Rocky Ford enterprise., 1898-07-28
NOW IN PORTO RICO.
GEN. MILES. MEN ARE LANDING
Port of Guanica Selected and u Few Span
iards Chased ON After Forty of Them
Were Killed

Were Killed.
Washington. July 26.-The War De-
partment ut l1:3O tonight posted the
following:
ST. Thomas, July 2G. $50 p. m.-Sec-
retary of War. Washngton: Circum-
stances We're such that deemed 1t ad-
visable to take harbor of Guanica first,
fifteen miles west of Ponce. which was
successfully accomplished between
daylight and IL o'clock. Spaniards
surprised. The Gloucester. Command
er Wainwright. first entered the har-
Dor: met slight resistance, fired Few
shots. All the transports are now In
the harbor and infantry and artillery
rapidly going ashore. This is Il Well
protected hurbor. The water Is suf-
iiciently deep for all transports and
heavy vessels to anchor within 200
yards of shore. The Spanish flag was
lowered and the American flag raised
mt II o'clock to-day. Captain Higg'n-
son with his fleet has rendered able
and earnest assistance. The troops are
In good health and best of spirits. No
casualties.
tSigncd) MILES,
Major General Commanding Army.
Port of Guanica. Island of Porto
Rico. July %, = p. H.. via the Island Of
Ssls lhOhilS, 1tsiIhSH w est AhuiSs' '"s
20, Morning.-The United States mill
tary expedition. under the command
of Major General Nelson \. Miles. COM
manding the army of the United States,
which left Guantanamo bay during the
evening of Thursday last. July 2lst,
was landed here successfully to-day,
after II skirmsh between Il detachment
of the Spanish troops and n crew of
thirty. belonging to the launch of the
United States auxiliary gunboat Glou-
cester. formerly Mr.. J.. Pierpont Nor
gan's yacht Corsicana.
Forty Spaniards We're killed md no
Americans We're hurt. The troops We're
pushed forward promptly in order to
capture the railroad leading to Ponce.
which Is only about ten miles east of
this place.
From Ponce there Is an EXCELLENT mil
itary road running eighty miles north
to Ssn Juan.
The whole of General Brooke's force.
with the New Orleans. Annapolis, Gin
cinnati. Leyden and Wasp. are expect
ed here within twentyfour hours.
Early this morning the Gloucester,
In charge of Lieutenant Commander
Wainwright. steamed into Guanica
harbor in order to reconnoiter the
place. With the fleet waiting outside
the gallant little fighting yacht braved
the mines which We're supposed to be
in the harbor and found that there
were five fathoms of water close in
shore.
Guanicn Is place surrounded by
cultivated lands. In the rear are high
mountains and on the beach nestles Il
village of about twenty houses. The
Spaniards We're completely taken by
surprise. Almost the first they knew
of the approach of the army Of inva-
sion was the announcement contained
in the firing of gun from the Glou-
cester, demanding that the Spaninrds
haul down their flag. which was float
ing from flagstaff in front of II
blockhouse standing to the east of the
village. The first couple of three
Founders We're fired into the hills right
and left of the bay, purposely avoid
ing the town, lest the projectiles might
hurt women or children.
The Gloucester then hove to within
about GOO yards of the shore and low
cred launch. having on board
Colt rapid-firing gun and thirty men,
under the command of Lieutenant
Huse, who was sent ashore without
encountering opposition.
Quartermaster Beck thercupon told
Yeomnn Lacey to haul down the
Spanish flag. which was done, and
they then raised OH the flagstaff the
nfSt UnlIeu Suites llig 10 uOat over
Porto Rican soil.
Suddenly about thirty Spnniards
opened fire with Mauser rifles on the
American party. Lieutenant Huse
and his men responded with great
gallantry, the Colt gun doing effect
i've work. Normen, who received
Cervera's surrender. and Wood, n vol
unteer lieutenant. shared the honOrs
with Lieutenant Huse.
Almost Immediately after the
Americans were fired on the Glouces-
ter opened fire on the enemy with all
her three-pounders which could be
brought to bear. shelling the town,
and also dropping shells into the hills
to the west of Guanica. where Il num-
ber of Spanish cavalry were to be
seen Fastening toward the spot where
the Americans had landed
Lieutenant Huse then threw up n
little fort. which he named Fort
Wainwright. and laid barbed wire in
the street in front of it in order to
repel the expected cavalry attack.
The lieutenant also mounted the Colt
gun and signaled for reinforcemcnts,
which We're sent from the Gloucester.
The Associated Press dispatch boat
Cynthia II. was the only boat in the
harbor except the Gloucester.
While the AIausers We're peppering
all around. Lieutenant Commander
Wainwright called to the Associated
Press correspondent, and said:
They fired on us after their flag
was down and ours was up, and after
l had spared the town for the sake
of the women and children. The next
town strike l will blow up"
Presently few of the Spanish cav
airy Joined those who were fighting
in the street of Guanica. and the Colt
barked to purpose, killing four of
them.
By that time the Gloucester had the