New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-08-27
THE ARMY'S ABRUPT HALT.
sX11.FrL INVASION OF PORTO RICO
STOPPED BY PEACE.

.vrp1c,H LINE ADVANCED IN A SOLDIER
~ AND BUs1NEssLIKE MANNER-THE
NEWS OF PEACE HARDLY RECEIVED
WITH ENTHUSIASM
sr.ry CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUSE.l
- Porto Rico Aug. 1.-THE cessation OF
,os.ui,ies incidental to the signing Of the pro-
80, ~ the peace treaty rudely interrupted
,sien that was devised with skin and was
,.,,c executed in manner most satisfactory
. me authorities this island. The progress
=, tho American Army from the time Of the first
,o,a,nr AZ Guanica had been rapid and the pros
80 far future advances were most encourag-
p Then came the word that Spain had yield
"a - the terms proposed by the President. and
49,. four columns came TO an abrupt halt.
glance at the map will show how far the
,r,sr,can forces had invaded the island when
-. order cane for the cessation OF all forward
.,orenents In the east General Brooke with
General HAMS brigade. after landing at Arroyo
nod taken Guayama town Of considerable i'm
,,arce In the centre General Wilson had
counted Coamo twenty five miles north OF here
.,d had made a demonstration before Aibonto,
whore there was large Spanish force further
=, tho vest General Henry. with A part Of Gen
.ral Gerretsons brigade and small force Of
pasr,lars had marched 70 within fifteen miles
~ Ar4cibo after occupying Adjuntas and Ctu-
eda. on the extreme west General Schwan. with
the nth Infantry. two Regular batteries and
,roon of Regular cavalry. had marched along
the coast and taken Mayaguez. the principal
mort in that end OF the island. after a sharp
skirnlish with force that outnumbere his own.
Each Of these commands was ready for for
ward movement. which al this writing would
have set the American forces before San Juan.
The slight opposition met by General Brooke at
Guayana General Wilson at Coamo and Cen
eral Schwan near Mayaguez indicated that
there would be little difficulty in reaching the
capital and officers and men alike felt that the
capture NJ san Juan was matter Of few days
a. least Peace. however welcome II was in
many respects. deprived them Of all chances to
attain honor. and the news was hardly received
with enthusiasm.
THE ADVANCE RAPID
~ the progressive movements Of the various
commanders It can only be said that they we're
extremely rapid. considering the difficulties en-
countered General Henry's route lay over the
highest mountain range in the island by ROADS
that were not remarkable for their excellence
For fully thirty Of the forty-hve miles the route
was deep in mud or beset with rocks and crossed
nv mountain torrents. as yet innocent OF orloses'
and forbade only at times when the heavy rams
did m, swell them 70 the size of formidable
rivers In the first twenty-four miles the men
climbed 10 an altitude Of 5000 feet above sea
level The exertion Of marching over hard ROADS
N such an elevation made II almost necessary
for the men to discard their heavy rolls. ana
these. carried on oxcarts. got so far behind that
,or ,uo nights the men were forced TO sleep on
the Ground without other covering than their
shelter tents and rubber blankets. Thus what
was intended as humane measure inflicted
more discomfort than would have the carrying OF
the blankets Added 70 this the fact that
,ha rations too were delayed by the slow going
oxcarts and the men were forced either TO go 10
sleep without food walk back several miles,
open the boxes and carry their supper 1or"aru'
This entaied hardship OF great severity, yet the
men complained little and endured the uneA-
pecsed circulation with great forttude ana
cheerfulness. and In the end marched into Utu-
ada in fine form.
General Schwan's route was covered IN more
comfort than any of the others In the nrst
place his infantry were transported as far as
Vance. fifteen miles from here on railway trains.
and he was enabled to establish base OF sup
olies within reasonable distance OF his advance
From Yauco 70 Mayaguez he road vas com
paratively level. the only difficulty met with
h.,ng The -ordine NJ several large but shallow
streams
POSITION OF THE AMERICAN LINE
For ease and comfort General Wilson had the
hAe. ~ the bargain. as his route was over the
military turnpike which begins here and ends
G., San Imam The men were able 70 march fast.
md ,he oxcarts and mule trains had little rou-
HE in keeping W with the column. The Skin
roish at Coamo was only an incident or the
y,ovenoent and It's successful termination only
added 10 the enthusiasm ~ the mon In the
command From Coamo N the present camp
was marsh 81 only a. few miles and no" the
brigade lies before Aibonito. in one ~ the peas
ATTEST camps on the island
General Brookes advance was snort one
being only from Arroyo, the landing place 10
,,a town Of Guayama Of which The former Is
the mort The roads are fair in that neighbor-
bood ard none of the difficulties encountered
bv General Henry had 70 he overcome
Annroxinatey the American line no" ex-
tends across the island AZ an average distance
~ twenty-five miles from the southern coast
As r,,le the camps are heathful, and the men
ere cheerful though now that the war Is ended
all the volunteers are anxious to return TO their
homes in the States
General Miles has expressed 10 all MS COM
uanders his qualification al the progress "i the
Army m 10 the time that hostilties ceased ana
all Of them feel that the invasion Of Porto hico
has bean ACCOMPLISHED in soldiery and bust
nesske manner