The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1898-07-30
THE FLAG is RAISED.
The Americans Capture the Puerto
Rican Town of Guanica.
A skirmish I'm which Not nm American
IL IxiIIed-Troops Are Landed-Gen.
Miles Action n Surprise to
War Department..

/
tary OF War. Washington: Circumstances
were such that l deemed IL advisable 10
take the harbor OF Guanica first, 10 miles
west OF Ponce. which was successfully ac-
complished between daylight and IL
o'clock. Spaniards surprised The Glou-
cester. Commander Wainwright. first en-
tered the harbor: met with slight resist
ance: fired few shots. All the trans
ports are now in the harbor and infantry
and artillery rapidly going ashore. This
is well-protected harbor. Water sum-
GENTLY deep for all transports and heavy
vessels TO anchor within 200 yards OF shore.
1 The Spanish nag was lowered and the
American flag raised at II o'clock to-day.
Capt. Higginson. with his fleet. has rem
dered able and earnest assistance. Troops
in good health and best OF spirits. No
MILES.
Major General Commanding Army"
Capture of Guanicn.
Port OF Guanica, Island OF Puerto
Rico, July 25, via. the Island of St.
! Thomas, Danish West Indies, July 27.-
| The United States military expedition,
under the command of Maj. Gen. Mel
son A. Miles, commanding the army of
/ the United States, which left Guam
tanamo bay during the evening of
Thursday last, July 21. was landed here
successfully to-day. after a skirmish
between detachment of the Spanish
/ troops and n crew of 30 belonging TO
the launch Of the United States auxil-
larry gunboat Gloucester. formerly Mr..
j. Pierpont Morgan's steam yacht
Corsair. Four of the Spaniards were
killed and no Americans were hurt.
The troops were pushed forward
promptly in order to capture the rail-
road leading TO Ponce, which is only
about ten miles east of this place.
Plans 10 Surprise spaninrds.
The voyage from. Guantanamo bay
To this port was uneyentful. At noon
Monday Gen. Miles called for a con
sultation, announcing that he was de-
termined not to go to San Juan cape,
but by the Mona passage instead, land
here, surprise the Spaniards and de-
ceive their military authorities. The
course was then changed and the Dixie
was sent TO warn Gen. Brooke at Cape
San Juan.
Early Tuesday morning the Glouces-
ter, in charge OF Lieut.. Commander
Wainwright, steamed into Guanica
harbor in order TO reconnoiter the
place. With the fleet waiting outside,
the gallant little fighting yacht braved
the mines which were supposed 10 be
in the harbor, and found that there
were five fathoms of water close in
shore.
The Spaniards were taken complete
ly by surprise. Almost the first they
knew OF the approach Of the army Of
invasion was in the announcement con-
tanned in the firing OF a gun from the
Gloucester, demanding that the Span
iards haul down their flag, which was
floating from n Flagstaff in front Of a
blockhouse standing TO the east OF the
village.
Raised cold Glory
The first couple Of three-pounders
was fired into the hills right and left
of the bay, purposely avoiding the
town, lest the projectiles should hurt
women and children. The Gloucester
then hove TO within about COO yards OF
the shore and lowered a launch hav-
ing on board Colt rapd-fre gun and
80 men under the command of Lieut.
Huse, which was sent ashore without
cncountering opposition. Quartermas.
ter Beck thereupon told Yeoman Lacy
to haul down the Spanish flag. which
was done, and they then raised on the
flagstaff the first United States flag to
float over Puerto Rican soil.
spnninrds open Fire.
Suddenly about 30 Spaniards opened
fire with Mauser rifles on the Ameri
can party. Lieut.. Huse and his men
responded with great gallantry, the
Colt gun doing effective work.
Almost Immediately after the Span
! iards fired on the Americans the
Gloucester opened fire on the enemy
with all her three and six-pounders
which could be brought TO bear, she'll
ing the town and also dropping shells
into the hills 10 the west of Guanica
where a number of Spanish cavalry
} were TO be seen Fastening toward the
spot where the Americans had landed
Lieut.. Huse then threw up little fort
, which he named Fort Wainwright, and
laid barbed wire in the street in front
: CT il in order TO repel the expected cav
, airy attack. The lieutenant also
mounted the Colt gun and signaled fol
requirements, which were sent from
, the Gloucester.
spanish Trcachcry.
While the Mausers were pepperinf
all around, Lieut.. Commander Vain
wright called TO correspondent anc
said: They fired on us after theil
flag was down and ours was up anC
after had spared the town for tho
/, sake Of the women and children. The
next town strike / will blow up"
-Four spsninrds Killed.
Presently few OF the Spanish cav
airy joined those who were fighting in
the street OF Guanica. but the Colt
gun barked TO n purpose, killing -four
OF them. by that time the Gloucester
: had the range OF the town and q tho
blockhouse and all her guns werespit
ting fire, the doctor and the paynssteI
helping 90 serve the guns.
j. Coon afterwards Vyhfte-coafe. cal.