The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-07-27
Not One American Injured and the Troops
in Good Health and Spirits.
War Department Surprised at Change in Place of De-
barkation--Message from Mles-Details
of the Gloucesters Bombardment.

WASHINGTON, 5uly 26.--while no off,
cial dispatches were received from General
Miles before closing hours to-day. the War
Department learned through the Associated
Press, that the general had effected a land
ing on the southwestern coast Of Porto
Rico-at Guanica--without injury to any of
his force The landing of the invaders
was covered by the auxiliary gunboat Glou-
cester, which did such good work at Santi-
ago in sinking the Spanish destroyers of
Cervera's fleet. Four Spaniards were killed
at Guanica by the Gloucester's fire. 1t was
not until late tonight that Secretary Alger
heard from General Miles direct. At 1880
D. m the War Department posted the fol-
lowing, dated ST. Thomas, July 26. 9:S5
D. M, signed by General Miles:
circumstances were such that
1 deemed it advisable to take the
harbor of Guanica first, fifteen
miles west of Ponce, which was
successfully accomplished between
daylight and II o'clock (yester-
day.) The Spaniards were sur
prised. The Gloucester, Com
mander Wainwright, first entered
the harbor, met with slight resist
ance, and fired a few shots. All
the transports are now in the har-
Dor, and infantry and artillery rap
idly going ashore. This is a we'll
protected harbor. Water suffici-
emily deep for all transports and
heavy vessels to anchor within two
hundred yards of shore. The
Spanish flag was lowered, and the
American flag raised at IL o'clock
to-day (Monday.) Captain Hig-
ginson, with his fleet, has rendered
abe and earnest assistance. Troops
in good health and best spirits.
No casualties"
WAR OFFICIALS SURPRISED.
AS previously stated, the War Department
was without news from General Miles all
day. The official dispatch merely confirmed
the press report. The news of the landing
at Guanica came as a genuine surprise to
Secretary Alger. 1t had all been carefully
planned that General Miles was to make his
landing at another point as remote as possi-
BILE from the place where he actually landed,
so there was little wonder that the War De-
partment officials received the first news
went to the length of supposing that the
story had been put afloat in order to dis
tract attention from the point which had
been selected. Just why General Miles made
this wide departure from the plans of the
department is not known, but it is supposed
that he had gathered some information
since he left Siboney that induced him to
make the change. The result, however. has
been to perplex the department officials
deeply and to considerably derange their
carefully prepared programme for the re-
mafnder of the expedition. 1t will now be
necessary to intercept the sections of the
expedition already at sea heading for GER
tain selected points on the coast of Porto
Rico and to advise them of the change in
the plans.
1t is another exhibition of the reliance
placed by the government in the dispatches
of the Associated Press that it proceeded
to act at once in the direction indicated
and to take steps to notify the sections
afoat without waiting for news from Gen.
Miles himself. The only approach to an off,
cial communication on the subject during
the day came from St. Thomas. and was
hardly more comprehensive than the brief
statement received last night by the news
papers, merely announcing that the report
had come to St. Thomas that the American
troops were landing. but without naming
the place Of debarkation.
WILSON'S BRIGADE.
General Wilson's brigade is now approach
ing the island, being due there to-day or
tomorrow, and reinforcements will follow
at intervals of one or two days until the
whole force of thirty thousand men is land
ed. unless events connected with the peace
negotiations make it expedient to stop
further movements However, it is a mat
ter for congratulation to the War Depart
ment that General Miles has managed to
set foot on Porto Rico before the first over
lures for peace and thus TO place the island
in the same position as Cuba and the