Evening star., 1903-07-02

and was next assigned to the command OF
the marine guard on the u. s. s. Ossipee.
He remained that duty for three years
and was then assigned to duty at the ma
rine barracks Norfolk. During that
signment he served with the army during
the railroad riots. near Baltimore, in the
summer of 1877. In December of that year
he was attached to the U. 8. s. Franklin.
and in 1880 was transferred to the u. 8. 8.
Alliance. on which vessel he served two
years and then served two years at the
Norfolk navy yard.
Colonel Elliott. while first lieutenant,
served with the battalion of engineers
which rendered such efficient service under
command of General then ColoneD Hey
wood on the isthmus OF Panama in the
spring Of 1885. when the American naval
forces commanded by Rear Admiral Jouett
were landed there for the protection of
American interests. Subsequently he served
at the Newport station and at the Norfolk
navy yard. and then successfully on the u.
s. s. Vandalia. Mohican. Lancaster and
Baltimore, returning home from foreign
cruise in the last named vessel In July, 1895.
After three years service at the marine
barracks, Brooklyn, N. Y. he was, at the
outbreak of the Spanish war in April. 1898,
assigned to duty with the marine battalion
of the North Atlantic squadron and served
with special distinction in the engagements
at Guantanamo. Cuba a result Of which
he was advanced three numbers on the list
Of captains
The Fight in Guantanamo Bay.
President Mckinley made the following
reference to the engagements at Guanta-
namo In his message to Congress regarding
the Spanish war:
"By June the cutting of the last Cuban
cable isolated the island. Thereafter the
invasion was vigorously prosecuted: On
June 10, under a heavy protecting fire,
landing of 600 marines from the Oregon,
Marblehead and Yankee was effected in
Guantanamo bay where 1t had been deter
mined to establish naval station. This
important and essential port was taken
from the enemy after severe fighting by the
marines, who were the first organized force
of the United States to land In Cuba The
position so won was held despite desperate
attempts to dislodge our forces"
Secretary Long also devoted chapter to
the engagement in his report for 1893. He
said that the marine battalion commanded
by Lieutenant Colonel Huntington and
numbering twenty-four commissioned off,
GERS and 623 enlisted men went from New
York to Guantanamo on the cruiser Pan
ther and made "the first permanent landing
by our forces on Cuban soil" The marines
landed June 10 and went into camp. On
the following day the camp was attacked
by a force ofSpaniards and from that time
until the 14th was constantly under fire.
Assistant Surgeon John B. Gibbs and five
enlisted men were killed and many others
wounded.
ITO much praise" said Secretary Long,
cannot be given these officers and men for
the gallantry and discipline displayed under
the trying conditions which confronted
them almost Immediately upon landing on
Cuban soil. For three days and nights they
were compelled to remain constantly under
arms repelling the Spanish attacks, and
this, too in a semi-tropical country where
the dense underground afforded shelter to
the sharp-shooters of the enemy"
The Fight for the Well.
Lieutenant Colonel Huntington. who had
md nf t.n
refers to Colonel Elliott's conduct in lead
ing an expedition against a superior force
OF Spaniards guarding a well at Cuzco.
about six miles from the camp which was
the only water supply of the enemy with
In twelve miles. as follows:
Captain ElliOtts cool advance up
rocky. steep mountain path. under fire for
twenty minutes without being able to re-
turn 1t. and the gallantry and skill dis
played by him throughout this affair. were
essential to the great success attained by
the expedition. and are worthy of. and
In rank one grade"
General Haywood recommended that Cap
tain Elliott receive the brevet OF major and
lieutenant colonel "for distinguished con-
force OF Spaniards. who were guarding
well near Guantanamo, the capture Of
which was OF the utmost strategical i'm
portance."
In the Philippines.
Returning from Cuba, Captain Elliott was
placed In command of the marine barracks
in this city. In the meantime having been
promoted to the grade of major In August
1899. he was sent to the Philippines In
command of the ID Battalion of Marines
and behaved with conspicuous gallantry in
the engagement at Novaleta in October Of
the same year. Major General Otis. COM
manding the United States troops in the
Philippines at that time, wrote to the rear
admiral commanding the naval forces, re-
garding Lieutenant Colonel Elliott, as fol-
lows:
For the prompt assistance rendered by
the body of marines under the command OF
Lieutenant Colonel G. r. Elliott, which In
accordance with my request you caused to
give assistance at Novaleta and vicinity to
our column Of troops commanded by Gen.
eral Schwan and marching westward from
Bacoor. permit me to thank you and,
through you. Colonel Elliott and his body
Of marines for the able and efficient service
and aid rendered US. ! have the honor to
inclooe an appreciative communication sub