Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1898-07-30
THE FIRST FIGHT
American Soldiers Occupy a Porto
Rican Town.
Tho Miles Expedition Has n Skirmish with
spaniards at GuanIoa, Killing -Four of
the Enemy-Good Work of the
Auxiliary Gunboat CLIQUE ester.

Washington, July 27.-The war de-
partment last night posted the follow
ing: "St. Thomas, July 26.-Circum-
stances were such that l deemed it
advisable to take the harbor of Guam
lea first, Is miles west of Ponce, which
was successfully accomplished be-
tween daylight and II o'clock. Span
iards were surprised. The Gloucester,
Commander Wainwright, first entered
the harbor. Met with slight resist
ance, but fired few shots. All the
transports are now in the harbor and
infantry and artillery rapidly going
ashore. This is a well protected har-
Dor. Water sufficiently deep for all
transports and heavy vessels to an
chor within 200 yards of shore. The
Spanish flag was lowered and the
American flag raised. Capt. Higgin-
son with his fleet has rendered able
assistance. Troops in good health and
best of spirits. NO casualties.
MILES"
Guanica, Porto Rico July 27.-The
United States military expedition
under command of Gen. Miles, which
left Guantanamo bay on July 21, was
landed here successfully on Monday,
after Il sllirmish with a detachment
of Spanish troops. Four Spaniards
were killed and no Americans were
hurt. The troops were pushed for
ward promptly in order TO capture the
railroad leading to Ponce, which is
| only about 20 miles east of this place.
From Ponce there is an excellent
military road running S5 miles north
to San Juan.
The ships left Guantanamo Bay
with the Massachusetts, commanded
by Capt. Higginson, ledding. Capt.
Higginson was in charge of the naval
expedition, which consisted of the
Columbia, Dixie, Gloucester and Yale.
Gen. Miles was on board the last
named vessel. The troops were on
board the transports Nueces, Lam
pasas. Comanche, Rita, Unionist,
Saltwater, City of Macon and Special
list. This is the order in which the
transports entered the harbor here.
Early Monday morning the Glou-
cester, in charge of Lieut.. Commander
Wainwright steamed into Guanica
harbor to reconnoiter the place.
With the feet waiting outside, the
little fighting yacht braved the mines
which were supposed to be in the
harbor and found tnat there were five
fathoms of water close in shore.
The Spaniards were completely
taken by surprise. The first they
knew of the approach of the army of
invasion was in the announcement
contained in the firing of gun from
the Gloucester, demanding that the
| Spaniards haul down their flag, which
was floating from a Flagstaff in front
of blockhouse standing to the east
| of the village. The first couple of g.
Founders were fired into the hills
| right and left of the bay, purposely
| avoiding the town, lest the proiectiles
| might hurt women or children. The
| Gloucester then hove to within 600
| yards of the shore and lowered
| a launch, having on board a Colt
rapid-fre gun and 30 men under
| command of Lieut.. Huse, which was
| sent ashore.
Quartermaster Beck told Yeoman
Lacy to haul down the Spanish flag,
which was done, and they then raised
on the staff the first United States
| flag to float over i orto Rican soil.
Suddenly about 80 opaniards opened
| fire with Mauser rifles on the Ameri-
can party. Lieut.. Huse and his men
responded with great gallantry, the
Colt gun doing effective work.
Immediately after the Spaniards
| fired on the Americans, the Gloucester
opened fire on the enemy with all her
and 6-pounders which could be
brought to bear, shelling the town
and also dropping shells into the hills
i II e
ber of Spanish cavalry were to be
seen Fastening toward the spot where
the Americans had landed. Lieut..
Huse then threw up a little fort
which he named Fort Wainwright,
and laid barbed wire in the street in
front of it in order to repel the eX-
pected cavalry attack. The lieutenant
also mounted the Colt gun and sig
nailed for reinforcements, which
were sent from the Gloucester.
Presently few of the Spanish cav
alry Joined those who were fighting
in the street of Guanica, but the Colt
barlled to a purpose, killing four of
them. By that time the Gloucester
had the range of the town and of the
blocl1house and all her guns were
splitting fire, the doctor and the pay
master helping to serve the guns.
BY 9:45 a. m, with the exception of
few guerilla shots, the town was
won and the enemy was driven out of
the neighborhood.
The Red Cross nurses on the Lam
pasas and detachment of regulars
were the first to land from the trans
ports. After Lieut.. Huse had cap
tured the place he deployed his small
force into the suburbs. lie was soon
reinforced by the regulars, who were
followed by Company C 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
soldiers. Everything progressed in an
orderly manner.
As London Sees 1t.