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TWO CENTS.
SCRANTON. PA.. WEDNESDAY MORNING. JULY 27. 1898.
TWO CENTS.
9
-
TROOPS LANDED
AT PORTO RICO
"
Four Spaniards Killed In a Skirmish.
No Americans Injured.
The Expedition Commanded by General Miles Enters Gnanica
Harbor and the Spaniards Are Taken Completely by Sur
prise While the Fleet Awaits Outside the Gloucester
Brakes the Harbor Mines in Order to Reconnoitre the
Place Lieutenant Commander Wainwright Is Thanked
by General Miles.
(Copyright, 1SDS, by the
Port of Guanlca, Island of Porto
Rico, July 25 (2 p. m.), via the Island
of St. Thomas, D. W. I., July 26 (morn
ing). The United States military ex
pedition under the command of Major
General Nelson A. Miles, commanding
the army of the United States, which
left Guantanamo bay during the even
ing of Thursday last, July 21, was
landed here successfully today, after
a skirmish between a detachment of the
Spanish troops and a crew of thirty
belonging to the launch of the United
Htates auxiliary gunboat Gloucester
formerly Mr. J. Pierpont Morgan's
steam yacht Corsair. Four of the Span-
lards were killed and no Americans
were hurt. The American tioops will
be pushed forwaid promptly In order
to capture the railroad leading to
Ponce, which Is only about ten miles
east of this place.
From Ponce there Is an excellent
military road running eighty-five miles
north to San Juan.
The whole of General Brooke's force,
with the New Orleans, Annapolis, Cin
cinnati, Leyden and Wasp, are expect
ed here within twenty-four hours.
The ships left Guantanamo bay sud
denly Thursday evening with the Mas
sachusetts, commanded by Captain
Hlgginson, leading. Captain Hlggin
son was In charge of the nt.al expedi
tion, which consisted of the Columbia,
Dixie, Gloucester and Yale. General
Miles was on board the last-named ves
sel. The troops were on board the
transports Nueces, Lampasas, Com
anche, Rita, Unionist, Stillwater, -Macon
and Specialist. This was the or
der In which the transports entered the
harbor here.
The voyage from Guantanamo bay to
this port was uneventful.
At noon yesterday 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 there, 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.
THE GLOUCESTER'S PART.
Early this morning the Gloucester.in
charge of Lieutenant Commander
Wainwright, steamed Into Guanlca
harbor in order to reconnoitre the
Place. With the fleet waiting outside
the gallant little fighting yacht Glou
cester braved the mines which were
supposed to be in this harbor and
found that there were live fathdms of
water close In shore.
Guanlca bay Is n quiet place, sur
rounded by cultivated lands, In the
rear are high mountains and close to
the beach nestles a village of about
twenty houses.
The- Spaniards were completely tak
en by surprise. Almost the first they
knew of the approach of the army of
Invasion was In the announcement,
contained In the firing of a gun froni
the Gloucester, demanding that the
Spaniards haul down their flag, which
was floating from the flagstaff in front
of a block liojse standing to the east
of the village. The flist couple of
three pounders were fired Into tho
hills right and left of the bay, pur
posely avoiding the town, lest the pro
jectiles hurt women or children. The
Oloui ester then hove to within about
fOO yaids of the shore and lowpred a
launch, having on board a colt rapid
fire gun and thirty men under the
command of Lieutenant Huse, which
was sent ashore without encpunter
ing opposition.
Quartermaster Beck thereupon told
Yeoman Lacs' to haul down the Span
ish flag, which was done, and they
then raised on the flagstaff the tlrst
United States flag to float over Porto
Rlcan soil.
A SUDDEN ATTACK.
Suddenly about thirty Spaniards
opened fire with Mauser rifles on the
American raity. Lieutenant Huse and
his men responded with great gallant
ry, the Colt gun doing effective work.
