The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1898-07-27
POUNCfD ON PONCE
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military expedition under the command of
Maj. Gen. Nelson A. Miles, commanding
the army Of the United States, which left
Guantanamo bay during the evening of
Thursday last July 2, was landed here
successfully today.
The landing was preceded by skirmish
between a detachment of the Spanish
troops and a crew Of thirteen belonging 10
the launch OF the United States auxiliary
Gunboat Gloucester, formerly j. Perpont
Morgan's yacht Corsair.
Forty Spaniards were killed and no Amer
leans were hurt.
The troops were pushed forward prompt
ly IN order to capture the railroad leading
to Ponce. which is only about ten miles east
Of this place.
From Ponce there Is an excellent military
road running eighty miles north to San
Juan. The whole of Gen. Brooke's force,
with the New Orleans, Annapolis, Cincln-
natl, Leyden and Wasp. are expected here
within twentyfour hours.
The ships left Guantanamo bay sudden
ly on Thursday evening with the Massa-
chusetts, commanded by Capt. Higginson,
leading. Capt Hgginson was In charge
of the expedition, which consisted Of the
Columbia, Dixie, Gloucester and Yale.
Gen. Miles was on the last named vessel.
The troops were on board the transports
Neuces, Lampasas, Comanche, Rita, Union
saltwater. City of Macon and Specialist.
This was the order in which the transports
entered the harbor here.
The voyage from Guantanamo bay to
this port was uneventful.
Details of the Landing
At noon yesterday General Miles called
for consultation, announcing that he was
determined not to go by San Juan Cape
but by the Monana Passage instead, land
there, 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 Guancia has been fully described by
Lieutenant Whitney of General Miles
staff, who recently made an adventurous
tour of Porto Rico. Ponce, which is stu
ated ten or fifteen miles from this port, IS
to the eastward and harder place to take.
In addit on, the water at Ponce Is too
shallow for the transports 10 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 if that point
had been selected for debarkation Of the
expedition.
One advantage Of this place is that It Is
situated close to the railroad connection
with Ponce which means of transportation
our troops hope to secure today.
Early this morning. the Gloucester, in
charge Of Lieutenant-Command VAIN
right, steamed into Guanica harbor IN order
to reconnoiter the place. With the fleet
waiting outside the gallant little fighting
yacht braved the mines which were sup
posed to be in the harbor and found that
there were five fathoms Of water close in
shore.
Guanica Is surrounded by cultivated
lands. In the rear are high mountains and
on the beach nesties a village of about
twenty houses. The Spaniards were COM
pletely taken by surprise. Almost the first
they knew of the approach of the army of
invasion was in the announcement contain
Ell In the firing of gun from the Glouces-
ter. demanding that the Spaniards haul
down their flag which was floating from
a flagstaff in front of the block-hou
standing to the east of the village. The
first couple of three Founders were fired
into the hills right and left of the bay, pur-
posely avoiding the town lest the projectiles
hurt women and children. The Gloucester
then hove to within about six hundred
yards of the shore and lowered q launch,
having on board Colt rapid-fre gun and
| of
Huse, who was sent ashore without en-
countering opposition.
Quartermaster Beck thereupon told Yeo-
man Lacey to haul down the Spanish 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. Lieutenant Huse and his men re-
sponded with great gallantry. the Colt
gun doing effective work. Normen, who
received Cervera's surrender, and Wood
| q volunteer lieutenant. shared the honors
with Lieutenant Huse.
Almost Immediately after tho Americans
were fired on the Gloucester opened IRE on
the enemy with all her three and six
FOUNDERS which could be brought to bear
Smelling the town and also dropping shells
into the hills 10 the west Of Guanica, where
a number of Spanish cavalry were to be
seen fastening toward the place where the
Americans had landed.
Lieut.. Huse then threw UP little fort
which he named Fort Wainwright, and
laid barbed wire in the street in front of II
in order to repel the expected cavalry at
tack. The lieutenant also mounted the
Colt gun and signaled for reinforcements
which were sent from the Gloucester. The
Associated Press Dispatch boat Cynthia II