The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1898-06-15
PROGRESS OF THE WAR.

1O.-The invasion of Cuba by the
American forces began to-day. Six
hundred marines have pitched their
tents about the smoking ruins of the
outer Notifications of Guantanamo
and the stars and stripes for the first
time float from Spanish flagstaff in
Cuba.
To Capt. Clarke and the battleship
Oregon belong the honor Of accom-
! plishing the first successful landing Of
the war. Forty marines from the
battleship went ashore this morning
and occupied the left entrance of the
bay until the troopship Panther ar
rived with 800 marines. These, under
command of Lieut.. Col. r. W. Hunt
ipgton, arrived at clock and within
half an hour they had burned the
buildings Of the Spanish camp and
had set fire to the miserable little viii
lage which crouched on the beach
under the hilltop of Guantanamo.
Mcle St. Nicholas, June II, 8 p. m.
Hunting on marines were contin-
uously engaged for thirteen hours
until 3 o'clock Sunday afternoon,
fighting Spaniards, Guerillas and reg
ulars at entrance of Guantanamo har-
Dor. Americans finally landed rein
forcements. Spanish loss believed to
be heavy. We lost four killed and
one wounded. Our advance pickets
unaccounted for. Among our dead is
assistant surgeon John Blair Gibbs,
,ome Richmond, lately practicing in
New York City.
Cape Haytien, June 12, 1870 p. m.
Eight thousand Americans, accord
ing to a private dispatch from Port
Prince, have landed very near
Santiago de Cuba.
The United States auxiliary cruiser
St. Louis arrived at Mole St. Nicho-
las to-day.
Washington, June 12.-Under COM
mand of Major Gen. Shafter, the first
division of the United States army
will sail tonight from Key West for
Santiago de Cuba to besiege and cap
ture that town. The army transports,
80 in number, left Port Tampa yester-
day and are now at Key West.
The conveying warships, believed
to number between 16 and 10, will be
ready for the voyage by nightfall, and
with this powerful force there is no
longer reason for apprehension that
the transports can he attacked success
fully by any Spanish warships, even
if such should have escaped the vigi-
liant search of the naval commanders
at Key West and off Havana.
1t is believed here that the sally
out of Havana of the three Spanish
gunboats was intended to create the
| impression that they were prepared to
| 90 out to attack the transports. II
so, the plan miscarried for the crafts
were detected Immediately by Commo-
| dore Watson's cruisers and driven
back pell NELL into Hevana harbor
under the protection of the guns Of
the shore batteries. Even if these
boats had escaped they could have
done no damage, for the size Of the
| convoy furnished for the troopship is
| sufficient to warrant belief that they
would have been speedily destroyed
should they have had the courage to
make an attack upon the feet of
American ships. The Spanish gun
boats are not Of formidable character,
not one of them being the equal in
power to the smallest of the American
cruisers, or even of such gunboats as
the little Bancroft, which may be
used as Gen. Shafter's S flagship.
Every precaution has been taken by
the government to ensure the safety
of the troops en- route to Cuba. The
naval war board was in session to day
making the final preparations for the
disposition of the guard ships. The
transports will DE kept as closely to-
gether as safe navigation will permit
and the warships will be disposed
ahead. astern and on either flank.
The Aeetest scouting vessels will be
thrown far out in advance of the
transports, and in order to ensure
against an attack from the rear some
of the vessels, such as the St. Louis,
perhaps, will linger far astern ready to
signal the heavy armed cruisers at the
first sign of an approaching foe. The
stately battleship Indiana, it is ex,
pected. will lead the procession OF
ships, which will be the most numer-
GUS gathered in American waters since
the civil war.
The troops should arrive off Santl-
ago by Wednesday night, supposing
the feet proceeds at eight knots speed,
and landing operations should begin
by Thursday, for Gen. Shafter will
not keep his men cooped on shipboard
a moment longer than necessary. 1t
is not believed that thOy will be land
ed ct Caimanera, the point on Guam
tauamo bay where the American flag
now flies over the head of Sampson 8
mariues, as that place, while well
adapted to serve as naval base, and
as harbor of refuge for the American
warships, is not particularly we'll
suited for the beginning OF military
operations.
In ten days time, unless unforeseen
Obstacles are encountered, the move
ment upon Porto Rico will begin.
The war department has been in
close communication by telegraph
with Gen. Miles at Tampa, and all the
necessary instructions have been given
~ l; roooro1 FOR the