Norman, who received Admiral Cer
vrra's surrender, and Wood, a volun
teer lieutenant, shared the honors
with Llruterunt Huse.
Almost Immediately after the Span
lards flrcd on the Americans the Glou
cester opened lire on the enemy with
all her three and six pounders which
could be brought to bear, shelling the
town and also dropping a number of
shells Into the hills to the west of
Guanlca where a number of Spanish
cavalry w.er. to be seen hastening to
ward the spot where the Americans
had landed.
Lieutenant Huse (hen threw up a lit
tie fort which he named Fort Wain
wright and laid barbed wire In the
street In front ot It In order to repel
the expected cavalry attack. The lieu
tenant also mounted the Colt gun and
signalled for reinforcements, which
wfcre sent from tho Gloucester. Tha
Associated Press dispatch boat Cynthia
Associated Press.)
II was the only boat In the harbor ex
cept the Gloucester.
A few of the Spanish cavalry joined
those who were nghtlng In the street
of Guanlca, but the Colt barked to a
purpose, killing four of them.
By that time the Gloucester had the
ringe of the town and of the block
house and all her guns were spitting
fire, the doctor and the paymaster
helping to serve the guns.
Soon afterwards white coated gallop
ing cavalrymen were seen climbing the
hills to the westward and the foot sol
diers were scurrying along the fences
from the town.
THE TOWN WAS WON.
By 9.15 with the exception of a few
guerilla shots, the town was won and
the enemy was driven out of Its neigh
borhood. Tho Red Cross nurses on the Lara
paas and a detachment of regulars
were the first to land from the trans
ports. After Lieutenant Huse had captur
ed the place he deployed his small
force Into the suburbs. But he was
soon reinforced by the regulars, who
were followed by Company G of the
SKth Illinois, and then by other troops
In quick succession. All the boats ot
the men of war and the transports
were used In the work of landing the.
troops, each steam launch towing four"
or five boats loaded to the rails with
soldiers. But everything progressed
In an orderly manner and according
to the plans of General Miles. The
latter went ashore at about noon, af
ter stopping to board the Gloucester
and thank Commander Wainwright for
his gallant nctlon.
ueneral Miles said to the corres
pondent of tho Associated Press: Gu
anlca and Clnga are In the disinfected
portion of the Island. Matteo, the In
srgent leader, lives at Yauco, a few
miles Inland. Had we landed at Cape
San Juan a line of rifle pits might have
stopped our advance."
Then Is no doubt that General
Miles' plans aie being kept absolutely
secret. The spirit of the troops, men
and officers, is admirable.
Tho town of Ponce Is sure to fall
shortly before the combined attack of
our army and navy.
The main fighting, until San Juan
de Porto Rico Is reached, will be along
the line of a splendid military road
leading from Ponce to San Juan de
Porto Rico. But, every precaution will
be taken to lessen our casualties, even
to the use of the street shields, of
which a supply was brought with the
expedition. The Associated Press boat
I" the only despatch boat with the
licet.
HOBSON AT BOSTON.
The
Young Officer Shakes Hands
with Many Admirers.
Boston. July 26. Lieutenant Rich
mond I. Hobson, famous tor his con
nection with the Merrimac Incident at
Santiago, arrived In Boston today, en
business for the navy depaitinent. The
fact of his coming having gotten
abroad, a large crowd was at the rail
way station to greet him. U was w'tn
considerable difficulty that he c.uild
make his way through the throng to
a carriage, in which he wvas driven to
a hotel. The crowd followed, and when
Lieutenant Hobson had finished his
breakfast he was compelled to hj'd
an Informal reception.
He shook hands with a large number
and briefly expressed his appreciation
of the welcome he had received. Ht- ct
once set about seeing what could be
done here In the matter of procu, ,ng
pontoons, etc., to aid In raising tlmst
vessels of Admiral Cervfivi's ilfet
which It has been decided to save.
