Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-06-13

The troop ship Panther reached tbs
fleet off Santiago early today.
ON her way over the Yosemite fired
a dozen shells into the port Of Daigairc
G;aiquiri?), but received no response
| Guantanamo is but 40 miles east Of
Santiago dc Cuba, and is o splendid
location for a base Of supplies for the
blockading feet.
| Ii is understood that the island of
Cuba is now entirely cut off from cable
communication with the outside world.
Report here has it that the cable ship
| Adria cut the cable at Santiago de
Cuba on Monday. and that the same
day the St. Louis cut the cable running
| from Guantanamo to the Mole st.
| Nicholas. Hayti. She was interrupted
in the work by shells from the shore,
but the Marblchcad sent several shells
at tho soldiers and scattered them.
on Board Dispatch Boat off Guam
tanamn. via Mole ST. Nicholas June H.
Eight hundred and fifty American
marines landed on the eastern side Of
the harbor Of Guantanamo, 40 miles east
Of Santiago. yesterday, under the guns
OF the battleship oregon. Marblehead
and Yosemite.
They raised old Glory over the ruins
% bloekhouse ana cable station,
whence u regiment of Spanish troops
had been driven by the well-directed
tire of our ships. and their tents are
now pitched upon the camping ground
IF the enemy.
The landing was begun at o'clock in
the afternoon. The huts Of the Span
ish On the beach were burned for SAM
tary reasons. Not one Of our men was
injured The Spaniards fled like sheep
soon after our fire opened.
The Marblehead, Dolphin and Vixen
with the Golfers Sterling and Kingston,
had lain of the entrance Of the harbor
several days. This morning they were
! joined by the Oregon. Steamng into
the harbor for mile they opened fire
on the earthworks The shores We're
lined With the guns and rifle pits of this
! Spaniards \ small gunboat ran down
from the city Of Guantanamo. four
miles up the bay. TO aid the batteries,
but sho did not stay long Scarcely
had she arrived within range before
She turned ana lied back to the city
without firing a shot.
Tie hills back Of the blockhouse and
the earthworks were deserted, and
there were no defcnces on the opposite
side IL the harbor- Fifty shots were
fired by our warships at the fortified
tions. The cable station ana block
house were knocked into ruins by SIX
inch shells,
The spaniarls fired a few shots, and
then fed in rout. Not one OF their
shots landed.
Forty marines from the Oregon and -
from the Marhlchead were then landed,
They took possession OF the lcftnccs and
neld them without resistance awaiting
thc arrival OF thc Panther with d stronger
force of marines. They found the earth
works ana ground about the scene Of con
tjct strewu with machetes, hammoells
ana ammunition. which had been aban-
donld by the enemy in his paH(tt. \ Span
ish flag was found in ,Jnn OF the rifle pits
The Panther. which had left Santiago
in Thy anorninG. arrived soon after thl
r!tarue5 of the oregon ana Marblehead
| landed. On her Way 10 Guantanamo sht
had shtlIed at Duiquiri. it is saba block
house 70 miles east Of Santiago. The
spanish made no reply. ON her arrival
in Guantanamo harhor the small landing
party was recalled, The marines on the
Panther disembarllcd in whale boats and
were lowed ashore by launches.
The marines were commanded by
Lieut.. Gel. Huntington. The first com
pany ashore was co. +, led by Lieut.
Hail. Hardly had it landed when flames
burst from the nuts struggling along the
beach.
Immediately the marines began by
narrow pathway the ascent of the heights
overlooking the bay. For an hour the
| brown column of soldiers poured up the
hills soizing the crest and establishing i
fortified camp that the Spaniards might
not take possession of the elevated
ground and command the situation Will
artillery.
When the American flag was floatet
| from the staff of the captured camp, {
great cheer arose from the soldiers OF
land and the iackios on the ships. There
are said to he 5000 Spanish troops five
| miles away on the opposite side of the
harbor, and the main fertilization OF
Guantanamo, fort within the city lin
its. remains to be taken. The American
officers say it can be reduced in Il min
utes If desired.
Fer the purpose of the expedition the
reduction of this fort was not necessary
The results accomplished are these: Ad-
miral Sampson has now an admirable
! base of supplies on the south coast OF
Cuba and commands a magnificent har-
borbor in which his ships can be coalet
without difficulty. Troops can be landed