The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-08-15

At the Front with General Wilson'S
Column, Five Miles Beyond Coamo,
Porto Rico, Aug. IL. Evening )-(De-
layed in Transmission.)--Gn Wilson
moved one Lancaster battery out to the
front this afternoon for the purpose OF
shutting the Spanish position on the
crest of the mountain at the head of
the pass through which the road winds.
The enemy occupied a position of great
natural strength, protected by seven
lines OF entertainments and battery OF
two Howitzers. The Spaniards were
eager for the fray and earlier in the
day had fired upon Colonel Biddle, of
the engineer corps, who with a platoon
of troops from New York, was recon-
noitering on their right flank.
AS our battery rounded a curve in the
road, two thousand yards way, the en-
emy opened an artillery and infantry
fire. Four companies of the third Wis
consin which were posted on the bluffs
to the right of the road were not per-
mitted to respond to the infantry fire.
The guns advanced at a gallop in the
face of a terrific fire. were unlimbered
and were soon hurlng common shell
and shrapnel at the enemy at lively
teries and entrenchments with the
rhythmic regularity of a trip hammer.
The enemy soon abandoned one gun,
but continued to serve the other at in
tervals for over an hour. They had our
range and their shrapnel burst repeat
edly over our men. One shell burst, the
fragments killing Corporal Swanson,
of Company L, and seriously wounding
o,,lr ,1 Drtx
and Vought.
BRITISH OFFICERS AID.
Captain Paget, the British army Off
Ger who is with the American forces
for the purpose of observing the oper-
ations in the fight distinguished him
self by aiding DR.. Woodbury..
Here Captain Lee and Private Sizer.
of company +, were wounded by Maus-
er bullets. In about two hours the en-
emy had abandoned the other gun and
began fleeing from the entrenchments
towards a banana grove in the rear.
Our guns shelled them as they ran.
One gun was ordered to advance ia
position a quarter of a mile further
on. 1t had just reached the new posi-
tion when Spanish infantry reinforce
down a deadly fire upon our men, COM
pelling the battery to retire at a gallop
Then both the enemy's Howitzers re-
opened and shrapnel screamed and
Mausers sang. Another gun galloped
from the rear but our ammunition was
exhausted.
Lieutenant Haines was shot in the
body by a Mauser just before his CUR
L.. L. 60
The orders issued for two companies
to advance were countermanded anI
the firing soon ceased.
Colonel Bliss, Of General Wilson.
staff went forward to the enemys lin,
with flag of truce and explained that
peace negotiations were almost con
cluded and that their position was un
tenable and demanded their surrender
The Spanish have no communicatior
with the outside world and the com
mander asked until tomorrow morning
in order that he might communicat t,
with Governor General Macias, at Sar
Juan.
. General Wilson and his staff viewed
today's action from a hill at the righ
of the battery. The enemy's guns wer,
fired from a high elevation with low
velocity. The Spaniards have tn,
ranges as accurately as they had al
Santiago. Their position from tn,
front is almost impregnable, but it car
be turned
Estimates of the strength of the en-
emy range from 500 to 1000 Thei
position is five miles from Aibonito.
w. ORDERS COUNTERMANDED.
4 Headquarters of General Wilson a
Coamo. Aug. 49, noon delayed il
transmission).- The orders to advanc,
given to General Ernst's brigade wer,
countermanded upon receipt of TIL
presidents order to suspend hostilitics
General Wilson this morning sent
party with flag of truce to notify thi
Spaniards of the suspension of hostil
tiles, but the flag was not respected
This was by order of Governor Genera
Macias. AS General Macias has n,
communication with Madrid he ma.
thus cut himself off from official noti
fication of the situation, although ma
tives have been sent through the Span
ish lines to spread the news that a ces
sation of hostilities had been ordered
The soldiers of the American arm,
generally receive the news of peac
with delight, although some are dis
appointed that there is to be no furthe
lighting and many officers express re
gret at the suspension of hostilities il
the midst of the campaign,
TWO ROMAN BRIGAND TALES