The herald., 1898-06-12
MEN FROM THE PANTHER
QUICKLY FOLLOW IN LARGER
80" NUMBERS
GUANTANAMO is OCCUPIED
And Will Make an Admirable Base of
Supplies for the Fleet Now
or Santiago
Associated Press Special Wire


OFF GUANTANAMO, Cuba. Friday.
Copyright, 1885, by the Associated Press.
June 10, via Port Antonio Saturday, June
II, a.m.-The invasion Of Cuba by the
American forces began today. Six hun
dred marines have pitched their tents about
the smoking ruins of the outer fortifications
Of Guantanamo. and the Stars and Stripes
for the first time float on Spanish flagstaff
In Cuba.
To Captain Clark and the battleship Ore
gon belong the honor OF accomplishing the
first successful landing of the war. Forty
marines from the battleship went ashore
this morning and occupied the left entrance
of the bay until the troop ship Panther ar
rived with 800 marines. These, under the
command of Lieutenan:-Colonel E. W.
Huntington, arrived at o'c.-ck, and within
half an hour they had burned the buildings
of the Spanish camp and had set fire to the
miserable little village which crouched on
the beach under the hilltop of Guantana-
mo. The whole operation of silencng the
guns and landing the forces was as easy
as placing a Sunday school picnic. The
Narblehead, backed by the Vixen and DOL
phin, opened on the earthworks. The
shores on the right of the entrance were
lined with guns and rifle pits, but the Span
iards stampeded after firing 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 Span
iards, 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 difficult position and the
American officers say it can be taken IN
flfteen minutes when desired.
The Marblehead, Dolphin, Vixen and two
colliers have been OF the entrance of the
harbor for several days, and yesterday
morning they sailed into the channel. A
mile further up they opened fire. sending
fifty shots at the fortifcations 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 to land until the
Oregon steamed in early this morning
CAPTAIN Clark Immediately sent forty
marines ashore and twenty from the Mar
blehead followed. They found evidence Of
a very hasty departure by the Spaniards.
Watches, hammocks and ammunition were
scattered about the earthworks and Span
ish flag was found in one of the rifle pits.
The little detachment of marines held the
place until the Panther arrived when they
were recalled and the work of disembark-
ing began. The first boatload had scarcely
landed when the village burst into flames.
Company K, under Lieut.. Hall, was the first
ashore and without the loss of a moment the
column started up the steep rocky hillside
to the earthworks. For an hour a brown
column of marines filed up the narrow patch
eventually taking up position at the top
of the hill. As soon as the American flag
was swung out to the breeze from the flag
staff of the captured Spanish camp, the Ore
gon steamed away to rejoin the fleet off San
tiago. The marines will 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 landed at
will.
The troop ship Panther reached the feet
off Santiago early today.
On the way over the Yosemite fired
dozen shells into the port of Daigari but
received no response.
Guantanamo Is about forty miles east of
Santiago de Cuba and is splendid location
for base of supplies for the blockading
feet
1t is understood that the island of Cuba
is entirely cut off from cable communica-
tion with the outside world. Report here
has 1T that the cable ship Adrian cut the
cable at Santiago on Monday, and that the
same day the st. Louis cut the cable run
ming from Guantanamo to the Mole ST.
Nicholas, Hayti. She was interrupted by
shells from the shore, but the Marblehead
sent several shells at the soldiers and scat
tered them.