The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-07-27

Landing of Gen. Miles Expedition
Accomplished without "a Casual
ty ON the American Side-SoI-
diers Detailed to Capture the
Railroad Leading to Ponce, Ten
Miles Distant From Guanica--
Gen. BrOOke's Troops Expected
to Arrive Within Twenty-Four
HOurs-Troops at Gunnica Pre-
pared for a Night Attack From
Ponce.
copyrighted by the Associated Press.
PORT OF GUANICA, Island Of Porto
Rico, July Is (via the Island of St.
THOMAS. D. w. L.; July 26).-The Amer
lean forces, under Gen. Nelson A. Miles,
nave had a warm skirmish in effecting
landing here today. Thirty of the
Gloucester's crew engaged and routed
body of Spanish troops, killing four
and sustaining no losses. The troops
are under orders to destroy the rail-
road leading to Ponce, about ten miles
east of this place.
FROM Ponce there is an excellent mil
ltary road running eighty-fi miles
north to San Juan.
The whole of Gen. Brooke's force,
with the New Orleans, Annapolis. Gin
cinnati, Lfyden and Wasp, are expect
ed here within twenty-four hours. The
ships left, Guantanamo bay suddenly
on Sunday evening, with the Massa-
chusetts, commanded by Capt F. J.
Higginson,, leading. Capt. Higginson
was in charge of the naval expedition,
Which consisted of the Columbia, Dix
lie, Gloucester and Yale. Gen. Miles
went on board the last named vessel.
The troops were on board the trans
ports Nueces, LampasaS, Comanche,
Rita, Unionist, Saltwater, City of Ma
con and Specialist. This was the or
der in which the transports entered the
harbor here.
The voyage from Guantanamo bay to
this port was uneventful. At noon
yesterday Gen. Miles called for con-
sultation, announcing that he was de-
termined not to go by San Juan cape,
but by the Mona passage instead;
land here, surprise the Spaniards and
deceive their military authorities. The
course was then changed, and the Dix
lie was sent to warn Gen. Brooke at
San Juan.
Port Guanica has been fully de-
scribed by Lieut.. Whitney, of Gen.
Miles staff, who recently made an ad-
venturous tour of Porto Rico.
Ponce, which is situated ten or fif-
n
eastward, and a harder place to take
In addition, the water at Ponce is too
shallow for, the transports to be able
to go close, in shore. Then, again,
Ponce itself is some little distance from
where the troops would have been able
to land if 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 connec-
ton with Ponce, which means Of trans
portation our troops hope to secure to-
day.
Early this morning the Gloucester, in
charge of Lieutenant Commander
Wainwright, steamed into Guanica har-
Dor 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 haebor, and found that there were
five fathoms of water close in shore.
Guanica bay is a quiet place, sur
rounded by cultivated lands. In the
rear are high mountains, and close to
the beach nestles a village of about
twenty houses.
SPANIARDS SURPRISED.
The Spaniards were completely TAX
en- by surprise. Almost the first they
knew of the approach of the army Of
invasion was in the announcement con-
tanned in the firing Of a gun from the
Gloucester, demanding that the Span
iards haul down their flag, which was
floating from a. flagstaff in front Of a
block house. standing to the east of
the village The first couple Of three
Founders were fired into the hills, right
and left of the bay, purposely avoiding
the town, lest the projectileS hurt wom-
en- or children. The Gloucester then
hove to-, within about 600 yards Of the
shore, and lowered a launch, having
on board Colt rapid-fire gun and
thirty men, under the command of
Lieut.. Huse, which was sent ashore
without encountering opposition.
Ouartermaster Beck thereupon told
Woman Lacy to haul down the Span
ish 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. Lieut.. Huse and his
men responded with great CALAMITY,
the Colt gun doing effective work.
Normen, who received Cervera's sur
render, and Wood, a volunteer lieuten-
ant, shared the honors with Lieut.
Huse.
Almost Immediately after the Span
iards fired on the Americans the Glou-
cester opened fire on 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 a
number of Spanish cavalry were to be
seen Mastering toward the spot where
the Americans had landed.
Lieut.. Huse then threw I'D a little
fort, which he named Fort VAIN
wright. and laid barbed wire in the
street in front ofstt to repel the expect-