The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-07-27

Fort Guanlca has been fully described ny
Lieutenant Whitney, of General Miles's
staff. who recently made an adventurous
tour of Porto Rico. Ponce. which is sit
uated fifteen or twenty miles from this port
is to the eastward and a harder place to
take. In addition the water at Ponce is too
shallow for the transports to get close in
shore. Then again, Ponce itself is some
little distance from where the troops would
have been able to land II that point had
been selected for the debarkation of the
expedition. One advantage of this place is
that it is situated close to the railroad con-
neetion with Ponce which means of trans
portation our troops hope to secure to-day.
Early this morning the Gloucester, in
charge of Lieutenant Commander VAIN
wright, steamed into Guanica harbor in or
der to reconnoiter the place. With the fleet
waiting outside, the gallant little fighting
yacht braved the mines which were sup,
posed to be in the harbor and found that
there were five fathoms of water close in
shore.
Guanica bay is a quiet place, surrounded
by cultivated lands. In the rear are high
mountains, and close to the beach nestles
a village of about twenty houses.
TAKEN BY SURPRISE.
The Spaniards were completely taken by
surprise. Almost the first they knew, of
the approach of the army of invasion was
in the announcement contained in the firing
of a gun from the Gloucester demanding
that the Spaniards haul down their flag
which was floating from a Flagstaff in front
of boclxhouse standing to the east of the
village. The first couple of three-pounders
We're fired into the hills right and left of
the bay, purposely avoiding the town lest
the projectiles hurt women or children. The
Gloucester then hove to within about 600
yards OF the shore and lowered a launch
having on board a Colt rapid-fire gun and
thirty men under the command of Lieut.
Huse. which was sent ashore without en-
countering opposition. Quartermaster 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 Porto Rican soil.
Suddenly about thirty Spaniards opened
fire with Mauser rifles on the American
party. Lieutenant Huse and his men re-
spohded with great gallantry. the Colt gun
doing effective work. Mormon, who received
Admiral Cervera's surrender. and Wood, a
volunteer lieutenant, shared the honors
with lieutenant Huse.
Almost Immediately after the Spaniards
fired on the Americans the Gloucester
opened fire the enemy with all her three
and six-pounders which could be brought to
bear, Smelling the town and also dropping
shells into the hills to the west of Guanica,
where number of the Spanish cavalry were
to be seen fastening towards the spot where
the Americans had landed.
Lieutenant Huse then threw up a little
fort, which he named Fort Wainwright,
...1~ 81.
of 1t, in order to repel the expect
ed cavalry attack. The lieutenant also
mounted the Colt gun and signaled for re-
Inducements. which were sent from the
Gloucester.
WAINWRIGHT INDIGNANT.
The Associated Press dispatch boat Gym
thia IL was the only boat in the harbor,
except the Gloucester. While the Mausers
were peppering all around, Lieutenant
Wainwright called to the Associated Press
correspondent and said "They fired on us
after their flag was down and ours was up
and after I had spared the town for the
sake of the women and children. The next
town / strike 1 will blow up Presently
a few of the Spanish cavalry joined those
who were lighting in the streets of Guam
lea, but the Colt barxed to a purpose kill
ing four of them.
The Gloucester in the meantime had Sc
cured the range Of the town and of the
bloekhouse and all her guns were splitting
fire, even the paymaster helping to work
the guns. Soon afterwards white-coated
galloping cavalrymen were seen climbing
the hills to the westward and the foot SOL
diers were scurrying along the fences from
The town.
BY 9:45 o'clock, with the exception of a
fov CHI ho
envy was driven out OF the neighborhood.
The Red Cross nurses and a detachment
of regulars were the first to land from the
transports.
After Lieutenant Huse had captured the
place he deployed his small force into the
suburbs. but he was soon reinforced by the
regulars, who were followed by Company
9, of the Sixth Illinois. and then by other
troops in quick succession. All of the
boats of the men-of-war and of the trans
ports 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
manner and according to the plans of Gen.
Niles. The latter went ashore at about
noon, after stopping to board the Glouces-
ter and thank Lieutenant Commander
Wainwright fer his gallant action
lsa WHY GUANICA WAS CHOSEN.
General Miles said to the correspondent
of the Associated Press: "Cuanica and
Conga are in the dsaffected portion of the
island. Matteo, the insurgent leader lives
at Yauco, few miles inland. Had we
landed at Cape San Juan line of rifle pits
might have stopped our advance" There is
no doubt that General Miles's plans are be-
ing kept absolutely secret.
The spirit of the troops, officers and men.
is admirable. The Massachusetts and Iii
nois contingents, which have been cooped
on board the Yale and Rita for a fortnight,
will be delighted to get ashore, and all will
be well protected by the artillery when the
advance is begun.
Guanica is the most lovely spot yet oc-
cupied by our forces. 1t is the seat of 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 by
their owners. Some of them will be recap
tured
Ponce is the second city of the island.
las a splendid harbor and will make good
base of operations. There are fifteen large
coasters this afternoon at Guanica bay, but
only two barges were captured
1t is likely the Spanish garrison from
Ponce may try to surprise our people to-
night. But it will only be an affair of the
outposts. The town of Ponce is sure to fall
T.