The Portland daily press., 1898-06-16
ATTACK REPULSED.
Spanish Guerillas Attempt 10 Sur.
prise Marines.

Copyright 1898 by the Associated Press. }
On Board the Associated Press Despatch
Boat Dauntless. off Guantanamo Bay,
Tuesday, j une IA. Noon, via Kingston.
Jamaica, Wednesday. Juns 15.-8 a. m.--
There was no renewal of the attack on
the marines last night. They slept in
their trenches with their rifles beside
them, protected by a heavy picket line of
insurgents and marines, under the com.
mand of Lieuts. Lenore and Smith. They
had strict orders not to fire unless COM
manded to do so.
There were several alarms, but no firing
during the night. In consequence, the
men awoke much refreshed after four
days and nights of continuous work and
fighting. 1t was supposed the enemy had
retired to the windmill in the night on
the south coast, the only remaining
source of water supply. 1t was shelled at
intervals all day yesterday by the
Dolphin; but the Spaniards were still
there this morning.
At eight O'Clock the enemy made an un-
expected, sharp attack upon the American
rear and left flank. When the pickets
came in for relief the guerillas crept
along behind them and got within hun
dred yards, when the accidental discharge
of rifle in the trenches led them to be-
lieve they were discovered and they opened
fire with volley which 4histled HARM
lessly overhead. They shot too high as
usual and the marines then scrambled
from their steaming coffee and "hard-
tack'' back to the trenches and met the
guerillas with q ragged but well directed ,
fire. In addition, five field pieces,
mounted at angles in the trenches and the
machine guns, poured hail of bullets
into the chapparell, 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 We're heard rather than ssen for
an hour as the smokeless Iowder used by
the Spaniards made their location IN the
dense underbrush aim ost impossible.
The Panther fired six-pounders into the
Spaniards while the marines were en-
gagged in beating eff the attack. Only one
a slight injury on his hand.
The Cubans, who acted well last night,
were with difficulty forced out of tho
skirmish line and some of thom refused
to be driven even when struck by their
officers with the fiat of their Tiachetes.
But they wore not censured. They tried
to work out their knowledge of the
methods of the Spanish guerillus in war
fare and in land service as guides, they
are invaluable. Our men are at a great
disadvantage with the guerillas, who are
past grand masters OF this peculiar kind
of campaign, of savage rather than
civilized warfare. The men stink through
the tropical underground as no1selessly 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
awkardly crash through the bush. Capt.
Elliot says the enemy could not stand
minute in the open, but he adds that they
are dangerous antagonists at this sort OF
work. The marines, however, are season-
ing 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 ocuid be seen and the Dolphin stood
up the channel to meet the attack, If the
Spaniadrs had the audaoity to make one.
Mhen ten miles off shore the booming of
guns could be heard and the harbor was
yelled in smoke.