New York, July 26. Lieutenant Hoh
son arrived from Boston tonight and
immediately took a cab for Jersey City
en route to Morrlstown, N. J., to visit
his bister. At Morrlstown a largo
crowd was at the depot to receive lib'i,
Flrewoiks were set off, a cannon sa
lute was fired and bells wre rung In
his honor. He was obliged to shuke
bandrt with hundreds ot people on nls
way from the station to the residence
where his sister was stopping. He will
return to New York tomorrow.
Barney Cohen's Funeral.
Wllkes-Burre, July 26. The funeral of
Barney Cohen, a member of tho Ninth
regiment, who died at Chlckimauga, was
held hero today with military honors.
Tho local Grand Army of tho Republic
post nnd Sons of Veterans escorted tho
remains to their last resting pluce.
WAR HISTORY OF A DAY.
FRENCH AMBASSADOR Jules Gambon
calls on President McKinley In the In
terest of Spain to suo for peace.
FOUR SPANIARDS killed ut the land
Ins of American troops at Porto Rico.
ADMIRAL SAMPSON'S official report Is
given out by the war department.
AMERICA'S DUTY.
Should Retain Philippines and Porto
Rico and Free Cuba.
Washington, July 2G. Senator For
aker, of Ohio, the only Republican
member of the committee on foreign
relations In the city, said tonight that
while ho was very glad to sec the end
of the war Is In sight, he did not wish
to take any position which would ap
pear to be forestalling the action of
the administration. The treaty of
peace when concluded, he said, would
be submitted to the senate. It was his
opinion that whatever terms were made
the reasons for them would be such as
to commend them to the Judgment of
the senate and they would bo agreed
to, especially as hostilities would have
been ended. Senator Foraker said his
views were, of course, well known. "I
do not think we should give up any
territory of which wo have taken pos
session," he said. "We should retain
Porto Rico and the Philippines and
give to Cuba Independent government
and maintain such relations with the
people as will ultimately bring about
the annexation of the island to the
United States by the desire of the peo
ple themselves, ns In the case of Ha
waii. The Independence of the people
of Cuba Is due to them for the splendid
flcht they have made for three years
against Spain. They have made their
Independence possible."
Senator Foraker said he did not see
how It was possible to turn the Phil
ippine Islands back to Spain.
COAL PRESIDENTS MEET.
Representatives of Several Anthra
cite Roads Discuss Conditions.
New York, July 26. The presidents
of several of the anthracite coal roads
met in seciet session In the Jersey
Ccnttal building today. The meeting
lasted over two hours and at Its con
rluslonyfco one of those present would
tell what, If t'ny, action had been tak
en. One of the presidents said that
the situation In the coal trade was
discussed generally with a view to ac
tion that would Improve present condi
tions. Among those present at the
meeting were:
President Maxwell, of tho Jersey
Central; President Thomas, of the
Erie; Vice President Holden. of the
Lackawanna; President Walter, of
the Lehigh alley; President Fowler,
of the Ontario and Western; Vice
President Hendoison, of the Philadel
phia and Reading, and President OH
phant, of the Delaware and Hudson
Coal company.
It Is understood that the August
tonnage will piobably be curtailed and
may be the smallest In years. This, It
is believed, will strengthen the trade
Immediately. The recent restoration
of rates by the Delaware, Lackawan
na and Western to the original prlccb
for which they cut them two weeks
ago shows a movement toward higher
rates. Another meeting will probably
be held In a short time at which an
effort will 'be made to have all tho In
terested companies represented and an
agieement reached.
PROHIBITIONISTS MEET.
They Endorse Dean William Trick
ett for Superior Court.
Wllllamsport, Pa., July 20. The Pro
hibitionist state executive committee
met here today and endorsed Dean
William Trickett, of Carlisle, the Dem
ocratic nominee, for superior couit
judge. They decided to put a full leg
islative ticket In the field and co-op-eiate,
as "Chairman Jones put It, with
other reform parties In the state. Rev.
