The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-07-30
UNDROKDN VICTORIES.
& 'sE.aAns; s;ssry.
Niles Army Of Invasion Captures
Porto Ponce.
RIVALRY IN THE DEPARTMENTS

RIVALRY IN THE DEPARTMENT
Both tho Army and Navy Claimi
Credit For Victory-Press Reno,
Show That the Town Surrendered
the Gunboat Dixie, a..
/ Esx-~-----.--- s;DH-s "
| Washington, July 30.-The war
partment has received the followir
dispatch from General Miles, dat,
Port Ponce. Porto Rico, via st. Thoma
July 30:
On the 2sth Garretson had a spirite
engagement on the skirmish line. o.
casualties are four wounded, all d.
ing well. The Spanish loss was thr,
killed and l3 wounded. Yauco occupie
yesterday. Henry's division there tc
| day. Last evening Commander Davi!
OF the Dixie. moved into this port, fol
lowed by Captain Higginson, with hi
fleet, early this morning. General WI
son, with Ernst's brigade, now rapid
disembarking. The troops disembark
ing from the Dixie are the Sixth Mass
achusetts and Sixth Illinois.
Spanish troops are retreating fror
the southern part of Porto Rico. Ponc
and port have a population of 5000
now under the American flag. Tn.
popuface received troops and saluteC
the flag with wild enthusiasm. The
hao pI- ErL
ers. Railway stock partly destroyed
now restored. Telegraph communica-
tion also being restored. Cable instru-
ments destroyed Have sent to ia
maiea fer others. This Is a prosperous
and beautiful country. The army will
soon be In the mountain region. The
weather is delightful, and the troops Ia
the best of health and spirits. l an
ticipate no insurmount able obstacle In
the future. The results thus far have
been accomplished without the loss of
a single life. The. Spanish retreat from
this place was precipitous. they leav-
ing rifles and ammunition In barracks,
and 40 or so sick in the hospital. The
people are enjoying holiday in honor
of our arrival.
The navy department also received a
cable announcing that the navy had
captured the city Of Ponce and landed
the forces under General Miles. Both
departments are very much satisfied
with what has been accomplished, and
the tone of both dispatches indicates
that the rivalry between the army and
navy for honors in the Spanish war is
not at an end. The department expects
an easy conquest of Porto Rico, and
Notwithstanding the overtures for
peace made by Spain the war will be
prosecuted vigorously in that island.
A dispatch from st. Thomas says:
The Port of Ponce surrendered to
Commander c. H. Davis. of the auxil-
iary gunboat Dixie, on Wednesday.
There was no resistance, and the Amer
leans were welcomed with enthusiasm.
Major General Miles arrived at Ponce
Thursday morning at daylight with
General Ernst's brigade and General /
division on board transports. |
General Ernsts brigade Immediately |
started for the town of Ponce, three |
miles inland, which capitulated Thurs
lay afternoon.
The American troops are pushing to-
wards the mountains and will join
General Henry with his brigade at
Hauco. which has been captured by our
roops.
A fight before the latter place on
Thursday last was won by the Amer
can volunteers. The Spaniards am
'ushed eight companies of the Massa-
'husetts and Illinois regiments. but
he enemy was repulsed and driven
Jack a mile to a ridge, where the
panish cavalry charged and were
outeG by our infantry. General GAR.
etson led the fight with the men from
illinois and Massachusetts, and the
nemy retreated to Yauco. leaving four
cad on the field and several wounded.
lone of our men were killed, and only (
hree were slightly wounded. {
The results thus far achieved by !
ieneral Miles and Captain Higginson. ;
l command of the naval squadron, {
ave created feeling of intense salts |
action among officials of the admlnis- /
'ation., 1t indicates. as one official ex- '
resses it, that miles is cleaning up d
as he goes" :
The surrender of Ponce. practically i,
ithout a struggle. is regarded by the =
ar officials with especial satisfaction.
l importance it Is the second city of n
lie island. 1t has a population of 22.- v
70. with jurisdiction numbering A. Il
0. Situated on the south coast of the 81
land, on broad plain two miles from
lie seaboard, Ponce has advantages !,
)t possessed by any other city in
orto Rico. 1t is 10 miles from San
ian, by which 1t is connected by the
st highway on the island. 1t is regu- r
rly built, the central part3almost ex- G.
usively of brick houses and the "
hurbs of wood. 1t is the residence OF n
e military commander of the district a
Ponce and seat Of the official cham T.,
+ of commerce. There IS ga appel ri
te criminal court, h.-..e, Oh y =,
urts; two churches .ne of a Protes. W
Mt denomination said to be the only n
e III tEe GEanish West Indies. two th
spitals, besides the military hospital; ~
rec theatres, municipal public IL !, ~
ary, three first-class hotels, gas '>'
'rks and perfectly equipped fire de- ny
rtment. of
4 fine road connects Ponce with Bi
ava, which is the port of Ponce. N
ere all the import and export trade Ii
Playa has a population
about 5000 and there are situated
custom house, the office of the cap ri
II of the port and all the consular "
ces. The port is spacious, and ves- &c
$ of 25 feet draught can enter it. The WI
Y of Ponce is pronounced by the mil Ri
ry authorities to be the healthiest i!
ce in the island. The climate, on ~ ~
cunt of the sea breeZes during the w
7 and the land breezes at night, is of
oppressive, but is hot and dry. Th
While nothing definite is known to En-
war officials yet Of General Miles Cll
MS for the immediate future, the VII
tement in his dispatch that the S.
ops will soon be in the mountain
ntry is taken to mean that he pro-
es rapidly to push on towards San
n. The lighters taken at Playa I
enable him speedily to land the pal
Fps Of the expedition as they arrive. t,c
it is believed there will be no delay inn
he reduction of the entire island. ms
I
Closed for Repairs. tur
odnny street church Will be closed for
Iirs during the month of August The
or Rev. w + Lewis will take II need De
kn w.,