Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1898-12-08

chip, dated guantanamo, August 4.
In the first of the report Sampson cells
OF the demonstration made against
Aguadores by the Michigan troops Un-
der Dutfield, the point of which was
that as 5000 as the ships took part in
the firing the Spaniards disappeared.
He says that the bombardment of San
tiago on July served no particular
end because Skaters attack had been
postponed. He quotes dispatches from
himself to Shafter stating it was i'm
possible to force an entrance to the
harbor until the mines were removed,
and that the work could be acconp-
hshed only after the troops had taken
the forts. Shafter replied that he
could not tell when he could take the
batteries. II they were as difficult as
those against which he was pitted, it
would take some time and great loss
OF life. Says he:
Il am at loss to see why the navy
cannot work under a destructive fire
as well as the army. My loss yes.er-
day was over 500 men. By all means
keep up fire on everything in sight un-
til demolished. | expect, however,
with time and sufficient men to cap
ture the forts along the bay"
An hour later on the same day, July
I'd, Shafter again appealed to Sampson
to immediately force the harbor en-
trance so as to avoid future loss
among his men. already heavy. He
says: You can operate with less
troops than | can
In reply on the same day Admiral
Sampson pointed out that the channel
of the harbOr was we'll strewn with
mines which would certainly result in
the sinking of one or more of his ships
if he attempted to enter the harbor
and that by the sinking of one the har
Dor would be blocked against the en-
trance of the others. He had hoped
that Shafter would take the batteries
from the rear, SO that he might drag
for the torpedoes, but it was Shafter's
earnest desire that he should force an
entrance. He would prepare to under
take it thinking, however, that the po-
sition of both the army and navy
would be made more difficult if they
failed in the attempt. He proposed to
use mines at Guantanamo to counter
mine the ones at Santiago which would
consume considerable time. Says
Sampson:
1T is not so much the loss OF men
as it is the loss OF ships which have
until now deferred me from making a
direct attack upon the ships within the
the port
After the battle with Cervera 5 fleet
Shafter renewed his request that
Sampson force an entrance, saying
that his present position had cost him
1000 men and he did not wish to lose
any more. Sampson, in comment
says this shows complete misappre-
hension of the circumstances. He al
legeS that the sinking of the Mercedes
would obstruct the entrance of the
larger American ships and extensive
shore batteries were known to exist
His chief of staff had indicated to
Shafter the points that should 1e car
ried before any attention was paid tC
the city, and the taking Of these points
would have insured the destruction oil
the mines and the entrance of the
American fleet. Shafter had cordial
ly consented to this and Sampson die
not know why the plan was changed
unless the troops had been advanced
too far to divert. He expressed the
belief that adherence to the orig
inal plan would have resulted in q
much quicker surrender of the Spanish
troops and less loss of life except tc
the navy, which would have borne the
brunt of the attack
Sampson tells how he contemplated
bringing w the marine battalion from
Guantanamo. landing it at the foot of
MorI to assist in the assault or 10
take the west battery and had no
doubt of the success of his plan. He
arranged visit with Shafter to .alK
this over. but being i'll was obliged tc
send his chief Of staff. Can't. Chadwick
They reached an arrangement to bonn
bard Santiago from the sea for "a
hours with heavy guns and if that
failed to bring the enemy to terms
then to assault Socapa battery with
marines and Cubans and force an en-
trance to the harbor with some of the
smaller ships. Thus" says Sampson
Il have been surprised to see pub
lished in the papers any statement If 8
refusal on my part to endeavor !,
force my way into the harbor, and
cannot understandable case these re.
ports be truthful statements--why