Dr. Swallow was heie, as Was also
E. A. Van Valkenbuig, John Wana
makcr's right hand man. All stopped
at the same hotel. When Chairman
Jones was approached he said he had
nothing to say on the subject of a fu
sion with the Wanamaker forces.
Mr. Van Vnlkenburg said there was
nothing In this talk of fusion. lie
thought there would be no doubt ot
Colonel Stone's election. He said nte
visit here was purely accidental and
when he found a local Republican fight
on and a Prohibition gathering ho kept
in full view so that he could not be
accused if uuythins happened.
SHAFTER'S SANITARY REPORT.
List of the Sick Soldiers at San
tiago. Washington, July 26. Tho war de
partment at 10.30 tonight posted the
following:
Santiago. la Huytl, July 2.
Adjutant General, WashtiiKton:
The following la tho sanitary condition
for July 25: Total sick, other than fever,
2S"; total fever, 2.13S; new cases of fever,
ViV, cases of lever returned to duty, 4U.
Pilvnto Ward Marrs, Company J2.
'fhlrty-thlrd Michigan, died of yellow
fever July 21. (Signed) Shatter.
CLEVELAND RACES.
Cleveland, O., July 26. Pel forniances at
the second day of tho grand circuit meet
ing while Interesting, wero not or the
sensational order, which characterized
tho opening day.
Tho 2.16 race was won by Lady of the
Manor after Lottio Smart had taken tho
ilrst two heats. Best time, 2.09-H.
Tho 2.20 trot required six heats, Louise
Met' took tho llrst two. Oris O the third
nnd then Red Roy took tho next threo
heats and tho race. Best time, 2.14V4.
Klntawah, tho sensational California
stallion, won tho 2.14 pace which had
fourteen sturters. Penlland won the
third heat. Best time, 2.07,
Third Brigade Will Move.
Chlckainauga National Military Park,
July 2H. The Third brigade of the First
division, First corps, General Fred D.
Grant commanding, received orders today
to picparo for Immediate departure. This
brigade consists of tho First Kentucky,
Fifth Illinois and Third Kentucky, tho
Third battalion of the Sixteenth Penn
sylvania being attached. They will leavo
for Newport News early tomorrow morn
lug. Iron Company Falls.
Brldgcton, N. J,, July 26. Tho Cumber
land Nail nnd Iron company'atter n long
Mrugglo went Into the hands of u receiver
today. Tho court appointed Mayor Jonu
Smullcy ns rceelver Half a million dol
lars' worth of property Is Involved. In
cluding the personal estutes of tho chlery
fJIUUerts. 4I1U iiiui ibuiic-B UKUlimi liiu piuilk
amount to J175.0OO. Iiobert F. Buck, prcs.
Ident, and Chester J. Buck, vice presi
dent, held most of tho stock.
SPANISH
i
Not Indirectly Through the Great Powers of Europe, but by Direct Ap
peal to President McKinley The Proposition Submitted by M.
Jules Cambon, the French Ambassador Much Specu
lation as to the Terms of Peace.
Washington, July 26. The Spanish
government has sued for peace, not In
directly through the great powers of
Europe, but by a direct appeal to Presi
dent McKinley. The proposition was
formally submitted to the president at
3 o'clock this afternoon by the French
ambassador, M. Jules Cambon, who had
received Instructions from the foreign
ofllce nt Paris-to deliver to the United
States government the tender of peace
formulated by the Spanish minlstr .
At the conclusion of the conference le
tween the president and the French
ambassador the following official state
ment was Issued from the White
House:
"The French ambassador on behalf
of the government of Spain, and by
direction of the Spanish minister of
foreign affairs, presented to the presi
dent this afternoon, at the White
House, a message from tho Spanish
government, looking to the termina
tion of the war and a settlement of
terms of peace."
