The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1898-06-16
OLD GLOR Z FLOATS.I



I Off Guantanamo, Cuba, Friday, June
10, via Port Antonio, Monday 3, June 10.
The invasion Of Cuba by the .Ameri-
can forces began Friday. Six huns
bred 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
on Spanish flagstaff in Cuba.
To Capt: Clark and the battleship
Oregon belong the honor of accomplish
ing the first successful landing Of the
war Forty marines from the battle-
ship went ashore Saturday morning.
and occupied the left entrance of the
bay until the trcopship Panther ar
rived with 600 marines. These under the
command of Lieut.. Col. r. w. Hunting
ton arrived at three o'clock, and with
in half an hour they had burned the
buildings of the Spanish camp and had
set fire to the miserable little village
which crouched on the beach under the
hilltop of Guantanamo. The whole
operation of silencing the guns and
landing the forces was as easy as plac-
ing Sunday school picnic. The Mar
blehead, backed by the Vixen and Dol
phin, opened fire on the earthworks
Friday. The shores to the right of the
entrance were lined with guns. and
rifle pits, but the Spaniards stampeded
after firing few shots.
The main fort lies within the city
limits and is still TO be reduced, but it
is not in a difficult position, and the
American officers say it can be taken in
Is minutes when desired.
The Marblehead, Dolphin, Vixen and
two golfers have been off the entrance
of the harbor for several days, and Fri
day morning they sailed into the chan
mel. A mile further up they opened
fire, sending so shots at the fortifca-
tons on the left. The hills on the right
of the entrance were deserted. There
are no defenses on the right side of the
harbor.
No attempt to land was made until
the Oregon steamed in early Saturday
morning. Capt. Clark Immediately sent
40 marines ashore, and 20 from the
Marblehead followed. They found evil
dence of very hasty departure by the
'Spaniards. Watches, hammocks and
ammunition were scattered about the
earthworks and a Spanish nag was
found in one of the rifle pits. The little
detachment of marines held the place
until the Panther arrived, when they
were recalled, and the work of disem-
barking began. The first boatload had
scarcely landed, when the village burst
into flames. Company B, under Lieut..
Hall, was the first ashore. and without
the loss of a moment the column start
ed UP the steep, rocky hillside to the
| earthworks. For an hour a brown
column of marines filed up the narrow
path, eventually taking up position at
the top of the hill. AS soon as the Amer
| lean flag was swung out to the breeze
from the flagstaff of the captured Span
ish camp, the Oregon steamed away to
rejoin the feet off Santiago.
The marines will hold the position I'M
til the arrival of the expected troops,
in the meantime scouting the vicinity,
with the Marblehead, Vixen and Dol
phin lying by to protect them.
Rear Admiral Sampson now has har-
Dor and base of supplies on the south
side of the island. and troops can be
landed at will.
The squadrons of Rear Admiral Samp-
son and Commodore Schley are still off
Santiago, maintaining strict watch
day and night to prevent the posi-
bility of the escape of Admiral Cervera.
From men who have landed to take OBJ
servations of the harbor it is learned
definitely, all agreeing on the point,
that the Spanish cruisers and two tor
pedo boat destroyers are there, but
these vessels are regarded by naval ex-
perts. after all. as "men in buckram''
AS high naval officer remarked:
"spain throughout her whole history
has never sought naval fight and
never will. She has always lodged and
is lodging now. Cervera never intended
to fight. He intended to dodge and he
has succeeded. Spain will never send
another fleet to these waters during the
present war;
Washington, June 49,. Admiral
Sampson asks promotion for Lieut..
Hobson and similar reward for his fol-
lowers in the daring Merrimac exploit
at Santiago, the request being made in
his official report telling of their valor
In this report Admiral Sampson with
held no measure of credit from Hob
son, as well for conceiving and work.
ing out the details of the project as for
its glorious execution. It was not
clearly understood at first just why a
staff officer rather than. line officer
should be selected for the perilous I'M
dertaking, particularly in view of the
readiness and eagerness with which
such an assignment would be accepted
by any line officer of the navy. The re-
port satisfactorily explains this. The
man whose brain conceived the project
and whose skill and energy worked out
the details was undoubtedly the one
whose bravery and heroism should exc
cute the work.
Madrid, June 13.-The following dis
patch has been received here from Capt.
Gen. Blanco: One American cruiser
and two gunboats are before Havana,
two are before Mariel, one at Cardenas.
two at San Caisarion, none at Matanzas
and Cienfuegos and Is American men
of-war are of Santiago de Cuba. We
have NO news from La Caimanero.
SOME STUMPY GREAT MEN.