The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-07-07
THE TRUCE AT SANTIAGO.
GLITTER WATTS FOR THE Co-OPERA-
TToN or SIMPSONS FLEET.

WttHnFanC0 OF HI1Nb y hAo W.
md war Departments NJ to whether the
,y.r.bips should Enter the HRrbor
r,-ouph the Mine Fields and Shell the
ro.n-T The President Determined TO
procure Cooperation OF Army and Navy.
u,sn,varoy, July Cat this time. when
-,,ory Mt Santiago appears to be assured with
". arrival of strong reinforcements for Gen.
,,.tter difference Of opinion has arisen be-
~ tbe Navy and War departments which
"-so,o, ,O cause some feeling, and
",.hons interfere with the successful nc
Eomnlishmrnt of the naval and military
S,ogrammc within q reasonable time. The
pnes,tnns nj issue are becoming exaggerated
STSorgb misconceptions shared by both sides.
n",sIJop, Mckinley Is doing oil he can to har-
Larizo tho differences. but the matter will re-
msn unsettled until after q full report has been
a.o,vnd ON the result Of the conference be-
,uoan Cen. Shafter and Admiral Sampson.
rhIch presumably began yesterday.
Tho controversy appears to have been initi-
,,ad by n despatch from Gen. Shafter saying
.hot he could not take Santiago with his present
,trco without tho cooperation Of the navy.
mis- p,eunt Tint he would be unable to renew
Me assault on the land defences Of the city
nn,oss Admiral Sampson took his ships
in,o the harbor of Santiago, past the
,boe batteries. and through the mine
sn1is and proceeded to shell the town and the
,n,ons that were opposing Gen. Skaters adj
ronre. Admiral Sampson has expressed TO
,hs Navy Department q desire to at
,.mpt 10 force his way into the inner
hay. but thcNavy Department has not
vet consented Ia let him do this. All that
has passed between Gen. Shafter and the
War Derartment and Admiral Sampson aud the
,-...,,,,t -, tho ctthinnt 10 ppt known
hn, Yesterday matters assumed such a shape
that President Mckinley determined to take a
hand In bringing about cooperation be-
tveen the army and navy. He therefore
ssrt n message TO Admiral Sampson and Gen.
shaner directing them to hold a conference and
cndcavor TO adjust any differences as to the
noHcy to be pursued. This was done yesterday.
sinre then considerable friction between the
military and naval authorities has de-
yelcped, although not to the point where
any personal feeling has been involved.
70 all appearances the division among the
Washington authorities does not extend to
Gen. Shaftcr and Admiral Sampson. although
uan. Skaters dispatches indicate that he be-
iIeves the American fleet should enter the har-
Dor before his army makes another move.
The difference OF opinion in the War and
Navy Departments is distinctly marked. The
military authorities contend that the taking
Of Santiago Is strictly a naval affair. the
object Of sending troops there having been
TO secure the destruction OF Cervera's feet. SO
that American vessels could be free to carry
out other plans without dangerous interference
by Cervera. For the navy it is claimed that.
with Cervera out OF the way. there is little to
be gained and much to be feared by attempting
to get SIMPSONS ships inside Of Santiago
harbur. which Is protected by powerful
Qualifications and tons Of submerged explosives.
when the town can he taken by a strong mill
tary force. The military authorities say that
Gen. shatter has accomplished wonderful re-
suits without the aid o. the feet and that it is
now time for the navy to do its share. They
estimate that Shafter has already lost 1900
men. killed aud wounded. by Spanish bullets
and Frustrated by the terrible heat. The enemy
he c~Onfronts is superior In strength to his
force, and has additional advantage in being
securely intrenched. To tax Santiago without
the cooperation Of the navy will result. they say.
In frightful mortality to Skaters troops. and
they maintain that. in consideration OF these
facts, and also that the sending Of troops to
Santiago was primarily to benefit the navy. II
Is time for Sampson to make a move which
will insure the capture OF the city without the
great loss of life that will undoubtedly be en-
tailed II the army attempts 1t alone.
Tho naval authorities acknowledge frankly
that there would have been no necessity OF
sending an army corps to Santiago II Cervera's
fleet had not been bottled up in the harbor
but they assert that the campaign Involves the
army quite as much as the navy. and that each
side should be actuated by the good Of the
common cause. and not by differences as &c
whether the army and navy should do certain
work which one Is better able to accomplish
than the other. The knowledge that the mine
fields and batteries In the channel leading
TO Santiago Bay are powerful enough &c
cause the destruction OF the best battleships
isthe reason the naval authorities think it I'm.
wise for Admiral Sampson to take his vessels
into the harbor until thorough consideration
has been given to the situation and Sampson
and shafter have arranged q programme o.
harmonious cooperation.
Whether the President shares the views o
the military or OF the naval authorities is no
known. but 1t is certain that he does not wan
anything to be done until sampson anc
Shaiter have fully discussed the statt
Of affairs existing at Santiago and have
reached a basis on which both can worl
tremendously. No report of the conference
ordered by the President yesterday ha!
Deen received here, and apparently the nava
ana military commanders are going CAREFUL!
over the ground and attempting to agree OF
a plan Of campaign satisfactory to both
The general belief Is that they will com,
toa definite and harmonious conclusion, whicl
Will receive the Endorsement OF the Presiden
anu the Secretaries OF War and Of the Navy
The lear OF the naval officials is that II Sampson
attempts To enter the harbor some Of his ship
VIII he sunk in the pathway Of other
ana thus prevent the accomplishment OF hi
OBJECT Tho channel batteries are on bluffs an,
cold pour a raking fire on the decks OF tn
ehlps. while the latter would be unable to re
fpohd with any degree Of success on accoun
o. inability 10 elevate the guns so that thei
p~rolectlles would do great damage TO the enc
hys Qualifications.
IT'S said at the Navy Department. however
matt the mines were ont OF the way the situa
uoh would be greatly simplined and Sampso
would undoubtedly endeavor to force an en-
trance past the batteries. That the removal c
me mines will be attempted by one or NOR
" the smaller vessels OF SIMPSONS fee
manned by volunteers. is believed in naval cir