This was the only official statement
made public, but It sufliced to put at
rest all conjecture and to make clear
and definite that at last Spain had
taken the Initiative toward peace.
The proposition submitted to tho
presldent by the ambassador acting for J
ADMIRAL SAMPSON'S
OFFICIAL REPORT
ACCOUNT OF 1HE BATTLE WITH
CERVERA'S FLEET.
The Naval Commander Tells of the
Attempt of the Spanish Admiral
to Escape and of the Good Work
Done by the American Gunners.
Reports of Commodore Schley and
Other Officers Follow.
Washington, July 2G. The report of
Admiral Sampson upon the destruction
of Admiral Cervera's Spanish fleet oft
Suntlago de Cuba on Sunday, July 3.
IS'JS, was given to the public this
evening. The repot t Is accompanied
by the reports of Commodore Schley,
Captain Clark, of the battleship Ore
gon, and Captain Evans, of the bat
tleship Iowu,
Admiral Sampson details at length
the nttempted escape and destruction
of the Spanish vessels and tells of the
good work done by the vessels of his
squadron. He states that his llasshlp,
the New York, wag about sewn miles
fiom the entrance to Santiago harbor
and was ptoeeeding to Slboney to con
sult with General Shatter. The New
York on hearing the firing returned Im
mediately and arrived in time to fol
low the Brooklyn, Oregon and Texas In
the ehae of the Cristobal Colon which
finally seeing there was no chance of
escape, was liin ashore by her com
mander at Rio Torquino, 48 miles from
Santiago. The other vessels of the
licet were then lying wrecked on the
coast.
Continuing in paragraph 10 of the re
port, Admiral Sampson says'
"Captain Cook, of the Brooklyn, went
on board the Cristobal Colon to re
ceive the surrender. While his boat
was alongside I came up In the New
York, received his report nnd placed
tha Oregon In charge of the wreck to
save her If possible, and directed the
prisoners to le transferred to the Res
olute, which had followed the chase.
Commodore Schley, who&e chief at
staff had gone on board to receive tho
surrender had directed that all their
personal effects should be retained by
the oillcers. This order I did not mod
ify. The Cristobal Colon was not In
jured by our firing and probably Is not
much injured by beaching, though she
ran ashore at high speed. The beach
was so steep that she came off by the
working of the f ea. Rut her sea valves
were opened and broken, trencherous
ly, 1 am sure, after her surrender and
despite all efforts she sank. When it
lucame evident that she could not be
kept nlloat, tho was pushed by the
New York bodily upon the beach tho
New York's stem being placed against
her for this purpose the ship being
handled by Captain Chadwlck with ad
mirable Judgment nnd sank In shoal
water and may le saved. Had this
not been done she would have gone
down In deep water nnd would have
been, to a certainty, n total loss.
COMPLETE VICTORY.
"11. I regard this complete and Im
portant victory over the Spanish forces
aa the successful finish of several
weeks of nrduous and close blockade
so stringent and effective during the
night that the enemy was deterred
from making the attempt to cocap at
night and deliberately elected to rr.ulte
the attempt In daylight. That Ma
was the case I was Informed by the
commanding ofllcer of tho Cristobal
Colon
GOVERNMENT
NOW
the Spanish government was quite gen
eral In terms, and was confined to the
one essential point of an earnest plea
that negotiations be opened for the
purpose of terminating the war and
arriving at terms of peace. The com
munication of tho Spanish government
did not suggest any specific terms of
peace, nor was there any reference
made to Cuba, the Philippines, Porto
Rico or other Spanish possessions. The
evident purpose of the Madrid author
ities, was to first learn whether the
United States would treat on the sub
ject of peace and after that to take up
such terms as tha two parties might
suggest. Neither was there any sug
gestion from tho Spanish government
that an armistice be established pend
ing the peace negotiations. It seemed
natural, however, from the proposition'
that formal peace negotiations be en
tered upon that, pending their conclus
ion, a cessation of hostilities would oc
cur. In the conversation which followed
the reading of tho proposition neither
the president nor the ambassador en
tered upon the question of the terms
of peace. The Instructions of the am
bassador had confined him to the one
essential point of opening peace nego-
tlatlons, and It was evident that the
"12. It seems proper to briefly de
scribe here the manner In which this
was accomplished. The haroor or
Santiago Is naturally easy to block
ade there being but one entrance, and
that a narrow one; and that the deep
water extending close up to the shore
line presenting no difficulties of navi
gation outside of the entrance. At ;be
time of my arrival before the port-
June 1 the moon was at Its full and
there was sufficient light during the
night to enable any movement outsi "e
of tho entrance to be dDiented: but
with the waning of the moon and the
coming of dark nlght, there was op
portunity for the enemy to seape, or
for his torpedo boats to make an at
tack upon the blockading vessels. It
was ascertained with fair conclusive
ness that the Merrlmuo so gallantly
taken Into the channel on June 3rd,
did not obstruct It. I therefore main
tained the blockade as follows:
"To the battleships was assigned the
duty, In turn, of lighting the channel.
