Miles Takes Ponce

St. Thomas, D. W. I., July 31.- ]Copyright, 1S9S, by the Associated Press.]- The American troons have reached Coame, about sixty miles northeast of Ponce on the road to San Juan. Thus far they have met with no resistance. Washington, July 30.- The most important news received at the war departrr.ent yesterday was the cable from General Miles announcing the excellent prosrress being made in southern Porto Rico and the capture of Ponce. Miles' dispatch was as brief as it could be written, but gave the same facts as are given in the foliowing received, via St. Thomas, dated Ju:y 29: "The capitulation of the tounof Ponce took placeyesterday afternoon. Major General Miles arrived at port of Ponce Wednesday morning at daylight with General Ernst's brigade and General Wilson's división on board transporta. General Ernst's brigade immediately started for the town of Ponee, three miles inland. The American troops are pushing to■ward the mountains and will join General Henry with his brigade at Youca, which has been captured by our troops. Fought at Guanica ou Tuesday. "A flght before the latter place on Tuesday last was won by the American volunteers. The Spaniards ambushed eight companies of the Sixth Massachusetts and Sixth Illinois regiments, but the enemywas repulsedand driven back a mile to a ridge, where the Spanish cavalry charged and was routed by our infantry. General Garretson led the flght with the men from Illinois and Massachusetts.and the enemy retreated to Yauco, leaving four dead on the field and several wounded. None of our men was killed, and only three were slightly wounded. The wounded are: Captain Gihon Barret, Private James Drummond and Private H. C. Garry. Porto Ricans Are with Vb. "The Porto Ricans are glad the American troops have landed and say they are all Americans and will join our army. The roads are good for military purposes. Our troops are healthy, and General Miles says thé campaign will be short and vigorous." The department expects an easy conquest of Porto Rico, and notwithstanding the overtures for peace made by Spain the war will be prosecuted vigorously in that island. Conditions of the Surrender. The conditions of the surrender of P once, as cabled by Higginson, commander of the squadron convoying Gen. Miles' army were as follows: "First, garrison to be atlowed to retire; second, civil government to remain in force; third, pólice and fïre brigade tobe maintained without arms; fourth, captain of the port not to be made a prisoner." The gunboat Dixie, Davis, commander, made the capture of the town and with it eaptured a number of sugar lighters, in which the army was later landed.