The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-06-16
MARINES HARD FIGHT
They Attack and Completely kout
Spanish Gueri!las.
vr1-. -
CUBAN INSURGENTS CO.OPERATED.
Combiued Forces Raced Spanish
fncampment.
GOODNESS or THE AMERICANS.
The Marines Aimed Carefully and
Shot to Kill.
FIFTEEN DEAD SPANIARDS FOUND.
The Only Drinking Well In the
vicinity Was Destroyed by the
America ns--GnIinnt Cubans.
GOODNESS or THE AMERICANS.
The Marines Aimed Carefully and
Shot to Kill.
FIFTEEN DEAD sPANIARDS FOUND.

Downright, 1906 by Associated Press.)
United states Camp, East side OF the En-
trance to Guantanamo Bay. Tuesday June IA,
+, M. via Kingston, Jamaica, Wednesday, |
J,ue H. 1890 D. m.--The United States ma
rii.es Under Lieutenant Colonel Robert Hunt
nglcn made the first aggressive movement
against the Spanish guerilas today and com |
pietcIy routed the enemy. The force OF ma /
riues was under Captain Elliott, aud the CO. |
operaiion of tho Cubans was under Colonel
Lnio<da. The combined forces RACED Span
ish camp about four miles from the American |
position, destroying the only well IN the vi
entity and killed about forty Spaniards One
American marine was sliglsly wounded. Two
cutans were killed ana four wounded.
1t IS impossible to estimate the number OF
spauiards engaged. owing to their guerilla |
methods OF fighting, but II is believed there
ware at least 400
Tho marines behaved aplendidly, their |
craftsmanship being excellent, even under the
severe FIRE Of the enemy.
Lieutenant Coonel Huntington decided on
tho attack early in the day and ut about =
o'ciocl; the force started across the mountain. |
The march up and down the steep hills under
the glaring tropical sun was severe test OF
endurance for the marines, and before the
battle-ground was reached twenty two men had
received medical attention. All were able.
however. 10 reach the position before the
hgl ting ceased, The marines were compelled
TO march In single nle, following the noun
tain trail Meanwhile the Cubnns dartod
backward and forward. to the right and left.
scouting
1t wns noon when the Americans caught
sight of the Spanish camp, lying on ridge
below them, II consisted OF one large house.,
the officers quarters, surrounded by numer-
Gus ''shacks' and houses, all clustering about
this we'll.
IRE insurgents began cautous advance
and were within 200 yards Of the enemy before
the crack Of n rifle from the Spanish lines
announced that the Spanarda had discovered
them. Tho troops quickly formed line OF
battle. The cncmy's bullets were wh-tlns
yioicusiy over the Americans. but the Amsrl-
caus settled iown to their work as uncon-
cerrcoly as though at target practice.
Very few Spanlards were III sight. They
were lying behind tn. huts and the brush, but
pun Gt smoke revealed their positions aud en-.
ablnd the Americans to do effective work For
twenty minutes both sides maintained n tel
ride fire. Tho Spanish shots we're generally
wil0. while the Americans colly hred away.
aiming carefully aud shooting TO kill. Tho
frst firms was done individually, but Mt times
the officers would direct iring by squads, al
ways with telling effect.
II was beginning to look aa though bayo~
net charge down the slope would be necessary
to d.slodEo the cncmy, when suddenly the lat
ter began to break for a thckot a hundred
yards away. Groupn of spaunrds crashed
through the underhrush, and then the Amerl-
can frc became most deadly Man after man
could be seen TO fall In the mad rush for shoi-
tce and tho Are front tho snaniprds became
scattering and almost ceased
Two Cubaps lay dead and four wounded
aud Private Walter OF company G had linped
to the rear with q slight wound In his ankle
The easy victory put the command In high
spirits.
The little black Cuban warriors waved ,hcir
muchetea and howied curses at the spauiards
In savage fashion. Their firing had beon Wild
but the, had displayed the utmost contempt
TO- the Spanish bullets apparently being with
out fear.
When the enemy began breaking from tn.
camp. the Dolphin, which lay. out al sca, was
signaled and began pitching shells toward the
thieket for which the spaniurds were unprs-
pared. Meanwhile rcnforcements were seen
cou'lnS anu thptatn MNhpney was sent With
more men, but they were not needed. as 1t was
all over before they could reach the sconc
As the spaninrds retreotcd the Americans
moved forward. firing ns they went, and b,
the time the camp was reached the enemy haC
oil escaped. taking their wounded and prob
ably many OF their dead Fifteen bodies wer,
found scattered through the brush. but tn,
Americans were unable to examine the spo
where the firing was most deadly. No tim,
was lost IN flllng the well with earth an,
stones The Dolphin landed water and am
muniton, as an attack was expected on TN
return march. but none was made Evldcnti,
the spaniards were too thoroughly beaten I,
attempt further Fighting,
The marines did not reach the America,
carl' until after nightfall, and they had pvo,
without food since early morning. Lieutennn
Colonel llnnt!ngton believes the dcstruction q
the camp and well VIII seriously cripple th
buthwhaeking operations OF the enemy.