Abilene weekly reflector., 1898-08-04
PORTO RICANS GLAD
Inhabitants Of Juan Diaz Greet
American Troops with Delight.
LOOTINC BY SPAyIlRDS CONTINUES.
Gen. Brooke Arrives at Ponce with the
Troops on the Bt Louisa msrican
Troops Reach Coama-Cabis
Communication Opened.

Ponce, Porto Rico, Aug. AIN spit
OF the brave words Of the pronuncis
mento Of Capt Gen. Macias, Spanisl
power In Porto Rico is rapidly crum
bling. Mr.. P. c. Hanna, United Statei
consul at San Juan until war was de-
clared, gives the Associated press the
following text Of dispatch received
BY him from Spanish official In the
northern part Of the island: Resist.
snce is impossible The volunteers
have refused to march and we have no
ammunition. Mr.. Hanna has all along
insisted that the native Porto Ricans
were eager for change from Spanish
to American rule, and that the only
danger In the island was from the
Spanish regulars under the direct COM
mand OF the captain general.
Gen. Miles has not yet directed
general forward movement in advance
OF the arrival Of the main body OF the
troops. Col. Hulings is still at the
front and has occupied Juan Diaz the
first important town on the road to
San Juan. The inhabitants, crazy
with delight, met the troops with
home made American flags
Pickets have been thrown out to feel
for the enemy. Deserters from v0lun-
teers who are coming in constantly
report that there is small force OF
Spanish regulars at Coamo, midway
between Juan Diaz and Aibonto, on
the road to San Juan. They also
Say that Gen. Otega is on the way with
reinforcements and that the main body
OF regulars is concentrating in Aibon-
ito. A small skirmish recently oc-
Cured at Fortuna, between a few reg.
ulars who were foraging and the resi-
dents of the village. Yesterday 1850
volunteers, including Is officers, signed
the parole.
There is no reason to change the
opinion that II any stand is made be.
fore San Juan Is reached II will be at
Aibonito, where the mountain pass
gives the enemy great opportunity.
AT Guayamo, ~ miles east of Ponce,
200 Spanish regulars, under instruc-
tions from the captain general seized
the funds Of the town. The residents
resisted and Gen. Miles was appealed
to for help. He has advised q naval
demonstration in front Of the town.
Troops may be sent II the reported
presence Of the Spanish regulars is
confirmed, Tales OF looting and out.
raging continue, the reports covering
numerous small towns in the province
Of Ponce.
Mr.. Hanna is busy in assisting to
adjust local conditions to the new
state OF affairs He is endeavorinp to
establish American post offices in all
the important centers of occupied ter
ritory, and he has frequent intervie ws
with merchants and bankers on the
question of money premium, an awk-
ward question that is giving the Amer.
lean and local fnanciers much trouble.
The arrival of Gen. Brooke, with the
troops on board the auxiliary cruiser
81 Louis, is highly gratifying to Gen.
Miles, who says that positively moth.
ing is to be done prematurely.
The American troops have reached
Joamo, about 10 miles northeast of
Ponce, on the road to San Juan. Thus
'ar they have met with no resistance.
Cable communication has been s
opened, but the line will not be in full
'peration for several days.