The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-07-27

Copyright 1895 by Associated Press.
Port of Guanica. island of Porto Rico.
July %, y. m, via st. Thomas, July
26 morning-The United States mill
tary expedition under the command of
Major General Miles, commanding the
army of the United States which left
Guantanamo bay during the evening OF
Thursday last. July 81. was landed here
successfully to-day, after a skirmish
between a detachment of the Spanish
troops and a crew of 80 belonging TO the
launch of the United States auxiliary
gunboat Gloucester. Forty 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 10 miles east OF this place.
From Ponce there is an excellent mill
itary road running so miles north TO San
Juan. The whole OF General Brooke's
force, with the New Orleans. Annapo-
lis. Cincinnati. Leyden and Wasp were
expected within "a hours. The ships
left Guantanamo bay on Thursday
evening. with the Massachusetts troops.
commanded by Captain F. ]. Higginson,
leading. Captain Higginson was in
charge of the expedition, which con-
sisted of the Columbia. Dixie, Glouces-
ter and Yale.
General Miles was on the last named
vessel The troops were on board the
transports Neuces. Lampasas, CO.
manche, Rita. Unionist, saltwater. City
OF Macon and Specialist. This was the
order in which the transports entered
the haTbor here
The voyage from Guantanamo bay
to this port was uneventful. At noon
yesterday General Miles called for a
consultation. announcing that he was
determined not to go by san Juan cape.
but by the Mona passage instead, of
landing here, surprise the Spaniards
and deceive their military authorities.
The course was then changed and the
Dixie was sent to warn General Brooke
at Cape Juan. Port Guanica has been
fully described by Lieutenant Whitney
of General Miles staff. who recently
made an adventurous tour of Porto
Rico.
Ponce. which is situated 10 or Is 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 be able to get close in
shore. Then again Ponce itself is some
little distance from where the troops
would have been able to land IL that
point had been selected for the debark-
alton of the expedition. One advan-
take Of this place is that IL is situated
close to the railroad connection with
Ponce, which means of transportation
our troops hope to secure to-day.
Early this morning the Gloucester. in
charge of Lieutenant Commander
Wainwright steamed into Guanica
harbor in order TO reconnoiter the place.
With the fleet waiting outside, the gal
liant little fighting yacht braved the
mines which were supposed to be in
the harbor and found that there were
five fathoms OF water close In shore.
Guanica is a place surrounded by cul-
tivated lands. In the rear are high
mountains and on the beach nestles a
village of about 20 houses. The Span
iards were completely taken by sur
| prise. 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
I down their flag. which was floating
/ from a Flagstaff in front OF a block
house standing 10 the east of the viii
/ lage. The first couple Of three-pounders
| were 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
1 10. within about 500 yards OF the shore.
/ and lowered a launch having on board
/ a Colt rapid fire gun and so men under
/ Lieutenant Huse. who was sent ashore
I without encountsring opposition. Quar-
/ teTmaster Beck thereupUu told feoman
/ Lacey 10 haul down the Spanish flag
/ which was done. and they then raised
/ on the fiagstaff the first United States
/ nag to float over Porto Rican soil.
/ Suddenly about 80 Spaniards opened
/ fire with Mauser rides on the American
/ party Lieutenant Huse and his men
I responded with great gallantry. the
/ Colt gun doing great work Almost inn
| mediately after the Americans were
| fired on the Gloucester opened FIRE on
! the enemy with all her and 6-pound-
| ers which could be brought 10 bear,
! shelliug the town and also dropping
| shells into the hills west of Guanica,
| where a number of Spanish cavalry