Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-07-27
TOOK THE HARB0R
Gen. Miles Reports the Capture of
Guanica.
FIRST PLANS CHANGED BY him
At Last Moment Determined to Go
by the Mona Passage.
BASE OF TONS

Gen. Miles story of his landing in Porto
Rico is contained in the following dispatch:
ST. THOMAS, July 20, 1898, 9;S5 pm.
Secretary of War. Washington. D. c.:
Circumstances were such that / deemed
1t advisable to take the harbor of Guanica
first, fifteen miles west of Ponce, which
was successfully accomplished between
daylight and IL o'clock. Spaniards sur
prised. The Gloucester. Commander
Wainwright, first entered the harbor; met
with slight resistance; fired a few shots.
All the transports are now in the harbor
and infantry and artillery rapidly going
ashore. This is a well-protected harbor.
Water sufficiently deep for all transports
and heavy vessels to anchor within two
hundred yards of shore. The Spanish flag
was lowered and the American flag raised
at IL o'clock today. Captain Higginson,
with his fleet, has rendered able and
earnest assistance. Troops in good health
and best of spirits. No casualties.
(Sgned) MILES,
Major General Commanding Army.
Capt. Hieginson's Report.
The Navy Department today bulletined
the following dispatch from Capt. Higgin-
son of the battle ship Massachusetts, in
command of the naval forces with Gen.
Miles expedition to Porto Rico:
ington July u, 1898, at 1:30 am.
Secretary of Navy. Washington d. c.:
Arrived here with Gen. Miles and United
States troops today at 9:15 am. Landed
them safely. There are no batteries out
side. Gloucester entered the harbor land
ed company of sailors under command of
Lieut.. Harry P. Huse, U. S. N, and Lieut..
Wood Dispersed small company of Span
lsh soldiers Hoisted flag. Commend Lieut..
Commander Richard Wainwright and oifi-
GERS for gallantry in capturing Guanica.
Transports discharged without any opposi-
ton, assisted by boats of Massachusetts. 1
have telegraphed Admiral Sampson.
(SigneO "HIGGINSON.
Port Guanica
Porto Rico, July D. 1895"
The news of the landing Of General Miles
at Guanica, on the southern shore of Porto
Rico, came a genuine surprise to the
War Department.
1t had been all carefully planned that he
was to make his landing at another point,
as remote as possible from the place where
he actually landed, so there was little Won
der that the officials received the first news
of the landing with incredulity. Just why
General Miles made this wide departure
from the plans of the department is not
known but it is supposed that he gathered
some information since he left Siboney that
induced him to make the change. The
result, however, has been to perplex the
department officials deeply and to con-
siderably derange their carefully prepared
program LOT the remainder OF the eXpeQ1-
ton 1t became necessary to intercept the
sections of the expedition already at sea
heading for certain selected points on the
coast of Porto Rico and to advise them
of the change in the plans.
General Wilson's brigade is now ap-
preaching the island, being due there to-
day or tomorrow, and reinforcements will
follow at intervals of one or two days I'M
til the whole force of thirty thousand men
is landed, unless events connected with
the peace negotiations make it eXpedient to
stop further movements. However, it is
a matter for congratulation to the War De-
partment that General Miles has ged
to set foot on Porto Rico before the first
oVertures for peace, and thus to place the
island in the same position as c1aa and
the Philippines, namely, as territory at
least partially in the possession of the
United States at the beginning of the ne
gotations.
Best Harbor.
Guanica, the debarking point of Gen.
Miles expedition, is the best harbor on the
southern coast of Porto Rico, but is the
least visited, owing to the swamps and
low tracts difficult to cross leading from it
to the interior. The south coast abounds
in bays and harbors, but Guanica and
Ponce are the only ones where vessels of
heavy draft can enter by reason Of the
mangroves and reefs at all other points.
Vessels drawing twenty-one feet of water
eTter there with perfect safety. Its en-
trance Is one hundred yards wide, it forms
spacious basin, completely land-iocked,
and vessels can enter close ashore Two
small hills command the entrance on either
side, and had the Spanish mounted a few
pieces OF artillery there they could have
defied a squadron to force it.
The railroad, to seize which the troops
were rushed forward. runs from Yauco to
Ponce. 1t follows the southern coast line,
and is paralleled by wagon road through
out its course. At times these two run
within few hundred yards of the shore.
This road, which is only part of one in
tended ultimately to eacfrcle the whole
island, was built to facilitate the rnaVe-
ment of Spanish troops to any part of the
island. 1t is, however, far from compile
ton.
From where they strike this railway the
troops will be pushed on through Guayan-
lila, a place of 600 Inhabitants and then on
fourteen miles to the neighborhood of
Ponce. Seventy miles away, over the
main wagon road of the island. lies San
Juan. the point of attack. Along this and
the other roads, at intervals of from eight
to ten Mlometers, the Spanish have been
keeping a fort, stone and brick barracks
or large buildings where the Spanish
troops rest when on the march.
Ponce is one of the chief towns Of the