n Mayaguez, the principal
port in that end of the island, after a sharp skirmish with a force that
outnumbered his own. The slight opposition met by General Brooke at
Guayama, General Wilson at Coamo, and General Schwan near Mayaguez,
indicated that there would be little difficulty in reaching the capital,
and officers and men alike felt that the capture of San Juan was a
matter of but a few days.

The third landing of American troops in Porto Rico took place on August
2, at Arroyo, from the St. Louis and the St. Paul. The army then took
the place of the navy and accepted the surrender of the town. There was
no defense and no Spanish flag was flying. The surrender of Arroyo was
important, as there were a large number of manufacturing enterprises
there.

The attitude of the civil authorities and the ineffective character of
the defense made by the Spanish troops, says the San Francisco Argonaut,
was illustrated by the advance made by General Henry's division. General
Roy Stone was sent in advance with a small body of about one hundred men
to reconnoiter the road and determine its fitness for military
operations. The character of the expedition may be gathered from the
fact that General Stone and his officers rode in carriages. Yet town
after town surrendered to these outposts until they were encamped before
Arecibo, on the northern coast of the island. The main body had nothing
to do but follow and furnish flags for the surrendered municipalities.

One of the most extraordinary things in the whole campaign was the
surrender of the city of Ponce. This was done in response to a telephone
communication from Ensign Curtin. Not a single shot was fired.

After the surrender of Ponce it was reported that a large Spanish force
had gathered about ten miles in the interior. Two companies of soldiers
were sent out by General Ernst to see what this meant. On the outskirts
of the town a party of Spanish soldiers, loaded down with guns and
swords, was met with. As soon as the Spaniards caught sight of the
Americans they ran toward them crying, "Don't shoot!"

They declared that they were coming in to surrender. Although the party
was small, they had arms enough to stock a regiment. They were taken
before General Wilson, gave up their arms and signed a parole.

There was quite a strong resistance made at Coamo, a town on the main
military road between Juana Diaz and the Spanish mountain stronghold at
Aibonito. General Wilson effe