The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-07-26
MILES
ARMY
LANDS.
The ExpeditiOnary Force
Against Porto Rico
Makes a Successful Landing at
Port Guanica.
ExpeditiOnary Force
Against Porto Rico
NOT A MAN WAS LOST
Though There Was a Skirmish
With Spanish Troops.
No Word From Miles Has Yet
Reached Washington.

Copyright, 1898, by Associated. Press)
Port Guanica, Island of Porto Rico,
July 25 p. m. via the Island of St
Thomas, July 26.-The United States
military expedition, which left Guam
tanamo on Thursday landed here sue
cessfulIy today after a skirnish with
the Spanish troops. No Americans
We're killed.
Troops Pushed Forward.
The United States military expedition
under the command of Major General
Nelson A. Miles, commanding the army
of the United States, which left Guam
tanamo bay during the evening of
Thursday, July 21. was landed here
successfully today after a skirmish with
a detachment of the Spanish troops and
a crew of thirty belonging to the launch
of the United States auxiliary gunboat
Gloucester, formerly Mr.. J. Pierpont
Morgan's steam yacht Corsair. Four
of the Spaniards were killed and no
Americans were hurt. The troops were
pushed forward promptly in order to
capture the railroad leading to Ponce,
which is only about ten miles east of
this place.
Washington Expectant.
Washington, July 26.-The govern
ment is waiting to receive confirmation
of the reported debarkation of General
Miles troops. The war department
did not expect to hear of Miles land
ing near Ponce, but it is admitted that
General Miles is master of his own
movements, and it is entirely conceiv-
able that he acquired information since
the original plans were formed for
the campaign against Porto Rico that
led him to modify theem at the mo-
ment when they were to be put into
execution.
While the distance from Ponce to San
Juan is much greater than from the
point originally selected for Miles
landing, there is according to the mill
tary Information charts a splendid II
foot macadamized road leading directly
across the island to San Juan on the
north shore. Such a road, if it is
properly described in the archives of
the war department would be very lit
tie affected by the tOrrentiaI rains of
this season, so that it might be posi-
BILE for our troops, accompanied as they
will be by field artillery to march
across the seventy miles between Ponce
and San Juan in less time than would
have been required to cover the much
shorter distance between the capital
and some of the other points that have
been named as the landing place for
the troops.
Wherever the landing may have been
made, the war department expects to
hear from Gen Miles very soon. for
he has been long enough on the coast
of Porto Rico to have established him
ser somewhere ashore and to have for
Warded some communication to the
government. There will be no diff
Guilty in the prompt transmission of any
Fff FEea
the cable from St. Thomas. 1t is
probable that in the beginning the
government at Madrid will be in ad-
vance with the news This is because
there IS q cable running from Ponce
Iounu through a group of the West
4nd1an Islands to Kingston, where com
Inuhlcatlon with the TransatIan-
TIC cable can be had. Thus the cOndi-
tons at Ponce, so far as cable cOnnac-
Ilons are concerned approximate those
eSlSIlhS at santiago at the beginning
OF the campaign when the Spanish gov
SIHLleHl was able to communicates di-
IectIy with the Spanish general in the
town While Gen Skaters cOrou111Dioa
6iohs We're subject to a delay of about
q hours. However, all this will be rec
titled in the course of a few davs and
Gen. Miles vii be in quick con1rn11,fca-
ton with Washington.
A Feint at Ponce.
Washington, July 26.-The session of
the cabinet today was practically win
-NAGAAt- mere were no lmnOTtarat
dispatches and what business va 49, 81
as of minor character.
HhIe without official advics Of the
ing Of the Miles expedition. there
some discussion of the press re-
It is believed that the landing
pint on the south coast of Porto
ear Ponce, if made at all, was
as feint. The discussion if
stood, brought out the fact that
es had considered the choice
landing points for his forces
one OF which was Ponce. While
eelncally stated, the three points
e1 are suggested as probably Fay
+,o.I5-nlca, -. GGanlca, and Fuejes. Gen. Miles
ucsIohs l We're to debark at one of
ana II he landed at or near
II was in the opinion of rnaT1-
DL ] the cabinet, either due to some
s9en 60 circumstances, or as a feint
arkation. cal punt
Guanica.
ington JuIv 9e rS.