The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-06-12
FIRST TROOPS N CUBA.
Force Of 900 Marines Landed
Near Guantanamo.
SHELLS ROUT SPANIARDS.
Left Watches, RammOGkS and a
Flag Behind.
MARINES BURN A VILLAGE.
Three Vessels Left to Protect
Them From Attack.

Copyright 1898, by the Associated Press.
Off Guantanamo. Cuba, Friday, 10th, via
Port Antonio, Jamaica, Saturday, June II,
a. m.-The invasion of Cuba by the
American forces began to-day.
Six hundred marines have pitched their
tents about the smoking ruins of the outer
fortlhcatlons of Guantanamo and the
Stars and Stripes for the first time float
from a Spanish Flagstaff in Cuba.
To Capt. Clark and the battleship Ore
gon belong the honor of accomplishing the
first successful landing of the war. Forty
marines from the battleshlp went ashore
this morning and occupied the left entrance
to the bay until the troop ship Panther
arrived with 800 marines.
These under command of Lieut.. Col r.
W. Huntington, arrived at O'Clock. and
within half an hour they had burned the
buildings of the Spanish camp and had set
fire to the miserable little village crouch
ed on the beach under the hilltop of Guam"
tanamo.
The whole operation Of ellencing the
guns and landing the forces was as easy
as placing Sunday school picnic.
The Marblehead, backed by the Vixen
and Dolphin, opened fire on the earth
works yesterday
The shore to the right of the entrance
was lined with guns and rifle pits, but
the Spaniards stampeded after firing a
few Shots
The city of Guantanamo lies four miles
up the bay and little Spanish gunboat
came down to help the shore batteries,
but she. stayed just long enough to turn
around. Numerous shots were fired by the
Spanlards, but not one landed and no
Americans were injured
The main fort lies within the city limits
and is still to be reduced, but it is not
IN a difficult position and the American
officers say can be taken in Is minutes
when desired.
The Marblehead, Dolphin, Vixen and two
golfers have been off the entrance of the
harbor for several days and yesterday
morning they sailed into the channel, a
mile further up they fired, sending 80
shots at the Notifications on the left.
The hills on the right of the entrance
were deserted. There are no defenses on
the right side of the harbor.
No attempt was made 10 land until the
Oregon steamed in early this morning.
Capt. Clark Immediately sent forty ma
Tlnes ashore and twenty from the Marble
head followed. They found evidence of a
very hasty departure by the Spaniards.
Watches, hammocks and ammunition were
scattered about the earthworks and a
Spanish flag was found in one of the rifle
pits
The little detachment of marines held
1.fh
they were recalled, and the work of dis
embarkation began. The first boat load
had scarcely landed when the village burst
INTO flames. Company B, under Lieut..
Hail. was the first ashore, and without the
loss of moment, the column started up
the steep, rocky hillside to the earthworks
For an hour brown column of marines
nled up the narrow path, eventually TAX
ing up position at the top of the hill.
AS soon as the American flag was swung
out to the breeze from the Flagstaff of the
captured Spanish camp, the Oregon steam
ed away to rejoin the fleet off Santiago.
Inc marines viii hold the position until
the arrival of the expected troops, in the
meantime, scouting in the vicinity, with
the Marblehead, Vixen and Dolphin lying
by to protect them.
Rear Admiral Sampson now has a har-
Dor and base of supplies on the south
SIDE OF the island, and troops can be land
ed a will
The troop ship Panther reached the
meet off Santiago early to-day.
On her way over, the Yosemite fred a
cozen shells into the port of Daiquiri CBai-
qulrD, but received no response
Guantanamo Is but forty miles from
santiago &c Cuba and is a splendid Ioca-
.lon for base Of supplies for the blockad-
ing fleet
Il is understood that the island of Cuba
Is entirely cut off from cable communica-
ton with the outside world Report here
mas 1t that the cable ship Adria cut the
caple OF Santiago on Monday and that the
same day the ST. Louis cut The cable nm
Ilng from Guantanamo to the Mole 81
Nicolas, Hayti. She was interrupted in The
work by shells from the shore, but the
Marblehead sent several shells al the SOL
d.ers and scattered them.