The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-06-13
TAKEN BY MARINES.
How the Stars and Stripes Were Raised at
Guantanamo.

Guantanamo, July 10.-The first land
ing in force by Americans on CUBAN son
was effected here this afternoon Inns
dispatch is written on the lulns OF the
Spanish blockhouse at Camenaras, De-
meath the folds of the Stars and STRIPES.
Five minutes ago., at 10 minutes past
2 o'clock, to be exact, Color Sergt. Rich
ard Silyey of Co. C, list battalion OF
marines of Brooklyn, N. Y, raised the
American flag among the still shoulder
ing logs of the fort.
as its folds caught the breeze, 600 men
from the troopship Panther. laid theil
carbines. picks, shovels and tent poles
aside to lift their caps and join in g
mighty shout.
These 600 men were swarming from the
beach to the blockhouse on the top Of
hill 150 feet high, just above the small
fishing village of half a dozen houses
which marked the entrance to Guanta.
namo harbor.
These houses are now mass of smoke
and flames. AS the marines landed the
torch was applied to them at the direc-
tion of their chief officers, who are taking
this, and all oJher precautions and safe
guards possible to prevent yellow fever
from breaking out among the men.
Ah oLO Jul, w HIcuCOU Vdo 2cAudlhS
of the marines, lay the cruisers Marble
head, Yankee and Yosemite, the battle
ship Oregon, the torpedo boat Porter
the Dolphin, Vixen and Panther and q
collier. The landing was effected with
out the necessity of Smelling the place,
as the way had been paved by the Yankee
and Marblehead on Tuesday, when q
Spanish gunboat was put to flight and
the blockhouse bonn barded.
The Oregon and Dolphin joined the
Marblehead and the Vixen there. About
noon the Panther, with 300 sailors and
marines on board arrived under the escort
Of the Yankee and the Yosemite All Of
the vessels entered the broad, open har-
Dor and cast anchor. The small boats of
the Panther were at once lowered and
the task of landing begun Immediately.
Without ceremony the frightened
Spaniards had fled at the sight of the
warships. At the entrance to the harbor
was the headquarters Of the pilots. Like
al Cuban harbors, this one is tortuous
and long
Guantanamo is Is miles inland, and
only the pilots homes, the cable station
and the bIookhouse are at the entrance.
These houses the marines found deserted.
The shells from the Yankee and Marble
head had demolished the cable station.
One solid shot had cut the wires on the
side of the building and another had
smashed the dry batteries and their in.
struments.
This landing is for the establishment OF
naval base for the fleet and especially
as coaling station. 1t is no place for
landing troops to operate against Santi-
ago, but will be used as q rendezvous for
the fleet and for supplies of all kinds, for
probably both army and navy.
immediately after the stars and stripes
were raised, our men got right down to
business. Tents We're put up in a
Swlnkling.. AS If by magic camp of U.
enemy country. The camp was pitched
close to the shore, on splendid solid
ground A stream of limpid water flows
right past it and into the sea. Pickets
we're Immediately posted, both outlying
and close to the camp.