Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1898-08-20
SPANISH BRUTALITY.
der Soldiers Killed Ninety Citizens
of GALES, Porto Rico,
FOR HOSTING OUR BANNER,

Had the Spaniards Been Enterprising
They Might Easily Have Adminis-
tered severe Punishment TO the First
Invaders OF Porto Rico,
Ponce, Porto Rico, Aug. is--white
flags lutter at the Spanish and Amer
lean outposts and all is quiet, The
first report Of outrages by the Span
iards within their lines was brought
to the headquarters Of General Wilson
Sunday by priest who headed depu-
tation from Gales, 20 miles northeast OF
Utuado. The inhabitants OF the place
raised the American flag after the
Spanish troops had left. The troops
returned, tore down the nag aud
macheted 80 of the inhabitants. This
occurred on Saturday. The priest ap-
pealed to the Americans cor protec-
ton, but the latter are nowerless TO
interfere in the present circumstances,
even though a reign of terror be in
augurated.
The Chester, with the First engineers,
Colonel Griffin. arrived yesterday Bat.
teries A and c. of the Pennsylvania
light artillery the Governors Troop
and Sheridan Troop disembarked from
the Manitoba and are camped on the
outskirts of the town. No disposition
of these troops has yet been decided
upon.
The Columbia sailed last night for
New York via st, Thomas and Key
West The warships Puritan. Terror,
Prairie. Gloucester Wasp, Leyden and
Annapolis will go 60 Guanica today,
and will remSn there until they re-
ceive further orders. The harbor there
is a good one.
Had the Spaniards been enterprlsing
they could have administered some Sc
we're punishment to the American In
vading forces here. For week after
the first landing was made at Guanica
we had small detached forces at vafi-
Gus little points, miles from support,
which might have been surprised and
cut to pieces or captured, had the
enemy been bold and dashing.
With but two regiments ashore
guarding our base and without cav
airy or guns, Colonel Hulings, with
two battalions of the Fourth Pennsyl-
vania advanced out on the main road
to San Juan. over which the Spaniards
retreated, and established two COM
panies at Juana Diaz. eight miles away,
Six companies were held In reserve in
the rear OF the town.
Considering the force at his COM
mand, Colonel Hulings disposed his
men admirably. but the Spaniards, who
at first considerably outnumbered Colo
mel Hulings force, could at any time
have nanked him. The broad fields
which stretch away on each side of
the military road are covered with
growing sugar cane from six TO ten
feet high. and would afford shelter
to an army corps. But the Spaniards
did not attempt to modest the small In
vading force, although they must have
had plenty of information regarding
our location and numbers. They did
not even attempt TO waylay the little
detachments which Colonel Hulings
sent out on the various roads for re-
connoitering purposes. Occasionally
these accommodating parties would run
into a Spanish outpost and retire. but
the next day. when reconnaissance
In force would reach the spot. the
Spaniards would have disappeared.
Evidences were continually found be-
tween Juan DiaZ and Coamo, IA miles
beyond, Of contemplated resistance
which had been abandoned at the sight
Of our uniforms Bridges were found
ready for mining. trenches We're begun
and abandoned. The Spaniard seems
to fight best when his back Is against
the wall.