The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-08-09
THE ARMY AND NAVY
Accord Between Shafter and
Sampson at Santiago.

washington, IL. - aug Ga S''"
deal of light is thrown upon the reia-
tions between the army and navy dur
ing the critical period just preceding TIE
surrender of Santiago by extracts from
Admiral SIMPSONS report dated July
18th. which is now made public by the
Navy Department.
If had been the Admiral's desire to do
everything possible to cooperate with
General Shafter. The attack as pro
posed by the General on Santiago was
in complete accord with the views held
by the Admiral and discussed with his
staff. A formal arrangement under date
of July 9th was made for the attack by
CAPTAIN Chadwick. representing Admiral
Sampson and General Shaftcr
This was followed by considerable cor
respondcnce.
On July 9th General Shafter sent to
the commanding general of the Spanish
forces a proposition for surrender, say
inc that unless this was arranged nv
noon of the 9th, Il bombardmcnt OF the
city would be begun and continued wllh
the heavy guns of the ships. the city
being within easy range of the guns.
General Shafter said:
81 make this suggestion of Il surrender
purely in Il humanitarian spirit do
not wish to cause the slaughter of any
more men either of Your EXcellency's
forces or my own; the final result under
circumstances so disadvantageous 10
Your Excellcncy being Il foregonc con-
clusion."
July 9th General Sha ftcr sent word to
Admiral Sampson that Spanish com
mander proposes to abandon Santiago if
permitted to march out to Holguin and
not be attacked en- route. The truce
will continue for the present and | will
notify you of its discontinuance.' Mex
day the General informed the Admiral
that it was expected that the lombard
ment would begin the same evening or
the next morning and following this
Though no date is indicated), the Gen
eral said:
81 desire you to begin firlngupon San
tiago de Cuba as near i p. III. to-day as
possible"
Then appears this letter from Shaftcr
70 Sampson under date of Siboncy, July
9th:
messages | sent you yesterday and to-
eay have apparently been received by
YOU. | have just asked that you com
mence firing on Santiago ut p. IN. and
sent Won this morning our latest map of
our position: can You begin bombardment
tomorrow morning? If you can. please
do so and continue it as arranged with
Captain Chadwick"
On the morning of the 9th the navy's
position was taken M close into the
beack at Aguadores. when the Brooklyn
and Indiana continued the bombardment
of Santiago from 9:27 a. IN. until / p. M,
at which hour it was requested by Gen
eral Shafter that it should cease.
On July 10Th report was sent from
the army as to the fall of shells. show
ing that the fire had been very effective
and that several fires had started in the
city. and nearly all the shells fell within
the city limits. - sf'
Admiral Sampson notified General
Shafter on the 10Th that he proposed II
begin the bombardment next morning
with 13-inch shells. The Oregon, Massa
chusetts and Indiana were promptly on
hand on the morning Of the 18th. pre-
pared to fire. On the evening of the
18th the Admiral was notified that Il
truce existed and that all firing must
be discontinued during the suspension Of
hostilities. To this the Admiral re-
piled:
Il am now prepared to shell the city
of Santiago with three Of my largest
iron-clads with 13-nch projectiles can
commence Mt short notice. Will wait
your signal"
July 18th the enemy surrendered with
out further action by the fleet.
Admiral Sampson had on the previous
day informed General Shaftcr that be
desired to be represented in the negotia
tions for surrender as it was the result
of the work of the combined forces.