The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1898-06-12
THE FIRST INVASION,

on Guantanamo June il.. via Port An
tonic juno 1.-THE nrst invasion of cuba
by American forces began today Six
hundred marines have pitched their tents
about the smoking ruins of the outer forth
fcations OF Guantanamo and the Stars
and stripes Tor the hrst time noatcd on a
Spanish flagstan In cuba.
To captain Clark and he battle ship
oregon belong the honor OF cnectng the
ilrst successful landing of tho war. Forty
marines from the battle ship went ashore
this morning and occupied the LETT en-
trance to the bay until the Panther ar
rived with eO marines These under the
command of Lieutenant Colonel Hunting.
ton, arrived at o'clock. and within half
an hour had occupied the burned buildings
OF the Spanish, who had set IRE 20 the
village
The Marblchead, backed by tho Vixen
and Dolphin, opened fire on tho earth
works. The shores to the right Of the
entrance were lined with guns and rifle
pits. but the spanlards stampeded after
fring few shots.
The city OF Guantanamo lies four miles
up the bay and little Spanish gun boat
came down TO the Hapshore batteries.
hut she only stayed Just long enough TO
turn around. Numerous shots were fired
by the Spaniards, but none landed and no
Americans were injured.
The main fort lies within the city linz
It's and Is still to be reduced, but Il is not
u dlnlcult position and the American
ID B. t,la
utes
The Marblchead, Dolphin, Vixen and
two collers have been on the entrance OF
the harbor for several days and yesterday
morning they sailed into the channel, \
mile further up they opened IRE, sending
ATTY shots at the fortlhcatlons on the left.
The hills ON the right OF the entrance
were deserted, There are no defenses on
the right side OF the harbor, but no at
tempt was made to land until tho oregon
steamed In early In the morning, Captain
Clark Immediately sent forty marines
ashore and twenty from the Marblehead
Immediately followed, They found evi-
dence OF very hasty departure by the
| Spanlards, Watches, hammocks and am
muntlon were scattered about the earth
works and the Spanish nag was found in
ono of the rifle pits, The little detach-
ment OF marines held the place until the
Panther arrived, when they We're recalled
and the work of disembarking began.
The nrst boat load had scarcely landed
when the village burst into flames COM
pany X, under Lieutenant Han, was first
ashore and without the loss of q moment
the column started up the steep rocky
hillside to the earthworks. For an hour
the brown column OF marines filed up the
narrow path, eventually taking up a pos
slt!on at the top of the hill. As soon as
the American tlag was swung out to the
breeze from the llapstaff of the captured
| Spanish camp the oregon steamed away
to the fleet of Santiago,
The marines viii hold the position until
the arrival Of the expected troops mean
while scouting In the vicinity with the
Marblehead, tho Vixen and Dolphin lylne
by to protect them, Rear Admiral Samp-
son now has the harbor and base of sup
piles on the south side of the island, anc
troops can be landed at will.
The troopshlp Panther reached the fleet
of Santiago early today, On her way
over the Yosemite fired dozen shells into
the port Of Dalgalri, but received no re