The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, June 14, 1898, Page 1

1 W Tall ‘This Paper not | to be taken from the Library. =+« VOLUME LXXXIV.—NO. 14. SAN FRANCISCO, TUESDAY, JUNE 14, 1898. PRICE FIVE CENTS. TWO DAYS HOT SKIRMISHING ABOUT GUANTANAMO BAY SPANIARDS BEATEN OFF BY OUR MARINES “Americans in Posses- sion of a Fme Base of Operations. ON BOARD THE HERALD-CALL DISPATCH BOAT, OFF PORT ANTONIO, via Kingston, Jamaica, June 13.—Fur- ther details of the fight at Guantanamo show that the Spanish lacked the courage to attempt to carry the ridge by a bayonet charge. They adopted bushwhacking tactics, which made the men on the ridge weary, though they showed unflinching courage throughout the whole engagement. Captain G. F. Elliott of Company C, who is an old warhorse, stalked about camp giving advice to his men, who smiled in re- sponse through the flashes of the rifles. First Lieutenant J. E. Mahoney of Company E, when a man fired accidentally, strode to his side, restraining him in one breath and encouraging him in the next. Lieutenant-Colonel R. Y. Huntington, calm and watchful, passed through the gloom with Adjutant H. L. Draper and Quar- termaster Charles L. Macawley, going the rounds as though night attacks were merely a matter of ordinary detail. Surely soldiers never had better examples than those which their officers afforded. Daylight was slow in coming. The Cuban colonel, who acted as guide and scout, said: “The Spanish will make an attempt to carry the ridge with a rush at day- break.” The marines replied that they hoped that light would come soon, so that they might be able to see the Spanish uniforms at close range. The defenders of the ridge grew very impatient at the slow arrival of dawn. When the darkness finally began to melt away the marines could see the Spaniards dodging about in the green lines of the thicket. As their firing grew hotter the Spanish uniforms became scarcer. Then came the news of the death of Ser- geant Charles H. Smith. The Spaniards removed their dead and wounded, but blood stains in the nearest positions which they had occupied during the night told that the volleys fired by the marines had been effective. The Marblehead at 6 o’clock Sunday morning signaled that the enemy was seen over to the right. The twelve-pounder in the camp of the marines was trained in that direction and opened fire on what proved to be a body of infantry. The Texas arrived after sunrise, and as the Spanish firing was increased, it was concluded that Colonel Huntington wanted rein- forcements. Captain J. R. Phillips landed forty marines with two Colt automatic guns. Twenty marines from the Marblehead fol- lowed, and the Marblehead moved slowly southward, throwing shells in the direction of the enemy’s flank. The guns from the Texas were dragged slowly up the zigzag path to the earthworks on the crest of the ridge occupied by the camp. Colonel Huntington decided that it would be useless to sacri- fice his men by keeping them where they were. While one com- pany deployed in skirmish line and moved against the enemy, the main body retreated under cover to a position behind the earth- works, where the guns from theTexas and two field pieces are now mounted. One man from the Herald-Call dispatch boat remained all night with the marines, and with the others mounted the slope. At 10 o’clock in the morning the Spaniards opened fire with one gun directly across the bar from our position on the ridge, and also opposite the Texas and Herald-Call dispatch boat Somers N. Smith. They aimed at the Texas, the Smith and the collier. This gun commanded the camp. Before the Spaniards found the range the Texas opened fire from both broadsides, shelling the brush north of the camp of the marines at short range, and also shelling the gun which just began firing from such an unexpected quarter, northwest of the bay. The collier Abarendos opened with her three-inch gun on the Spanish position in the mountains. That Spanish gun was silenced in five minutes. Then, moving southward, the Marblehead opened a flanking fire on the Spaniards who were engaging Colonel Hunt- ington’s skirmishers. Between the roar of the big guns could be heard the splutter of the automatic pieces. The rifle bullets hummed across the deck of the Texas, one striking near Captain Phillips while T was talking with him. - The Panther was struck by bullets frequently. On the ships the only man who suffered was the Cuban pilot on the Marblehead, who was shot in the leg. The Marblehead was still firing at 3 o’clock in the afternoon. At that time Colonel Huntington's skirmishers were still away, striking their tents in the advanced position. It was the general opinion that the marines could hold their position, but only by stiff fighting. The men were all worn out by fatigue and loss of sleep. Troops are expected here to-day, and if they have not been sent the delay can only have been caused by criminal negligence at Wash- ington. John Blairs Gibbs, the surgeon who was killed in the night at- UNITED STATES CRUISER S. AN FRANCISCO, Which Went @shore Yesterda > Y, but Was Floated Off Without @pparent Ipjury. ark & SPAIN READY TO CONSIDER PEACE OFFER Eager to @Accept Any Proposal That “Does Not Emanate From the Enemy.” BRUSSELS, June 13.