Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1898-07-30
GEN. MILES LANDS.
American Troops Now in Porto Rico
and Old Glory Raised.
AZ Port Guanica, Near Poncc, Our Soldier
Set Their Feet on Spanish Soil After
q skirmish In which -Four
spaniards Are KILLED.

Port Of Guanica, Porto Rico, July 70,
via St. Thomas, D. W. l., July 26.-The
United States military expedition un'
der the command OF Maj Gen. Nelson
A. Miles, which left Guantanamo
bay during tho evening Of Thursday
last was landed here successfully to.
day, after skirmish with detach.
ment OF the Spanish troops and crew
Of 80 belonging TO the launch OF the
United States gunboat Glouces-
ter. Four Spaniards were killed and
no Americans hurt. The troops were
pushed forward promptly in order to
capture the railroad leading TO Ponce,
which Is only about ten miles east OF
this place. From Ponce there Is IN ex-
cellent military road running so miles
north to San Juan. The whole Of
Gen. Brooke's force, with the New Or.
leans, Annapolis, Cincinnati, Leyden
and Wasp. arc expected here within "a
hours
The voyage from Guantanamo bay
TO this port was uneventful. At noon
Sunday Gen. Miles called for con.
sultation, announcing that he was de-
termined not to 60 by San Juan cape,
but by the Mona passage instead, land
here, surprise the Spaniards and de-
ceive their military authorities The
course was then changed and the
Dixie was sent to warn Gen. Brooke
at Cape Juan. Ponce, which Is stu.
atcd 10 or IS miles from this port, Is
to the eastward and harder place to
take. In addition, the water ut Ponce
Is too shallow for the transports to be
able to get close in shore. Then,
again, Ponce itself Is some little dis.
lance from where the troops would
have been able to land II that point
had been selected for the debarkation
of the expedition. One advantage OF
this place Is that II Is situated close to
the railroad connection with Ponce,
which means OF transportation our
troops hope to secure to-day.
Monday morning the Gloucester, In
charge OF Lieutenant Commander
Wainwright steamed into Guanica
harbor in order to reconnoiter the
place. With the feet waiting outside,
the gallant little fighting yacht braved
the mines which were supposed
to be In the harbor. and found that
there was five fathoms Of water close
In shore. The Spaniards were taken
by surprise. Almost the first they
knew OF the approach Of the army OF
invasion was in the announcement
contained in the firing Of n gun from
the Gloucester demanding that the
Spaniards haul down their flag, which
was floating from u flagstaff in front
Of n blockhouse standing to the east
OF the village. The Gloucester then
hove to within about 600 yards Of the
: shore and lowered q launch having
on board Colt rapid fire gun and 20
men under the command OF Lieut..
Huse. These were sent ashore with
, out encountering opposition. Quar-
termaster Bcck thereupon told ico.
man Lacy to haul down the Spanish
flag, which was done, and they ther
raised upon the flagstaff the first
United States flag to float over Porto
, Rican soil.
Suddenly about so Spaniards opened
, FIRE with Mauser rifles on the Ameri
CAP party. Lieut.. IIuse and his mer
responded with great gallantry, the
. Colt gun doing effective work. Nor
men, who received Cervera's surrender,
and Wood, q volunteer lieutenant
shared the honors with Huse. Al
, most Immediately after the Spaniard;
, fred upon the Americans the Glouces
) ter opened fire upon the enemy, shell
| ing the town and also dropping shelli
. in TO the hills to the west of Guanica
where q number of Spanish cavalry
. was TO be seen Fastening toward the
, spot where the Americans had landed
Lieut. Huse then threw up little
, fort, which he named Fort Vain
! wright
GEN. MILES SENDS A DISPATCH.
|, Washington, July 27.-The following
dispatch was received yesterday from
1 Gen. Miles:
/. St Thomas July .. - Secretary OF War
| Washington: Circumstances were such tina
deemed Il advisable TO take the hnroor o
Guanica first, 10 miles west OF Ponce, whicl
t was successfully accomplished between day
z light and II o'clock Spaniards surprised Th'
, Gloucester. Commander Wainwright, first en-
, tered the harbor; met with slight resistance
Y fred few shots AL the transports arc nov
. in the harbor and infantry and artillery rap
idly going ashore. This Is well protecie,
:. harbor. The water Is sufficiently deep for oil
transports and heavy vessels to anchor withil
800 yards OF shore The Spanish flag was low
Y cred and the American flag raised ut II oclocl
4 to-day. Capt Higginson. with his feet ha
!. rendered able and earnest assistance The
troops in good health and best OF spirits NJ
casualties Major General Command
| ing ARMY