Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1898-07-30

WlbntH n YOURS.
The ships left Guantanamo Bay
suddenly on Thursday evening, with
the Massachusetts, commanded by
Captain f. j. Higginson, leading.
Captain Higginson was in charge Of
the naval expedition, which consisted
Of the Columbia, Dixie, Gloucester
and Yale. General Miles was on
boarj, the last Lamed vessel. The
troops were on board the transports
Nueces, Lampasas, Comanche, Rita,
Unionist, Saltwater, City of Macon
and Specialist. This was The order
in which the transports entered the
harbor here.
Miles Changes Bis Plans.
At noon yesterday General Miles
called for consultation announcing
that he was determined not to go to
San Juan Cape, but by the Mona
passage instead, land here, surprise
the Spaniards and deceive their mil
itary authorities. The course was
then changed, and the Dixie was
sent to warn General Brooke at Cape
San Juan.
One advantage of this place is
that it is situated close to the rail-
road connection with Ponse, which
means of transportation our troops
hope to secure today.
Spaniards Taken by Surprise. :
The Spaniards were completely
taken by surprise. Almost the first
they knew of the approach of the.
army of invasion was in the an
nouncement contained in the firing!
of the gun from The Gloucester, des
handing that the Spaniards haul
down their flag, which was floating
from flagstaff in front of a block
house standing to the east of the vii
lage. The first couple of three-pound-
ers were fired into the hills right and
left by the bay, purposely avoiding
the town lest the projectiles hurt
women and childr en-. The Glouces.
ter then hove to within about 600
yards of the shore and lowered a
| launch, having on board Colt rapid
fire gun and thirty men, under the
command of Lieutenant Huse, which
was sent ashore without encounter.
ing opposition.
Quartermaster Beck thereupon
told Yoeman Lacy to haul down the
Spanish flag, which was done, and
they then raised ON the flagstaff the
first United States flag to foa. oyer
Porto Rican soil.
Suddenly about 80 Spaniards
opened fire with Mauser rifles on the
American party. Lieutenant Huse
and his men responded with great
gallantry, the Colt gun doing effec-
tive work. Norman, who received
Admiral Cervera's surrender, and
Wood, volunteer lieutenant, shared
the honors with Lieutenant Huse.
Almost Immediately after the
Spaniards fred on the Americans,
the Gloucester opened fire on the
enemy with all her three and six
Founders which could be brought to
bear, shelling the town and also
dropping shells into the hills TO the
west of Guanica, where number of
Spanish cavalry were seen Fastening
toward the spot where the Ameri-
cans had landed.
Sent for Reinforcements.
Lieutenant Huse then threw up a
little fort, which be named Fort
Wainwright. The lieutenant also
mounted the Colt gun and signalled
for achievements, which were sent
from the Gloucester. The Asso-
ciated Press dispatch boat Cynthia
II was the only boat in the hatbor
except the Gloucester.
While the Mausers were pepper
ing all around, Lieutenant Com
mander Wainwright called to the
Associated Press correspondent and
said:
"They fred on US after their Gag
vas down and ours up, and after |
had spared the town for the sake of
the women and the children. The
next town / strike | will blow up.'
Presently a few of the Spanish
cavalry joined those who were fight
ing in the street of Guanica, but the
Colt barked to a purpose killing four
of them.
By that time the G loucester had
the range of the town and Of the
blockhouse, and all her guns vera
| splitting fire, the doctor and the
paymaster helping to serve the
| guns.
Soon afterward white-coated cav
alrymen were seen climbing the
hills to the westward, and the foot
soldiers were seurrying along the
fences from he town. s.
By 9.45 .th the exception of a
few que shots. the town was
won aid he enemy driven out of
the neighborhood.
The Red Cross nurses on the
Lampasas and detachment of regu.
lars were the first to land from the
transports.
Successful Landing of Troops.
4 fter Lieutenant Huse had cap
tured the place he deployed his
small force into the suburbs. But
he was soon reinforced by the regu.
lars, who were followed by Company
G, of the Sixth Illinois, and then by
other troops in quick succession.
All the boats OF the men-of-war and
the transports were used in the
work of landing the troops, each
steam launch towing four or five
boats loaded to the rails with SOL
diers. But everything pro-
crossed in an orderly manner
and according to the plans of Gen
eral Miles. The latter went ashore
/ at about noon, after stopping to
board the Gloucester and thank
Lieutenant Commander Wainwright
for his gallant action.
! General Miles said to the CORE
spondent of the Associated Press:
"Guaniea and Cinga are in the dis
affected portion of the island. Mat
teo, the insurgent leader, lives at
Yauco, a few miles inland. Had we
landed at Cape San Juan line of
rifle rife pits might have stopped
| onr ad vapoa ~