The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-12-01

suiebtaI folly. and have not thu force to
form a landing party strong enough 10 sa~
euze the capture Of the forts. 40 Disagree
meafs mentioned by the paper have beer
brought to my notice By Gen. shafser-"
ShafteF's Diseourtesy 20 the Navy.
Admiral sampson gives number % dis
patches. saying he was asked 20 participate
in the terms OF surrender. and tried TO md
out when he would send a representative;
but owing TO one or two decays no time
was fixed. Sampson Comments a. fellows:
This foregoing shows clearly the most
absolute Joint action, ard took II Ter
graotsd that We should De- joint signa,5rtes
81 my capitulations. as IL customary n all
services In such circumstances. Capt
Chadwick arrived al the front a. the ear
lieot hour possible for hin TO dc so. and in
formed Gen. Shaster OF my expectancy in
the matter. but Gen. ShAfier reTeEapforfly
refused. The convention i1as aeysr been
signed and he stated al enc reason tnat
nothing had been sald Of The army IN my
report OF the Reefs action Of July 3 There
would have been as much reason for men-
tion4ng me navy Ia the report OF the land
action OF July ]. when an assent was made
by our army on the Spanish lines.
Array Tries 20 Hold the ships.
mo mention WAS made OK the shipping
In the captiu.aticns and Capt. Chadwick
informed Gau. shaffer that all Spanish
Nshtps would he regarded BY us as property
40 be turned over 10 the navy. lie said he
would refer such matters 10 the secretary
of war. but that. OF course had no bear
ting upon what considered my duty in the
matter. particularly In view of our late
experience of Spanish perfidy In regard to
injury to ships. which, IN my opinion. made
IT necessary 20 look after their safety at
once ! thus. after the hauling down OF
the Spanish flag. sent prize crews On board
the gnnboat AIvarado and 10 FIVE merchant
steamers In the har5or. An officer Of the
army was found board the Alrara9o.
who stated be had been sent to take charge
OF her. whereupon / addressed the fol-
lowing letter TO Gen. Shafter.
u. 8. Flagship New York, July II, 1888
Sir: Upon sending In an officer to take
charge OF the captured Spanish gunboat.
the Aivarado. Il was found that one OF
your officers was on board, evidently with
the expectation OF taking her In charge. It
shonid hardly be necessary 10 remind you
OF those wbiSh have resulted in the fall OF
Santiago. all floating material is turned
over TO the navy. as al forts. etc, go to
the army. have been lying within 500
yards OF the MORO, from which the Snan-
tsh flag WAS hauled down at O'Clock a.
m. and upon which the United States flag
my forces have frequently engaged he
s forts and yours have not exchanged a s1ot
- 2s..- them, i await the arrival OF a de-
tachment ~ your troops 10 take posses
sion. as they must eventually occupy them.
! expect the same consideration
request tina. you viii relieve Lieut..
have directed Lieut.. Marble to assume
command OF the Aivarad0.
Very respectfully, etc Z"
After quoting some further eorrespon-
dence on the matter. In which Sampson
claims the prizes. he reyers 10 the expul-
sion Of Lieut.. Doyle from the captured yes
sels and the failure of Shafter TO invite
any OF the squadron officers to be present
~ the surrender aai adds:
This. OF course. may have been mere
oversight. but II Us. OF course. to be re-
gretted that any such thing took place
Had the navy been withdrawn after the
action OF the ID. after which all the fleets
operations were 10 aid the army. all the
shippinS referred to would have escaped.
ANA our army become the besieged Instead
Of the besiegers. as. OF course. the Relna
Mercedes and the gunhoat Aivarado would
have been free 10 destroy or drive off the
transport fleet. ! do not think the COM
handing general appreciates how neces-
sary part OF our forces were TO the re-
duction of Santiago and the surrender OF
its garrison In any case. independently of
the effect OF our shell. which latter was
undoubtedly one OF the principal causes OF
the surrender at this time"
Declines 10 Acknowledge the Navy.
Skaters reioinder came on August B. lie
declined to acknowledge the rights claimed
by Admira, Sampson. and stated that as
tho terms OF surrender were only signed
by the commission appointed by him, and
not By himself nor Gen. Toral. he should
protest against Admiral Simpsons sign
ing them.
Sampson cites number ~ kilograms to
ahow that Shafter had the assistance Of the
neet In bringing about the surrender.