Willmar tribune., 1898-08-17
CLOSING IN ON SAN JUAN.
American Troops in Puerto Rico
Begin the Advance Upon
the Capital.
The TOWN OF GUAYAM0 IS CAPTURED.

Spanish Force Driven Back with a
Loss of Two Killed-Four Ameri-
cans Wounded-Gen. Miles, Army
In Splendid fter's
Troops Leaving Cuba.
Washington, Aug. Slate Saturday
the first news dispatch came to the
war department from Gen. Miles. It
was as follows:
Ponce. Aug: 6.-Gen. Brooke reports
Haines' brigade. Fourth Ohio and third
Illinois. captured Guayamo. Yesterday:
slight skirmish with enemy in and about
town; eaemys strength estimated at bout
aoo; not ascertained if any of them regu-
| lars; resistance not strong. Private Johr
O'Cordner wounded below the knee: c. w
1eiffee. both legs below thigh: T. W. VOL
| cott. right foot; none serious; all Fourth
Ohio One Spaniard killed. two wounded
Sc far known. Miles"
American Forces Advance.
Puerto Rico, Aug. s.-A general ad
vance of the American forces began
Sunday morning. The remainder of
Gen. Ernst's brigade, constituting the
advance center, supported by two bat
teries, moved out at six o'clock, and
a part of the Eleventh infantry of Gen.
Henry's division started TO the left to-
ward Adjuntas. Troop a. of New York,
the Philadelphia city troop and troop
II, of the Sixth regulars. are conveying
Gen. Brooke's transportation column
along the road through Salinas to Ar
royo.
Miles Brilliant Campaign.
Washington, Aug. Sup to this
point not the slightest complaint has
reached the department respecting
the management Of the Puerto Rican
campaign, a tribute to Gen. Miles
ability. No word has come Of SOL
diers without food or ammunition or
of sick men without doctors or medi-
cine, nor is the inward movement of
the American army delayed for lack of
artillery owing to Gen. Miles insist
ence upon keeping his artillery in the
very vanguard and giving pers onal at
tention to the commissary and quar-
termaster departments.
Started for Home.
Santiago de Cuba, Aug. 9.-The trans
ports Miami, Matteawan and Vigilanc:a,
loaded with United States troops, sailed
for the United States Monday morning.
To-day the transport Grand Duchess
will leave with 742 men and officers of
the Thirteenth infantry and six COM
panies of the Seventy-frst New York.
aggregating 45s men and officers.
Spanish Prisoners snil.
Washington, Aug. 9.-Information
was received by Adjt. Gen. Corbin from
Col. Humphrey, in charge of the trans
portation arrangements at Santiago,
that the Spanish hospital ship Alicante
sailed from here Monday with 800 of
the Spanish prisoners for Spain. 1t is
supposed that the Alicante carries a
majority of the sick and wounded of
Gen. Toral's army, as he would natu-
rally send them first.
Situation in Puerto Rico.
Ponce, Island of Puerto Rico, Aug. 9.
Gen. Brooke is here in conference
with Maj. Gen. Miles. His force is still
at Guayama. A force Of about 400 reg
ular Spanish troops are stationed about
eight miles away. The United States
cruiser Montgomery and the hospital
ship Relief have arrived at the Port of
Ponce.
Has All the Troops Needed.
Washington, Aug. 1O.-The secretary
of war has stopped the dispatch of
further reenforcements to Puerto
Rico. Gen. Miles reported by cable
that the force at his command was
ample for the purpose OF completing
the conquest of the island. This leaves
all of Gen. Wade's provisional corps, of
= ~, 1-.4
Capture Of Coamo.
Ponce, Aug. 1o.-The town of Coamo
was taken at eight o'clock yesterday
morning by the Sixteenth Pennsyl
vania and the Second and Third Wis
consin. Artillery was used with good
effect on the outlying blockhouse.
Two hundred Spaniards were cap
tured and 20 were killed, including
Commandant Rafael Illeseas and three
other officers. The American less was
one killed and seven wounded.
Fight in the Philippines.
Cavite, Manila Bay, Aug. 3,via Hong
Kong. Aug. 1O.-The first shedding of
American blood on Philippine soil took
place Sunday night, when ID Ameri-
cans were killed and A wounded dur
ing a skirmish at the Malate trenches
between Cavite and Manila. No attack
has yet been made on the Spanish
lines, but the Americans now occupy
the trenches formerly held by the
insurgents. The British admiral re-
ports the Spanish loss to be $50 killed.
and 900 wounded. Malate is located
halfway between Cavite and Manila
city.
A Fierce Battle.
Cape San Juan, Puerto Rico, Aug. II.
A force of 500 Spanish soldiers made
a desperate attempt to retake the
light house on Cape San Juan early
Tuesday morning. They were repulsed
by heavy fire from American war
ships and by gallant charge Of sail
ors fighting on shore. The Spanish
loss in killed and wounded was over
200. Not one American was killed, but