The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1898-07-27
OUR FLAG NPORTO RICO
General Miles Advance Guard
Routs Spanish Soldiers.
FOUR OF THE ENEMY KILLED.
Not One Of Our soldiers Injured, aud
the Entire Force Landed without
Mishap-The spuniards Taken Com-
plptply NV SuIprigp.

Fort OF tuantCa, Porto RICO, via st,
Thomas, d. w. l.. July 27.-The United
States military expedition under the
command of Major General Nelson a.
Miles was landed here successfully on
Monday, after a skirmish with de-
tachment of the Spanish troops and a
crew of 80 belonging to the launch of
the United States auxiliary gunboat
Gloucester, formerly Mr. J. Pierpout
Morgan's steam yacht Corsair -Four of
the Spaniards were killed and no
Americans were hurt.
The American troops will be pushed
forward promptly in order to capture
the railroad leading to Ponce, which is
only about ten miles east of this pace.
From Ponce there Is an excellent mill
tary road running S5 miles north 90 San
Juan.
At noon on Monday General Miles
called for a consultation, announcing
that he was determined not to go by
San Juan cape, but by the Mona pas
sage instead land here, surprise the
Spaniards and deceive their military
authorities. The course was then
changed and the Dixie was sent to
warn General Brooke at Cape San Juan.
Early Monday morning the Glouces-
ter, in charge of Lieutenant Com
mander Wainwright, steamed into
Guanica harbor in order to reconnoitcr
the place. With the fleet waiting out
side, the gallant little fighting yacht
Gloucester braved the mines which
We're supposed to be in this harbor and
found that there were five fathoms of
water close in shore. Guanica Bay is
a quiet place, surrounded by cultivated
lands In the rear are high mountains
and close to the beach nestles a village
of about q houses.
The Spaniards We're completely taken
by surprise. Almost the first they knew
of the approach Of the army of in
vasion was in the announcement con-
tanned in the firing of a gun from the
Gloucester. demanding that the Spau-
iards haul down their flag which was
floating from the napstaff i'm front of
a bIockhouse standing to fine east of
the village. The FIRST coupIe of three
nounders were fired INTO the bius ripbt
and left Of the hay. purposelv avoidinr
the town lest the nroiectiIe hurt ,yo-
men or children. The Gloucester then
hove tn within about GOO wards of the
shore and lowered a launch having on
board a colt rapid fire gun. and 70 men
under the command of Lieutenant
Huse. which was sent ashore without
encountering opposition.
Ouartermaster Reclx tbareunop told
Yeoman Lacy to baul down the snan-
isb flag which was done and tbav
then raised ON the napstaff the Arst
limited States flag 70 foat over porto
Rican soil
Suddenly about 70 Standards onanad
can marty Lieutenant uuse and his
men resnondad With graat gaIIant,,v
tba cor p,,n do,no effacti,,e ,,,orIl Nor
mon wbo racaived Admiral C,arvera, IS
surrender and Wood a voIunteer lien
tenant ebarod tho bopors ,yi+b Tiau-
tenant TTuse
Almost immediately after tbe Span-
iards fired ON the Americans the CiIou-
cester opened fire on the enemy with all
her 2 and & nounders which could he
brought to bear. sheuing the town and
also dropping shells into the hills to
the west Of Guanica, where a number of
Spanish cavalry were to be seen
fastening toward the sDot where the
Americans landed.
Lieutenant Huse then threw up q
little fort, which he named Fort Vain
wright. and laid barbed wire I'm the
street in front of IT In order to repeI the
expected cavalry attack The liautan-
ant also mounted the Colt gun and
signalled for reinforcements. which
were sent from the Gloucester The nrase
dispatch boat CYNTHIA II was tl-a onIy
boat in the harbor except the GIouces.
ter.
While the Mausers were pepperlnp
all around. Lieutenant Commando,
Wainwright called to the press cor
respondent and said: "They fired on lis
after their flag was down and ours was
up, and after had spared the town for
the sake of the women and children.
The next town I strike will blow up"
Presently few of the Spanish cav
airy Joined those who We're fighting in
the street Of Guanlca, but the Colt
barked to purpose, killing four Of
them.
BY that time the Gloucester had the
range of the town and of the block
house, and all her guns were splitting
fire, the doctor and the paymaster
helping to serve the guns.
Soon afterwards white coated, gal
Looping caValrymen were seen climbing
the hills to the westward and the foot
soldiers We're scurrying along the
fences from the town.
By 9:45, with the exception of a few
guerilla shots, the town was won and
the enemy driven out of its neighbor-
hood.
After Lieutenant Huse had captured
the place he deployed his small force
into the suburbs. But he was soon
reinforced Oy the regulars, VINO We're
IonoWeu ny CuilPahy Oh lhe SlNth