The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-06-16
Two Killed and One, Marine and
Four CubanS Wounded.
AMERICANS ON AGGRESSIVE.
Battle Result of Their Attack on
Spanish Camp.

NODyrtRTL,
United States Camp, East Side of En-
trance to Guantanamo Bay, Tuesday. June
A. o. M. by the Associated Press Dis
patch Boat Wanda via Kingston ia
maica, Wednesday, June Is, 1890 p. m.-
The United States marines under Lieut..
Col Robert W. Huntingdon made their
first aggressive movement against the
Spanish guerillas to-day. and completely
routed the enemy.
The force of marines was under Capt.
Elliott and the cooperating Cubans were
under Col Laborda.
The combined forces razed Spanish
camp about five miles from the American
position, destroyed the only we'll In the
vicinity and killed about forty spaniards.
one American marine was slightly
wounded.
Two Cubans were killed and -four
wounded.
of Spaniards engaged, owing to their guer-
lila methods of fighting, but it is believed
there were at least 400.
The marines behaved splendidly, their
craftsmanship being excellent, even un-
der the severe fire of the enemy.
The captured camp lies about five miles
southeast of the rife pits of the marines
and was an important base for the enemy,
as it contained the only well within six or
seven miles.
Lieut.. Col. Huntingdon decided on the
attack early in the day, and about clock
the force started across the mountain
The march up and down the steep hill
sides under the glaring tropical sun was
a severe test of endurance for the ma
rines, and before the battle-ground was
reached twenty-one men had received
medical attention. All were able however,
TO reach the position before the fighting
ceased.
The marines were compelled to march
single file, following the mountain trail.
Meanwhile the Cubans darted backward
and forward, to right and left, on the
scout.
1t was noon when, from hilltop, the
Americans caught sight of the Spanish
camp lying on a ridge below them. 1t con-
sisted of one large house., the officers
quarters surrounded by numerous
"shacks" and huts, all clustering about
the precious well.
The Americans began a cautious ad-
vance, and were within 200 yards Of the
enemy before the crack of a rifle from the
Spanish lines announced that the Span
1ards had discovered them.
The troops quickly moved into line of
battle, with the Cubans on the left flank
The enemy's bullets were whirling vicious
ly over the Americans, but the marines
settled down TO their work unconcernedly
as though at target practice.
Very few Spaniards were in sight They
lNinp nd In,
brush, but the puffs of smoke revealed
their positions and enabled the Americans
TO do effective work.
For twenty minutes both sides main
tanned a terrible fire.
The Spanish shots were generally wild
and spasmodic, while the Americans cool
~ nred away aiming carefully and shoot
ing to kill
For the most part the Americans firing
was done Individually, but at times the
oihcers could not direct firing by squads,
always with telling effect
1t began to look as though a bayonet
charge down the slope would be neces-
"a sary to dislodge the enemy, when sudden
Il ~ the latter began to break for the thick
et a hundred yards further on Little
groups could be seen fleeing from the
a camp separating and darting through the
prusn and zigzagging to escape the bullets.
lt was then the American fire became
more deadly. Man after man could be
seen 70 fall In a vain rush for shelter:
ana the fire from the Spanish became
scattering and almost ceased.
TWO Cubans lay dead and four wounded.
and Private Walker of Company d. had
10 limp to the rear with a slight wound
4 in his ankle.
The easy victory put the command in
nigh spirits The little black Cuban war
riors waved their machetes and howled
curses at the Spanish i'm savage fashion
Their firing had been wild throughout. bur
4 they all displayed the utmost contennt
lor the Spanish bullets, apparently being
absolutely without fear
& As the enemy began breaking from the
a camp the Dolphin, which lay out an sea
a was signalled and began pitching shells
"A toward the thicket for which the Span-
81 iards were making.
q Meanwhile Lieut.. Magill was seen com
q Ing with forty men as reinforcements ana
81 capt. Mahony was on the way with
n hundred more, but before either could
& reach the scene the trouble was over
As the Spanish retreated the Americans
moved slowly forward, firing as thev
b went, and by the time the camp was
feached the enemy had all got away. tak-
ing their wounded and probably many of
their dead
Fifteen bodies were found scattered
Through the brush. but the Americans