The San Francisco call., 1898-07-30
PUERTO DE PONCE,

the Governor General to fight the Americans, were prepared to resist un- til shortly before our troops arrived. At the solicitation of all the consuls, the Spaniards retreated to the mountains.
 A garrison of twelve hundred regu- lars and many volunteers remained and welcomed the Americans. The Spanish soldiers on the island are said to num- Der 1000 rePulars and 5000 volunteers. None of the American ships had been reported at Fajardo or Culebra at day. light this morning.
 It is probable that the expedition to be landed at Fajardo will form a june Ilon Hleh the army at Ponce. The Mo- bile and Cincinnati loitered near there yesterday, the commanders saying they misunderstood the rendezvous. Colo nel Allen is arranging to operate the cable from Ponce in a day or two. He goes to St. Thomas tonight for a con- ference with the cable company about the matter
 The message from the Herald an- nouncing that Spain had opened peace negotiations was delivered to Colonel Allen before he left here
 General Miles has issued the follow Ing proclamation:
 In the prosecution of the war against the kingdom of Spain by the people of the United States in the cause of liberty. jus tice and humanity, its military forces have come to occupy the island of Porto Rico. They come bearing the banners of freedom, inspired by noble purpose, to or yours and to destroy or capture all in armed resistance. They bring you the fostering tdI1g arms of a free people, whose greatest power is justice and humainty to all living within their fold. Hence they release you from your former politi- gal relations, and it Is hoped this will be | followed by your cheerful acceptance of the Government of the United States
 The chief object of the American mili- tary forces will be to overthrow the au- thority of Spain and to give the people of your beautiful island the largest measure ea Of liberty consistent with this military occupation. They have not come to make war on the people of the country who for centuries have been oppressed, but. on the contrary, they come to protect not only yourselves but your property, to pro- mote your. prosperity and to bestow frightened and liberal institutions and gov ernment.
 It is not their purpose to interfere with the existing laws and customs which are wholesome and beneficial to the neople so long as they conform to the rules of the military administration, order and jus tice This is not war of devastation and desolation but one to give all within the control of the military and naval forces the advantages and blessings of enlight- ened civilization.
 Political prisoners who were released to-day besieged the American camp dSklUB TUT lOOQ lHey Sdlu lu6y HdQ been starving for days, and they wept for joy at the kind treatment accorded them. The cafes tonight are filled with Spaniards drinking to the health of Americans. Our men have been well comed into the homes of the Spaniards. Ponce, instead of Guanica, has been used as a base by the Americans, the harbor of Guanica being poor.
 After the Mindora had left the port of Ponce with this dispatch, about [ o'clock tonight, we came alongside an American warship, which reported that firing had been heard seven miles out of Ponce American scouts and re- treating Spaniards are thought to have clashed. The Spaniards are said to have twenty-four pieces of artillery, and it is feared that in retreating from Ponce they formed a junction with an- other body of Spanish regulars and hastened to get the guns placed in the mountains. Our scouting force has