Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1898-06-17
LATEST WAR NEWS

a BATTALION oil 6UO marines, COMMANDED
by Lieutenant. Colonel r. w. Huntington,
who landed on the shore Of Guantanamo
Bay, Cuba, last Friday, had almost thirteen
hours continuous fighting In beating off
guerrilla attack by Spaniards. The marines
lost four men killed and several wounded.
Among the killed was Assistant Surgeon
John Blair Gibbs, of Richmond, Va. The
Spanish loss is unknown.
Advices received last night state that the
600 marines who have established camp
on the shore OF Guantanamo Bay, Cuba,
were again attacked from the bushes by
Spaniards Sunday night. The Spanish had
body of sharpshooters, who kept constant
ly firing at the Americans from the bushes
Two marines were killed and four were
wounded. The loss of the Spaniards is not
known, but the bodies of 10 OF their dead
were found.
The Herald has the following from Wash
ington Officers Of the army and navy in
Washington have been reluctant TO believe
that the Spanish troops who fought against
the marines at Guantanamo were guilty OF
mutilating the bodies OF the dead, but the
evidence that they did 80 is conclusive.
Though the mutilation OF the bodies is an
act in fragrant violation of the rules Of civ.
ilized warfare, it is not probable that the
United States will take any official notice Of
the occurrence unless II is repeated Should
1t be repeated this government would be
justified In making representations TO the
powers protesting against the barbarous
methods Of Spain, but it is not probable that
this will be done. 1t is not the policy Of
the United States TO recognize the interest
of any third power in the present war or
TO invite Intervention in any way.
Every effort is to be made by the com
manders of the American forces TO prevent
their men, who will naturally be made very
indignant by the actions OF the Spanish,
from retalating in the same way upon the
dead of the enemy. Now that 1t is feared
that the Spanish cannot be relied upon
to wage war In accordance with civilized
methods, officers will be instructed to take
extraordinary precautions TO prevent their
dead and wounded from falling into the
hands Of the enemy, for 1t is not believed
that the Spanish soldiers who would hack
q dead body would hesitate to treat the
wounded In the same way.
The 900 American marines encamped on
the shores Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, have
been reinforced by Cubans and won a sig
nal victory on Tuesday. Dispatches re-
ceived Wednesday night, which tell the
story OF the victory for the fret time, state
that the Americans and Cubans captured
the camp Of the Spaniards, four miles in
land. The bodies of 40 of the Spanish dead
were found and IS were taken prisoners
Two of the Cuban allies were killed, four
of them were wounded and two of the
American marines were wounded.
Admiral Sampson has notified the Navy
Department that 1900 Cubans from the
commands of Garcia and Rabi have rein.
forced the marines of Guantanamo. This
makes the combined force strong enough
to hold its position against any number Of
men which the Spaniards are likely to send
against it.
The insurgents have occupied Acerrade.
ros, eight miles from Santiago, in pursuance
OF plan agreed upon with General Miles
This place contains iron wharves, which
will be useful in landing Gen. STARTERS
heavy artillery.
The dynamite cruiser Vesuvius has had
at Santiago her first test in actual warfare
She fired three shells. each containing 200
pounds of gun cotton, at Spanish fort
Every shell struck either in the fort or near
it and frightful execution was done, al.
though the effects In detail could not be
clearly seen from the American feet
The cruiser New Orleans attacked and
rendered useless a new battery which the
Spaniards were erecting at Santiago
The Spanish government has authorized
Gen. Blanco to entertain proposals for an
exchange of Lieut. Hobson and the other
prisoners taken when the collier Merrimac
was sunk at the entrance to the harbor of
Santiago.
The German government has assured the
State Department at Washington that none
of the reports attributing TO Germany pur-
pose to make an issue with the United States
in the Philippines is warranted. Germany
has also notified the State Department that
il the interests Of German citizens at Manila
are jeopardized, such protection will be ex-
tended them by German warships as is con.
sistent with a state Of war. The State De.
partment has positive assurance that Ger.
many does not contemplate territorial &C
QUESTION or forcibe Intervention between
the belligerents.