The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-06-16
GOOD ONLY AS GUERILLAS.
SPANIARDs REFUSE TO FIGHT IN
THE OPEN AT GUANTANAMO.

Marines Make Gallant stand Un-
der DisRdvantageOus Circum-
stnnces-Enemy Attacks American
Rear and Flank at Breakfast Time
Tuesday and Meet with e. Reverse.
Night Had Been Allowed to Pass
Peacefully.
Copyright. 1898. by the Associated Press.
On Board the Associated Press Dispatch
Boat Dauniless, off Guantanamo Bay,
Tuesday, June IA, noon, via Kingston, ia
maica, June Is, 8 a. m.-There was no re-
newal of the attack on the marines last
night. They slept in the trenches with
their rifles beside them, protected by
heavy picket line of insurgents and ma
rines, under the command Of Lieut.. Lenore
and Lieut.. Smith.
The plekets had strict orders not to fire
unless commanded TO do So Thefe were
several alarms. but no firing, during the
night.
freshed after four days and nights of con-
tinuous work and fighting.
1t was supposed the enemy had retired
coast, the only remaining source OF water
supply.
The wind mill was shelled at intervals
all day yesterday by the Dolphin, but the
Spaniards were still there this morning
At 81 o'clock they made an unexpected
attack on the American rear and left
flank.
When the pickets came in for relief the
Spanish guerillas crept along behind them
and got within hundred yards, when the
accidental discharge of a rifle in the
trenches led them to believe they were
discovered, and they opened fire with a
volley which whistled harmless overhead.
They had shot too high as usual.
The marines then scrambled from their
steaming coffee and hard tack" back to
the trenches and met the guerillas with
a rugged, but well directed rife firea In
addition, five field pieces mounted at
angles in the trneches, and the machine
guns, poured a hail of bullets into the
chapparal, scattering the main body of
the Spaniards in all directions. Shells
were dropped into their midst as they ran
A few of the enemy stood their ground
desperately on the left flank, and the crack
of the Mauser rifles and the pings" of
their bullets were heard for an hour.
The sfnokeless powder used by the Span
iards made their location in the dense un-
derbrush almost impossible to detect.
The Panther fired six-pounders into the
Spaniards while the marines were engag-
ed in beating off the attack.
Only one man was wounded. and he
sustained slight injury on his hand.
The Cubans. who acted well last night
We're with difficulty forced out of the
skirmish line this morning. Some of them
refused to be driven even when struck by
their officers with the fiat of their ma
chetes but they were not censured.
They try to work out their knowledge
of the methods of the Spanish guerillas,
and as guides they are invaluable
Our men are at great disadvantage with
the guerillas, who are past grand masters
of this peculiar plan OF campaign of saw
age rather than civilized warfare The
men sink through the tropical under
growth as noiselessly as shadows, some
with their naked bodies concealed with
palm leaves, so that they are neither seen
nor heard.
Our men are not familiar with these
tactics and awkwardly crash through the
bush.
Capt. Elliott says the enemy could not
stand a minute in the open, but he admits
that they are dangerous antagonists at
this sort of work
The marines are seasoning rapidly
The hospital ship Solace Is in Guam
tanamo bay with the wounded on board
AS the Dauntless left the bay the smoke
of two Spanish gunboats in the inner har-
Dor could be seen and the Dolphin stood
up the channel TO meet the attack, if the
Spaniards had the audacty to make one
When ten miles off shore the booming of
guns could be heard and the harbor was
yelled in smoke.