The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-06-16
Enemy Was Utterly Routed, With Loss Of Forty
Killed
AMERICANS DESTROYED THEIR CAMP
AND ONLY SOURCE OF WATER SJIppT Y
MARINES at Guantanamo Reinforced BY $500 Cubans and
Are Now In Strong Position.

Copyright. 1898. by the Associated Press.
United States Camp, East side O.
Guantanamo Bay, Tuesday, June Il,
D. m Cby the Associated Press Dis
patch Boat Wanda, via Kingston, ia
maica. Wednesday, June Is, 1890 p
m,)-The United States marines, under
Lieutenant Colonel Robert w. Hunt
lngton. made their first aggressive
movement against the Spanish guer-
1llas today and completely routed the
enemy. The force of marines was un-
der Captain Elliott, and the cooper
ating Cubans were under Colonel La
borda. The combined forces RACED a
Spanish camp about five miles from
the American position, destroying the
only well in the vicinity and killing
about 40 Spaniards. One American ma
rlne was slightly wounded Two Gu
bans were killed and four wounded.
1t IS impossible to estimate the mum
Der OF Spaniards engaged. owing to the
guerilla methods of fighting but it is
believed there were at least 400
The marines behaved splendidly.
their craftsmanship being excellent.
even under the severe fire of the enemy.
The captured camp lies about five
miles southeast Of the rifle pits of the
marines. and was an important base
for the enemy, as it contained the only
we'll within six or seven miles. Lieu
tenant Colonel Huntington decided on
the attack early in the day, and about
) O'Clock the force started across the
mountain.
The march up and down the steep
hillside under the glazing tropical sun
was a severe test of endurance for the
marines and hafOra ho 4
was reached p men had received med
zeal attention. All were able however
TO reach the position before the fight
ing ceased. The marines were COM
PEELED to march in single file. follow
ing the mountain trail. Meanwhile the
Cubans darted backward and forward.
TO right and left, on the scout.
II was noon when, from a hilltop,
the Americans caught sight of the
Spanish camp on a ridge below them
1t consisted Of one large house-the
officers quarters surrounded by nu-
merous ''shacks" and houses, all clus-
tering about the precious we'll
IN LINE OF BATTLE.
The Americans began a cautious ad-
vance, and were within 200 yards of
the enemy before the crack of a rifle
from the Spanish lines announced that
the Spaniards had discovered them.
battle, with the Cubans on the left
flank. The enemy's bullets were whirl-
ing viciOUSly over the Americans, but
the marines settled down to their work
as uncOncernedly as though at target
practice. Very few Spaniards were in
sight They were laying behind the
nuts and the brush, but the puffs of
smoke revealed their positions and en-
abled the Americans to do effective
work.
For 20 minutes both sides maintained
terrific fire. The Spanish shots We're
generally wild and spasmodic while the
Am orleans fired away, aiming carefully
and shooting to kill. For the most part
the American firing was done individ-
ually, but at times the officers would
direct firing by squads, always with
telling effect.
It was beginning to look as though
bayonet charge down the slope would
be necessary TO dislodge the enemy.
when suddenly the latter began TO
break for d thicket a hundred wards
further on. Little groups could be seen
fleeing from the camp. separating dart
ing through the brush and ZigZa gging
to escape the shots.
A DEADLY FIRE.
became most deadly. Man after man
was seen to fall in d vain rush for shell
ter, and the fire from the Spanish be-
came scattered and almost ceased.
Two Cubans lay dead and four
wounded, and Private Walker, of COM
pany D, had to limp to the rear with a
slight wound IN his ankle.
The easy victory put the command in
high spirits. The little black Cuban
warriors waved their machetes and |
howled curses at the Spanish in savage
fashion. Their firing had been wild /
throughout, but they all displayed the /
utmost contempt for the Spanish bull /
lets, apparently being absolutely with
out fear.
As the enemy began breaking camp, I
the Dolphin, which lay out at sea, was !
signaled, and began pitching shells to- /
ward the thiclSet for which the Spas I
iards were making.
Meanwhile, Lieutenant Magiu was
seen coming with 20 men as reinforce I
ments, and Captain Mahoney was on [
the way with a hundred more, but be-
fore either could reach the scene the /
trouble was over.
As the Spanish retreated the Ameri-
cans moved slowly forward, firing as
they went, and by the time the camp
was reached the enemy had all gone
away, taking their wounded, and prob
ably many of their dead. Fifteen bodies
were found scattered through the
brush. but the Americans were unable
TO examine the spot where their firing
had been most deadly. No time was
lost in burning the building and filing
the well with earth and stones.
The Dolphin landed water and ammu-
milton, as an attack was expected on
the return march. but nole was made
the Spaniards were too thor
lughly beaten to attempt further fight
ng. The marines did not reach the
American camp until after nightfau
and as they had been without food
since the early morning, they were
thoroughly exhausted.
Colonel Huntington believes the de-
struetion Of the camp and well viii ser
ously cripple the bushwhaekinS oper-
atoms of the enemy.
DYNAMITE GUNS USED.
Off Santiago de Cuba, on Monday
wight, the dynamite guns Of the We
'ayius were tested with great SUCCESS.