The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-06-27
MARINES PROVE BRAVE MEN.
THEIR CONDUCT WORTHY OF THE
HIGHEST PRAISE

Flinching-GueriIla Attacks of the
standards Executed With Great
skill and Only the Intrepidity of
Our Men Prevented "a Stampede.
Correspondence of the Associated Press.
Copyright, 1898, by the Associated Press.
on Board the Associated Press Boat
Dandy. off Guantanamo, Wednesday,
June Is. via Port Antonio, jamaica June
1c.-scorched by a blazing tropical sun,
harassed by the persistent fire of dare.
devil Spanish guerrilas, and Handicapped
by lack of training and absolute inexperI-
ence the 600 marines of Lieut.. Hunting
toms have, within the week. battered their
way to what should be TO them lasting
fame. Schooled for the easy life of ma
rines aboard ship, and untitled for severe
physical exertion by weeks of inactivity
on the cramped decks of the troopship
Panther, they have rushed into the hard
ships and dangers of a guerrilla campaign,
with the steady, nerves and patient endur-
ance of veterans of a dozen wars. When
the story of the war with Spain shall have
been told there will be no part of it more
creditable to Americans and American
the events of the week since the Panther
disembarked her troops in Guantanamo
harbor. One American officer and FIVE pri-
Yates have been killed, but at least 100
Spanish deaths settle that score.
The Panther steamed up to the blockad-
ing feet off Santiago at 10 O'Clock Friday
morning, June 10, and thirty minutes later
had put about under onders from Admiral
Sampson to proceed to Guantanamo and
land the troops.
The harbor lies thirty-eight miles east
of Santiago de Cuba, and is one of the
best on the southern coast of the island.
The town and fort from which the bay
takes its name lie about five miles back
from the coast, a winding channel lead
ing from the main inlet
To the left of the entrance is a strip
of low swampy land, while at the right
rises range of steep, rocky hills, extend
ing from the shore line inland for a mile,
and then sloping off into the lowlands, on
which the city stands.
On these bluffs a half mile from the sea
line the Spaniards had thrown up earth
works and dug rough rifle pits, command
ing the entrance, and the day preceding
the Panther's arrival the Marblehead had
been sent to shell this spot Capt. Nc
Gala found his task an easy one. Scarce
~ half dozen Spanish Volleys were fired
at the Marblehead, and two dozen shells
drove the enemy. officers and men, panic
stricken to the mountains beyond.
When the troopship arrived she found
nothing TO prevent the immediate disem-
barking, and before nightfall the marines
had taken possession of the hill and were
gayly making camp, delighted to escape
from the tedium of life abroad the trans
port.
The cowardly retreat of the enemy under
the Marbieheads guns had led the Amer
lean officers to believe that here was lit
Tie possibility of an attack, and but slight
preparations were made to repel one. Just
before sunset the troops were thrown into
line and for the first time the American
flag was run up on a Spanish flagstaff,
and the vanguard of the army of invasion
saluted the Stars and Stripes on Cuban
soil The sun-bnstered, barren hilltop took
on an appearance more pleasing to Ameri-
can eyes as the white walled tents sprane
up around the Flagstaff and the uniforms
of the American soldiers grew numerous
among the faded vegetation and jutting
rocks On the narrow beach at the base
of the hill lay a struggling little village
OF matched fishermens huts witt a store
or two and a brightly painted cable Of
fee.
The inhabitants had fed the day before,
and without instructions from the fleet,
Col. Huntington ordered the miserable lit
Tie place burned. A delighted marine
thrust a brand from a camp fire into a
thatch of the nearest howell and in mo-
ment the sea breeze had swept the flames
down the narrow street leaping among the
tmberS, which burned like matchwood.
A cheer burst from the men in the camp
above, and was echoed from the little fleet
lying half mile off shore. Through the
evening the men frolicked and sang, but
by 10 o'clock the camp was quiet, save
Tor the tramp and-voices of the sentries.
About midnight the crack of a single rifle
from the brush to the east of the camp
gave the first warning of the presence of
the enemy The quick challenge of a SEN
Try was answered by a scattering Volley
from the brush and in a moment the hill
was alive with startled, half-awaked ma
rines, cropping for guns and acting me-
chanically under the sharp commands of
their officers.
Within Two minutes one hundred Amer
lcan rifles had sent their bullets in The di-
rection of the enemy and five minutes
ialer a hail of lead was hammering through
the chapparal, every man of the six hun
dred at his post
The guerrillas scattered in all directions,
but throughout the night their bullets
"lthIed over the camp at intervals, each
yoiiey drawing the fire of Huntingtons
men,
rs the night wore on without determin-
"a attack, the men began to view the af-
lar as huge joke, and much difficulty
was experienced by the officers in keeping
thelr commands under shelter. Through
out saturday there were frequent scatter
iHS SHOTS from the bushwhackers and re-
S1Ins from the hill, but no damage was
zone IN Camp AcCalla, and probably lit
ne 10 the enemy. The latter fought in true
serbia fashion covering their bodies
WIN palm leaves and gently waving large
raves over their heads. Thus disguised
tHey crept among the rank ground growth
utmost at WILL the sharpest Being unable
10 uetect them except when they fired.
curing the day the earthworks were
StIehSthened and additional rife pits were
uus' and Saturday night the wisdom Of the
Measure was proved. From dark until
udyhght the marines lay under an almost
constant fire. Early in the night a little
GIo'dCnment of five or six daring Span
,dIus crept close to the hilltop, dashed
uIough the line Of sentries. and running
sslalsht across the eastward side of the
n 81 4