Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-06-24
WE GO ASHORE.
Skaters Men Land in Face
of Heavy Fire.
The Greatest Enthusiasm Prevails
Among Men on Transports.
First TO Land Heartily Chccred by impatient
Lads on Shipboard.

Copyright. 1888. by Tho Associated Press
ON Board The Associated Press Dis
patch Boat Wanda, Baiquiri Harbor,
cuba. "Wednesday, June 22-5 r. NJ
Via Kingston. ia, June %, Thursday,
t5.30 A. M.)-At 5 o'clock this after
noon. 5000 trained American soldiers
are encamped in the hill in and around
Baiquiri and 10000 more rest on their
arms on beard transports off shore
ready to join those who have debarked
as soon as the available launches and
small boats can carry them ashore.
Time ana sea and weather We're pro-
pitous for the army Of invasion. The
army and navy co-operated splendidly.
ana as the big warshlps closed in on
the shore to pave the way for the ap-
preach Of the transports and then went
back again, three cheers for the navy
went up from 10000 threats Oh The
toorshps and three cheers for The
army rose from ship after ship as the
troopships moved in To take their share
in the hazardous game. 1t was war.
and it was magnificent.
The CUBAN Insurgents, too bore their
share in the enterprise. honolably and
we'll Five thousand Of them, in noun
tain Businesses and dark thiukets Of
ravints. lay all last night on thcir
guns Watching every road and noun
tain path leading from Santiago to
Guantanamo. y thousand Of tnym were
within sight of Bai4uiri, making the
approach of the Spaniards under cover
of the darkness an imposSihlty.
At 4 o'clock this morning, as The As
ISOLATED Press dispatch boat approach
cd Eaiquiri the entire island of Cuba
seemed wrapped in soft mist, Ike that
of dog days in northern lattitudes. Dun,
leaden clouds lay on the eastern hofi-
ION and the color was reelected in the
gary waters of the ocean which gently
undulatcd in the lazy breeze. Distant
objects doomed dimly. but it was seen
that many of the troop ships that had
been lying several miles in the offing,
had drawn in towards the shore while
three or four Warships lay mcnacingly
near the harbor approach All around
tho transports, steam launches and
small boats were bohbin& about like
colks. the first indication Of the true
object of the undertaking ahead.
An hour later the sun was rising in
the eastern sky. touching the mountain
tops with patches of light green and
revealing the great smi-circle of troop
ships, some close to the coast line.
others 4 mile distance, with their decks
to begin the great movement
of destiny, to make Il new chapter in
the history Of America, the first inva-
sion by our army of a foreign country
in half century.
AS the dispatch boat of The Asso-
ciated Press ran closer, near where the
New Orleans was lying with her great
Armstrong guns trained on Baiuuiri,
tongues of lurid flame and black smoke
were seen rising from The town, the in
evitable consequence of war and sure
sign that the Spaniards had gone, leav
ing ruin behind them.
The captain of the New Orleans
shouted the news to the dispatch boat,
adding: You had better keep off a lit
tie. You are in range. They have a
rifle on the hill on the eastern side of
Baiquiri.'
There is a steep rocky hill known as
Point Raiquiri. rising almost perpen-
dicularly at the place indicated. 1t is
a veritable Gibraltar in possibilities of
defence From the staff at its sum-
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