—A special Madrid correspondent of the Petit Bleau of this city has telegraphed an Interview which he claims to have had with Senor Morino, the private secretary of the Spanish Pre- mier, Senor Sagasta, in which the secretary is quoted as having form- ally declared that the Spanish Government would now accept any peace proposal which was submitted “‘on the express condition that it does not emanate from the enemy.” But the Premier's secretary is said to have added: “The international medlation which would be especially welcomed on the part of Spain would be in the case of the initlative being taken by France or Austria.’” 000000000000C0C0C00D 000000000000 ] o Q (] o (] o (] o o (4] (2 Q 000000000000 0000 tack, had worked all day to get his hospital ready for the wounded. He paid no heed to the Spanish bullets which cut through the can- vas of his tent. When his task had been completed, as a steady vol- ley from the Spaniards swept over the ridge, he walked out to see how the men were faring. When he was fifteen feet from the hospital a Mauser bullet pierced his temple. He ‘was carried to the shelter of the trench which marines had dug on first landing and laid there in a sheltered spot. His case was hopeless from the first. Half an hour later Lieutenant Neville hur- ried into camp saying: ‘“Where is Sur- geon Gibbs? One of my men s ‘wounded.” The hospital orderly saluted and sald: “Surgeon Gibbs died a moment ago, sir.”” Surgeon Gibbs’ mother lives in Richmond. He was a volunteer of a few weeks’' standing and was extremely popular. He was absolutely fearless. First Lieutenant W. C. Neville and Second Lieutenant M. J. Shaw of Com- pany D were cut off from the main body for the night, while the post held by the marines was aflame and an al- most continuous rattle showed the desperate engagements in advance and to the right. The lieutenants defended themselves successfully and fought their way slowly back toward camp. They abandoned Sergeant Charles H. Smith’s body only when it became plain that many lives must be sacri- ficed in bringing it away under the withering fire. Once several guerrilla skirmishers passed almost through the marines’ camp on the edge of the crest and dis- appeared to the northward. They were quickly lost in the peculiar darkness of the tropical brush. Sometimes the range was so short that our officers were using their revolvers, firing when they saw f_luhes. Admiral Bampson early last week re- solved to await no longer the coming of American troops before seeking to establish a landing spot at some point not far east af Santiago. He decided to selze Guantanamo Bay, owing to its many advantages as a rendezvous for lboth navy and army. The American admiral on Wednesday communicated his decision to Commander McCall of the Marblehead who, with the Yankee and St. Louls, left Santiago at 4 o'clock on Thursday morning to carry out the plan. As I have Indicated in previous dis- patches, Admiral Sampson has been impatient over the delay in sending troops to aid in the capture of San- tlago. It has been his desire to estab- lish a base on the southern coast of Cuba, and Captain Cervera’s course in seeking a refuge In Santiago harbor seemed to him to make that the best point from which to direct American operations. It became evident to the admiral, however, that he would be left without a base indefinitely if he continued to wait for the arrival of troops and he re- solved to select some advantageous point forthwith. The blockade of San- tiago seemed likely to continue for some time, and the United States had no base of supplies nearer than Key West. The fleet was much in need of a safe harbor on the southern coast, where warships could coal and trans- fer provisions from the provision ships. Coaling at sea, although skillfully ac- complished by Commodore Schley’s ves- sels off Santiago, i8 very precarious in rough weather. This made it impera- tive to secure a harbor where the col- liers, supply ships and torpedo ships could safely le in all kinds of weather, and where troopships could lie when they should arrive. In view of this sit- uation the selection of Guantanamo Bay was most natural. Its advantages for American purposes are second only to Santiago, and no Spanish fleet with such a skillful commander as Admiral Cervera would have to be reckoned with after the land defenses were de- stroyed. Guantanamo Bay is about forty miles from Santiago and is admirably suited | GOES ASHORE DURING A-FOG Accident to the San Francisco. ESCAPES SERIOUS DAMAGE DRAWN OFF BY FOUR TUGS AT HIGH TIDE. Officers of the Cruiser Believe That It Will Not Be Necessary to Place Her in the Drydock. Spectal Dispatch to The Call. HIGHLAND LIGHT, Mass., June 13.