Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 19, Number 97, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 August 1898 — THE SPANISH ARMY FLANKED [ARTICLE]

THE SPANISH ARMY FLANKED

A Decisive Battle Will Be Fought In a Few Days—The Americana Are Clotlng lu Upon Aibonito. New York, Aug-. 5. —A special to Thursday’s Evening- Journal, from Ponce, Porto Rico, under date of August 2. says: Strong American forces from front and rear are now closing in upon Aibonito, where 5,000 Spaniards, strongly intrenched, hold the road to San Juan. The decisive battle of the Porto Rico campaign will be fought there within a few days. The flanking of the Spanish army was accomplished by Gen. Brooke, who had just arrived' with his command from Newport News. - Gen. Brooke landed 500 troops at Guayama, east of Ponce, and proceeded by an excellent military road over the Terito mountains to a position in the rear of the Spanish force. This town commands the vital mountain pass on the main road between Ponce and San Juan. The chief attacking army is within 22 miles of Aibonito and is advancing steadily along the main road. The Spanish are in a strong natural position there, and their defeat means giving up possession of the San Juan road. Ponce, Aug. 3, via Kingston, Aug. 5. —Spaniards are reported advancing. In addition to the regular fortifications at Aibonito, on the road to San Juan, it is reported that the enemy has mined cliffs, preparatory to blocking the road, if obliged to retire.