Moving up to the port, nt a distance
of from one to two miles from tbc
Morro dependent upon the condition
of the atmosphere, they threw a
searchlight beam directly up the chan
nel and held It steadily theie.
THE BEACH ILLUMINATED.
"This lightened up the entire breadth
of the channel for half a mile Inside of
the entrance so brilliantly that the
movement of small boats could be de
tected. Why the batteries never open
ed lire upon the searchlight ship was
always a matter ot surpiiso to me: but
they never did. Stationed close to the
entrance of the port were threo picket
launches and at a little distance fur
ther out three smull picket vessels
usually converted yachts and, when
they were available, one or two of our
torpedo boats. With this arrangement
there was at least a certainly that
nothing could get out of the harbor
undetected. After the arrival ot the
army, when the situation forced upon
the Spanish admiral a decision, our
vigilance increased. The night block
ading distance was reduced to two
miles for all vessels, and a battleship
was placed alongside the searchlight
ship, with her broadside trained upon
the channel In readiness to fire the
instant a Spanish ship would appear.
The commanding officers merit the
great praise for the perfect manner
In which they entered Into this plan
and put It Into execution. The Mas
sachusetts who according to routine,
was sent that morning to coal at Guan
tanamo, Ilka the others had spent
weary nights upon this work, and de
served a hetter fate than to be absent
that morning I enclose for the Infor
mation of the department, copies nt
orders and memorandums Issued from
time to time, relating to the manner
of maintaining the blockade. When
all the work was done so well It la
dlillcult to discriminate in praise. The
object of tho blockade of Cervera's
squadron was fully accomplished, and
each individual bore well his part In
it, tho commodore In command of the
second division, the captains of ships,
their officers and men.
DESTRUCTIVE FIRE.
"Tho Are of the battleships was pow
erful and destructive, nnd the resist
ance of the Spanish squadron was, in
great part, broken ulmost before they
had got beyond tho range of their own
forts. Tho line speed of the Oregon
enabled her to taV a front posl'n In
the chase and tho Cristobal Colon did
not give up until tho Oregon had
thrown a 13-Inch shell beyond her.
This performance adds to the already
brilliant record of this fine battleship,
and speaks highly of the skill and care
with which her admirable efficiency
has been maintained during a service
SUES FOR PEACE
president desired to consider the propo
sition before giving any definite reply.
It was finally determined that tho
president would consult the members
of his cabinet concerning the propo
sition, and alter a decision had been
arrived at, M. Cambon would then be
invited to the White House for further
conference and for a final answer from
the United States government.
REGARDING TERMS.
