The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1898-07-27
vas the only boat In the harbor except the


Gloucester.
While the Mausers were peppering al!
around Leut.C Com. Wainwright called to the
Associated Press correspondent and said
.'They fired on US after their flag was
down and ours was up, and after had
spared the town for the sake Of the women
and children. The next town strike will
blow 1t up"
Presently a few Of the Spanish cavalry
Joined those who were fighting in the streets
of Guanica, but the Colt barked TO a purpose,
killing four Of them.
By that time the Gloucester had the range
OF the town and the blockhouses and her
guns were splitting fire and the doctor and
paymaster helping to serve the guns.
Soon afterwards white coated galloping
were seen climbing the hills to
the westward and the foot soldiers were
scurrying along the fences from the town.
BY 9:45 a. M, with the exception Of
few guerrilla shots the town was won and
the enemy driven out of It's neighborhood
The Red Cross nurses on the Lampasas
and a detachment of regulars were the first
to land from the transports.
After Lieutenant Huse had captured the
place he deployed his small forces into the
suburbs. But he was soon reinforced by
the regulars, who were followed by Co.
q of the Sixth Illinois and then by other
troops in quick succession. All the boats
of the men-of-war and transports were
used In the work of landing the troops,
each steam launch towing four or five
boats loaded to the rails with soldiers. But
everything progressed in an orderly man.
ner and according to the plans of General
Miles. The latter went ashore at about
noon, after stopping to board the Glou-
cester and thank Lieutenant-Commande
Wainwright for his gallant action.
General Miles said to the correspondent
Of the Associated Press:
"Guanca and Gina are in the cisaffected
portion of the island. Matteo, the insur-
gent leader lives at Yauco, a few miles in
land. Had we landed at Cape Juan, line
of rifle pits might have stopped our ad-
vance,
There is no doubt that General Miles
plans are being kept absolutely secret.
The spirit of the troops, men and officers,
is admirable.
Massachusetts and Illinois contingents,
which have been cooped up on board the
Yale and Rita for fortnight, will be de-
tected by the artillery before serious
advance is begun.
Guanica is the most lovely spot yet &C.
cupied by our forces. 1t is the seat of the
coffee and sugar industries, and large herds
of cattle are pasturing in the meadows,
which are bordered by cocoanut palms.
Many head of cattle and large number of
horses have been driven into the mountains
captured. Ponce Is the second city of the
island has a splendid harbor and will make
a good base of operations.
There are fifteen large coasters this af
ternoon at Quanica Bay, but only two
barges were captured. 1t is likely that
the Spanish garrison from Ponce may try
to surprise our people tonight, but 1t will
only be an affair of outposts. The town of
Ponce Is sure to fall shortly before the
combined attack of our army and navy.
The main fighting when San Juan is
reached will be along the line of the
splendid military road leading from Ponce
to San Juan. But every precauton will
be taken to lessen our casualties even to
the use of the street shields. of which
supply was brought with the expedition
The health of the troops is excellent ex-
cept among the Massachusetts, men. They
have been packed on the Yale for about 10
days, and 30 cases of typhoid fever have
developed among the soldiers. Parker. of
the Sixth Massachusetts. died on Friday
and was buried at sea.
Later in the day the Dixie spoke the dis
patch boat Of the Associated Press. 1t was
then about Q O'Clock at night and the COM
mander Of the Dixie said he had been al
most around the island of Porto Rico and
had not seen any man-of-war or transport
except the New Orleans which was blockad-
ing the port Of San Juan.
A heavy gale was blowing, causing the
dispatch boat to take nineteen hours In
making the 125 miles to St. Thomas. The
Associated Press boat Is the only dispatch
boat with the fleet.
Miles His Own Master
The war department did not ex-
pect to hear of General Miles landing near
Ponca as mentioned In newspaper dispatch
Is, but II is added that General Miles is
master of his own movements and it is
entirely conceivable that he acquired in
formation since the original plans were
formed for the campaign against Porto
Rico that led him to modify them when
they were TO be put into execution. While
the distance from Porto Rico to San Juan
Is much greater than from the point origin
ally selected for Miles landing. there is
according to the military information
charter, a splendid macadamized road
leading directly across to San Juan on
the north shore. Such a road as this, II 1t
is properly described in the archives of
the War Department. would be very little
son SO that 1t might be possible for our
troops, accompanied as they will be by
field artillery. to march across the seventy
miles between Ponce and San Juan in less
time than would have been required to