGllDES 81 lIlt tAIG-
ditions already at sea heading for GER
tain selected points on the coast OF
Porto Rico, and to advise them of the
change in plans.
1t is another exhibition of the reli-
ance placed by the government in the
dispatches of the Associated Press that
it proceeded to act at once IN the di-
rection and to take steps TO notify the
sections afiOat without waiting for
news from General Miles himself.
General Wilson's brigade is now ap-
preaching the island, being due there
today or tomorrow, and reinforcementS
viii follow at intervals of one or two
days until the whole force of 10000
men is landed, unless events connected
with the peace negotiations make it
expedient to stop future movements.
However, it is a matter for congratu-
lation to the war department that Gen
eral Miles has managed to set foot on
Porto Rico before the first overtures
for peace, and thus to place the island
in the same position as Cuba and the
Philippines, namely, as territory at
least partially in the possession of the
United States at the beginning of the
negotiations.
a SPLENDID HARBOR.
Guanica, the point of debarkation of
the Porto Rican eXpeditionary force, is
a small town of 1000 inhabitants on
the southern coast of the island. On a
rough calculation il is less than 20 !
miles air line distant from Ponce, and F,
90 miles from San Juan, against which |
the assault is to be directed.
Guanica is about six miles south of |
Yauco. of which city it forms the port, |
and with which ii is connected by a /
good road. The town is situated on a
bay of the same name, which forms /
one of the best ports in the whole
island.
The banks to the right are steep, and
form good natural wharf. Three yes
sells can lie alongside and unload By
means of gang planks. Vessels Of so
feet draft can enter the bay easily, and
proceed close in slore. The conspicu-
Gus advantage Of this port, aside from
its excellent harbor facilities for the
is the utter absence of for
Lihcatio2s or mines.
While the distance from Ponce to San
Juan is much greater than from the
point originally selected for Miles
anding, there is, according to the mill
AIRY information charts, a splendid
road leading directly
across the island to San Juan on the
acrth shore. Such a road as this, ie it
5 properly described III the archives of
he war department, " ould be very
title affected by the torrentiaI rains of
I
lble for cur troops, accompanied as
hey will be by field artillery, to march
across the 20 miles between Ponce an
san Juan in less time than would have
)een required to cover the much
horter distance between the capital
nd some Of the other points that have
zen named as the landing place for
he troops. !
REPORT FROM MILES.
The war department. at 1850. posted
he following: q
st. Thomas. July 26. $3.50 p. m.-Ci:- 7
Umstances were such that I deemed it y
dvisab!e to take harbor of Guanica i,
rst. 10 miles west of Ponce, which was n
cccessfully accomplished between day .
ght and II o'clock. Spaniards sur .
rlsed. The Gloucester first entered the :,
arbor and met with slight resistance. O
III transports are now in the harbor. :,
nd infantry and artillery rapidly go 7
lS ashore. This is 4 we'll protected II
arbor The water is sufficiently deep :,
)r all transports and heavy vessels to
nchor within 200 yards of shore The
panisn flag was lowered and the
merican fiag raised at IL o'clock to-
3y- Captain Higginson, with his fleet, n
as rendered able ana earnest assist
nee The troops are in good health
al the best Of spirits. No casualties.
(Signed) MILES. a.
Major General Commanding Army. :,
Secretary Alser said tonight that the q
oops on transports for Cuba had al 80
ady received orders to proceed to .
uanica. where General Miles had -
ndvd. instead of going to the point -
st agreed upon. =,