Naturally the plea of Spain to open
peace negotiations opens up a wide
field of conjecture on what the terms
of peace will be. Thus far there is no
olllcial warrant for saying what terms
Spain will propose, or what terms the
United States will offer or accept So
far as this country Is concerned It Is
the general Impression that the com
plete Spanish evacuation of Cuba and
Porto Rico will be Insisted upon as a
sine quanon. There Is not the ramo
certainty as to the Philippines, Lad
rones and Carolines, although the be
lief Is growing that the terms of the
United States will Include coaling sta
tions In these groups. On the part of
Spain It Is believed that she now has
reached such a realization of her mis
fortune that she will readily consent
to terms for the evacuation of Cubu
and probably Porto Rico. The Spanish
unprecedented In the history of ves
sels of her class. The Brooklyn's west
erly blockading position gave her an
advantage In the chase which she
maintained to the end and she em
ployed h,ejlflne battery with telling ef
fect. The Tfixas and the New York
were gaining In the chase during the
last hour, and had any accident be
fallen the Brooklyn or the Oregon
would have speedily overhauled tho
Ci Is tubal Colon. From the moment
the Ssanish vessel exhausted her first
burst of speed the result was never In
doubt. She fell, In fact, far below
what might reasonably have been ex
pected of her. Careful measurements
of time and distance give her an aver
age speed, from the time she cleared
the harbor mouth until the time she
was run on shore at Rio Tarqulno ot
13.7 knots. Neither the New York nor
the Brooklyn stopped to couple up
their forward engines, but ran out the
chase with one pair, getting steam, of
course, as rapidly as possible on all
boilers. To stop to couple up the for
ward enslnes would have mount a de
lay of fifteen minutes, or four miles In
the chase.
SEVERAL SHIPS STRUCK.
"14. Several of the ships were
struck, the Brooklyn more often than
the others, but very slight material
Injury was done, the greatest being
aboard the Iowa. Our loss was one
man killed and one wounded, both on
the Brooklyn It Is difficult to explain
this Immunity from loss of life or In
jury to ships In a combat with modern
vessels of the best type: but Spanish
gunnery Is poor at the best, and tho
superior weight and accuracy of our
fire speedily diove the men from their
guns and silenced their fire. This Is
borno out bv tho statements of pris
oners and by observation. The Span
ish vessels, us they dashed out of the
harbor, were covered with the smoke
from their own suns, but this speedily
diminished In volume and soon almost
disappeared. The fire from the rapid
fire batteries of th battleships ap
pears to have heen remarkably de
structive. An examination of the
stranded vessels show that the Almlr
nnte Oquendo especially had suffered
terribly fiom this fire. Her sides are
everywhere pierced and her decks were
strewn with the chaired remiins of
their own fallen.
"in. The reports of Commodore W.
S. Schley nnd the commanding ofllceis
are enclosed
"10. A board, appointed by me sev
eral davs ago, has made a critical ex
amination of the stranded vessels, both
with a view of reporting upon the re
sult of our lire and the military fea-
T1IK KKWS THIS 3I0UNINU
Weather Indications Today:
Partly Cloudy; Variable Winds.
1 General Spain Sues for Peace.
General Miles' Troops Land on I'orto
Rlcan Soil.
Official Report of Admiral Hampson.
2 General Admiral Sampson's Official
Iteport (Concluded),
Financial and Commercial.
3 Local Tangle Develops In Providence
Road Paving Bids.
Second Day of Sisters' Institute.
4 Editorial.
5 Local Democrats Name Their Covnty
Ticket.
Santoro's Slayer Still at Liberty.
G Local West Scranton and Suburban,
7 Whitney's Weekly News Budget.
S General-Thirteenth Will Do Provost
Guard Duty.
Llfo of the Enslncers at Camp Town-send,
deslro Is npparcntl)' very strong fot
the retention of the Philippines, al
though there Is little doubt that coal
ing stations there and at other points
would bo conceded. The matter of
war Indemnity Ih for future consid
eration, although there does not ap
pear to be a disposition among the of
ficials here to pile up a heavy war In
demnity against Spain In her present
helpless! condition.
