The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-08-20
/ IS RATHER FUNNY
When One Comes to Think of
the Porto Rico Campaign.
HEAVYWEIGHT SENT OUT
To Lick a Bantam That
Doesn't Want to Fight.
HEAVYWEIGHT SENT 0U-


scented an element which borders on the
farcial giant goes out to do battle
with a pigmy. The pigmy pufs out his
breast and declaius with stacy grandilo-
quence concerning his ancient glory and
his present greatness. The giant roars,
spits fire. and-exit pigmy. The giant
struts about the arena with a compla-
cency and self-satisfaction rivalling the
attitude of thecelebrated Mr.. Jack Horner
who sat in a corner and the curtain
falls on the first act of the great inter-
national farce-comedy.
For several months we have been talk
ing very seriously about an expedition
| to Porto Rico. Plans have been formu-
lated, and then readjusted, and then
! postponed. Orders have been Issued and
! then countermanded We have declared
| that we must go, and that we would go.
| We have decided that the move was need
! less, and that we could hold Porto Rico
! on our indemnity account, without actual
seizure of the island. At length We de-
| cided that an army Of % 1000 or $1,000 Ameri
! can troops, supported by some of the best
! ships Of our navy, and led by the General
/
would be a fairly adequate force to ac-
complish the sug1ugation of an army
! consisting of 1000 Spanish regulars and
5000 volunteers, comparatively few OF
whom had any fanaucal enthusiasm for
their cause. After many vexing delays
and much confusion, portion of our
army of invasion was gotten away from
four different points of deprature-San-
tiago, Tampa Charleston, and Newport
News. The rest of 1t was to follow as
rapidly as our complicated and unsyste-
matte methods of transport loading would
permit.
1t was not my good fortune to witness
the initial steps Of the conquest of south
ern Porto Rico. I was tearing along, at
canal boat speed, through the blue Carib-
bean waters. on board transport whose
speed and general fitness for transport
purposes gave rise to much speculation
on board whether we should reach our
destination before all on board became
old and tootiless nongenarians. While
anchored in-the Bay of SANTANA, where we
met for the purpose Of getting one or two
buckets of water for our horses and
mules and a few cocoanuts and mangoes
for the men. we received word OF the
surrender of Ponce without resistance.
We also received instructions, via the
Annapolis, TO change our destination
from Fajaido to Ponce. After swamping
our pilots boat in SANTANA Bay, and hav-
ing the curse of all his gods called down
upon our unlucky heads, we succeeded
in covering the one hundred and eighty
miles which separate SANTANA from Ponce
in ipfy
anchor some ten miles off a dangerous
coast to wait for daylight and pilot.
On the morning of August 5, we drew
up into the Bay of Ponce to take our
place and part in complex and apparent
~ headless process of transport unload
ing We were told to select a temporary
camp for ourselves, and to get into it as
best we could and as rapidly as possible.
On going ashore I heard the story Of the
seizure of the different points which had
been taken, from officers who participated
in the enterprise. Guanica, a little city
OF no special Importance, was given
little surprise party. The place lies some
fifteen miles or so TO the westward of the
city of Ponce. It's people were engaged
IN their customary pursuits. suspecting
nothing, when the appearance of a fleet
of warships and transports, and the plung
ing of a few shells into their quiet little
community. sent the popula ton to the hills
behind the town. A force was landed
under cover of the guns of the warships,
and an insignificant engagement. in whice
the total casualties on both sides amount
ed to one man killed and a dozen wound
ed. was followed by a cordial reception
and welcome greeting. The people were
invited to return and were assured Of
thir salty. They came back to say; I'VE
are glad 10 see you" Guancia was ours.
took to the hills and woods. and amicable
relations were established with the peo-
pie of the city.
While this was going on, a few Ameri-
can warships turned into the bay of
Ponce on a tour of investigation. IT
could hardly be called an aggressive move
ment. but it turned out a sort of Davy
Crockett and the coon affair. IF that is
you Mr.. Crockett" said the coon, don't
shoot; III come down" A boat put off
from shore bearing a flag OF truce ard
the information mat we need not shoot.
Ponce was ours il we wanted Il. Il was
an inexpensive and perhaps an inglori-
Gus way of acquiring 1t. bu; we wanted
was accepted. Ponce was ours. lieu
tenant Of marines was sent on shore TO
take temporary charge OF affairs, and the
stars and stripes foated over another
city of Porto Rico. There is 4 kind of
subdued whisper extant That our general
in-chief was not over pleased to find.
upon tis arrival from Guanlca day or
two after, thai while he had been catch
into the net OF our navy and had been
gathered in. after our usual naval meth
Cd. with no LIST Of dead and wounded
Upon the arrival of the army the place
was duly turned over 70 the military au-
thorlties and a military headquarters
established on shore
A small force under General Brooke
was sent eastward. soma forty miles
along the coast, 10 occupy the village OF
Arroyo. and the Port Of Ponce. wticE lies
some two miles from the city proper.
was turned from the pIscid little CONNER
cial seaport snto a huS,ling. busting
American Bedlam BY the headless. tail
less, and unSystematic work Of unloading
about 1900 troops with all their endless
supplies ana inQedimea,a. AL transfers
are made II tie usual manner of Spanish /
seaports-oy lighter. There are TO
wharyes nor docks % which vessels oaa
go All must lie from half mile 10 a
mile OF shore. and t;ls lighters are either
towed in BY Launches from the warshjps
or polled ashore by sczntiiy clad natives
A naval officer tSs been appointed as ten
porary hArooglaasteV. he. ~ the sxs--
else % cool snd level 6sad and The ex-
penditure Of much Precipitation. does the
hest sAst can De done 70 provide lighters