—The flagship San Francisco, with Commodore Howell on board, while attempt- | ing to round Cape Cod in a fog, went ashore near High Head life saving station at 7 o’clock this morning, but by the hard work of the crew, which threw overboard a large quantity of| coal and ballast, and the assist- ance of four tugs from Boston, she came off at high tide at 6 o'clock to-night, apparently un- injured. The San Francisco struck head on, going at a speed of about eight knots. A hurried examination did not disclose any injuries to the cruiser, and it is probable that she will not have to be dry docked. to Sampson’s purpose. It is one of the largest and finest harbors on the en- tire coast of Cuba. It consists of two land-locked bays, one of which could easily accomodate a large number of ships. The inner ba~ is separated from the outer by a narrow tortuous channel navigable only with great care. On the inner bay is situated the town of Cai- manera, garrisoned by " 3000 Spanish troops and protected by a fort and sev- eral gun boats. The fort is quite a pretentious mili- tary structure, built on a small tongue of land which puts across the channel between the outer and inner bay. It completely covers the entrance, and ships in entering must pass within fifty yards of its guns. It is built of yellow stone. The extensive barracks adjoin-~ ing seem in good condition and present a much more formidable appearance than the castles which frown above the entrance to Santiago harbor. Knowing the value of Guantandmo Bay to the Americans, the Spaniards made as powerful and desperate a re- sistance as they could. l NOW WELL ON THE way TO CUBA Over Fifteen Thousand Troops Sail From Key West. Arriving at Santiago on Thursday, No Time Will Be Lost in Tak- ing That City. WASHINGTON, June 13.—The first army of invasion to Cuba is now well on its way, thirty-two transport steam- ships, bearing over 15,000 officers and men, convoyed by bat- tleships, cruisers, gunboats and auxiliary craft, sixteen in number, having actually sailed from Key West at daybreak this morning. C0000LOO 00000000 An authoritative statement to this effect was made at the War Depart- ment to-day, setting at rest all reports that the expedition was on its way, or had landed last week. The authorities made the announcement for the reason that the time for secrecy was passed as the scout boats had made sure that the path was clear before it and that no possible menace could come from the | Spanish ships or troops, even should the enemy know that our forces were | now advancing against them. With the expedition off officials here feel that there will be a period of comparative inaction for a few days. By Thursday at the latest the trans- ports will be off Santiago and a large American army will make its landing on Cuban soil. Admiral Sampson has cleared the way for this undertaking and little danger is apprehended in getting ashore. It will be after that, when the advance is made, that the actual developments may be expected. By that time it is likely the American commanders will be in direct cable communication with the authorities here. Admiral Sampson has taken the shore end of the cable landing at Guan- tanamo and a force of cable experts are rapidly restoring the line to work- ing order. The progress of this work has been so satisfactory that one of the leading officials of the State Department said to-day that it was hoped that direct cable communication would be estab- lished by Thursday. It will put an end to the dearth of official Information concerning important movements and will enable the authorities here to keep in close touch with those executing the strategic movements. The troops mak- ing up the expedition which started to- day are as follows: 4+ United States Infantry Regi- ments—Sixth, Sixteenth and Seventy-first; New York Volun- teers—Tenth, Twenty-first, Sec- ond, Thirteenth, Ninth, Twenty- fourth, Eighth, Twenty-second and Second; Massachusetts Vol- unteers—First, Fifteenth, Thir- teenth, Seventh, Seventeenth, Third and Twentieth. Total in- fantry, 561 officers and 10,709 en- listed men. Cavalry — Two dismounted squadrons of four troops each from the Third, Sixth, Ninth, First and Tenth Cavalry, and two dismounted squadrons of four troops each from the First United States Volunteer Cav- alry. Total dismounted cavalry, 159 officers, 2875 enlisted men; mounted cavalry, one squadron of the Second, 9 officers and 280 enlisted men. Artillery—Light Batteries E and K, First Artillery; A and F, Second Artillery, 14 officers and 323 enlisted men; Batterles G and H, Fourth Artillery, 4 officers and 132 enlisted men. Engineers—Companies C and E, 9 officers and 200 enlisted men. Signal Corps—One detachment, 2 officers and 45 enlisted men. Hospital detachments are in- cluded in the above figures. The staff corps numbers fif- teen officers. The grand total of the expedition is 773 officers and 14,564 enlisted men. Aside from the men and officers making up the expedition, the boats carried a vast quantity of supplies, ammunition and war equipment neces- sary to maintain an organization of D R e e R e e S R e e e e e e ]