The news of the landing ot General
MIIch at Guanlca, on tho southwest
shore of Porto Rico, came as a gcnulno
surprise to tho war department. It
had been all carefully plannpd that ho
was to make his landing at nnother,
point. Just why General Miles made
this wide departure from tho plans ot
tho department Is not known, but it Is
supposed that he gathered some in
formation since he left Slboney that in
duced him to make the change.
However, It Is a matter for congratu
lation to the war department that Gen
eral Miles has managed to set foot on
Porto Rico before the first overtures
for peace, and thus to place the Island
In the same position as Cuba and tho
Philippines, namely, as territory at
least partially in the possession of the
United States at the beginning ot the
negotiations.
tures Involved, and of reporting upon
tha chance of saving any of them nnd
of wrecking tho remainder. The re
port of the board will be speedily for-,
warded. Very respectfully,
"W. T. Sampson,
"Rear Admiral. TJ. S. N., Commander-in-Chief
United States Naval Force,
North Atlantic station.
"The Secretary cf the Navy, Navy
department, Washington."
SCHLEY'S REPORT.
The Commodore Warmly
Praise3
His Crew.
Washington, July 2C Tho report of
Commodore Schley to Admiral Samr
son tells In the ilrst MX paragraphs ot
tho destruction of Cervera's vessels
and continuing with paragraph 7, he
says:
"1 would mention for your consid
eration that the Brooklyn occupied tho
most westward blockading position
with the Vixen, and being more di
rectly In the route taken by the Span
ish squadron was exposed lor seme,
minutes, possibly ten, to the gun firo
of three of the Spanish, ships and tho
west battery at a range of fifteen hun
dred yards from the ships and about
three thousand yards from the bat
teries, but the vessels of th entire
squadron, closing in rapidly, boon di
verted this fire and did magnificent
work nt close range. I have never be
fore witnessed such deadly and fatal
ly accurate shooting as was done by
the ships of your command as fiey
clewed In on the Spanish squadron, and
I deem It a high privilege to commend
to you for such action as you may
deem proper, the gallantry and dash
ing courage, the prompt decision and
the skillful handling of their respective
vessels, of Captain Philip, Captain
Evans, Captain Clark and especially
of my chief of staff, Captain Cook, who
was directly under my personal ob
servation, and whose coolness, prompt
ness and courage were of the highest
mder. The dense smoke of the com
bat shut out from my view the In
diana and the Gloucester, but as these
vessels were closer to your '.lapshlp, no
doubt their part in tho conflict was
under your Immediate observation.
COURAGE OF OFFICERS.
"Lieutenant Sharp, commanding the
Vixen, acted with conspicuous coui
age, although unable to engage lhj
heavier ships ot tho enemy with his
light guns, nevertheless was close !nt
the battle line under heavy fire, and
many of the enemy's shot passed I e
yond his vessel.
"I beg to Invite special attention to
the conduct of my flag Ueutencu,
James H. Sears, and Enslvjn Edward
McCauley, Jr., aide, who were constant
ly at my side during the engagement,
and who exposed themselves fearless
ly in dlschaiging their duties; and alsj
to the splendid behavior of my secre
tary, Lieutenant CI. W. Wells, Jr., who
IContlnued on Pago 2.J
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VEATHER TORECAST.
Washington, July 20. Forecast
for Wednesday: For eastern Penn
--
sylvania, partly cloudy weather
with showeis near (he- coast;
smitheily winds, For western
Pennsylvania, f.ilr waimer; light
east to south winds.
New York, July 27. (Herald's
forecast) In tho middle states and
and Now Krgland, toda. fair,
sultry and warmer weather will
prevail, picceded b -loudlnesh,
local rain on tin co.l.ih with lieph
to light winds, nvutly northerly
and easterly, becoming vailiblo.
I mt-H"Htt1-M--mtvt-r