Evening star., 1898-08-08
NAVY HELPED ARMY
Fleet Co-operated With Skaters
Troops.
REPORT FROM ADMIRAL SAMPSON
Events That Led to the Surrender
of July ID.
BON RDMEN1' OF CITY

The following extracts from the report of
Admiral Sampson made July Is describe the
operations of the fleet off Santiago in con-
rection with the army:
On July l demonstration was made by
a Michigan volunteer regiment at Aqua
dores, under command of General Dufneid
he New York, Gloucester and Suwanee
moved up at the request of the army to
assist in an attack WHICH was TO begin al
daylight; but the troops, which came by
rail. did not arrive until about 9:20.
The small river San Juan cuts through a
deep defile and is spanned by an iron rail-
road bridge. There is an ancient fort near
the water and on the hill two small rifle
pits Some sixteen or twenty of the en-
emy had been counted while waiting for
the troops, but disappeared when the ships
began firing. The troops advanced as far
as the bridge. A corner of the fort was
knocked off by the shells of the navy and
the flagstaff shot away. Desultory firing
was kept up between our troops and the
Spanish, the troops returning TO Siboney
about half-past 10.
on the evening of July 1 the admiral was
advised by General Shafter that the army
would assault at daylight ON the I'd, and the
navy was requested to keep up a fire at the
batteries on the bluff. The squadron con-
sequently closed in early on the morning
two hours, but the attack proposed by Gen
eral Shafter did not take place on that day.
On the night of July l the Reina Mercedes
was sunk by the Spaniards so as to OBJ
struct the ships. Extensive shore batter
les existed, and if smaller vessels had been
sent in and sunk by the mines or batteries
the harbor would have been effectually
closed against us.
1t was essential to the new scheme of at
tack OF the combined forces that the posi-
uon occupied by the eastern and western
batteries should be carried, and this was
the scheme of action first proposed by Cen
eraI Shafter on the day OF his first arrival.
II was at that time explained to him that
1t was of primary Importance that these
points should first be carried, as their pos
session insured the destruction of tn.
mines. the entrance of heavy ships into the
harbor and the assault on Cervera's fleet
RMS was heartily consented to by General
Shafter, who stated that the entrance to
the harDor was the key to the situation.
Ihis was repeated in his interview with
General Garcia at Acerraderos.
1t mad been the admirafs desire to do
everything possible to cooperate with Cen
eral Shafter. Such an attack as that pro-
posed by the general was in complete ac-
cord with the views held by the admiral
and discussed with his staff
1T was proposed to bring up the marines
from Guantanamo and add them to the
marines OF the squadron, thus making a
force OF nearly thousand men, which
night be landed either at the foot of the
MORO, in Estrella Cove to assault the
MORO, or to the westward for the purpose
OF assaulting the west battery; at the same
time detaching a force of two or three
thousand men from the army and proceed
ing by Aguadores, occupy the ground be-
tween the MORO and that just to the
northward of 1t. visit to Gen. Shafter
was arranged but the admiral being i'll his
chief of staff went instead.
The Arrangement
The following
Camp near San Juan river, Cuba
July 6, 1898.
Minutes of a conversation between Capt
Chadwick of the navy, representing Ad-
miral Sampson, and Gen. Shafter
That a long-cOntinued bombardment be
made OF Santiago from the sea, with the
heavier guns of the fleet, the fleet firing
slowly and continually during say twenty
FOUR hours, at the rate of one shell every
HVe minutes, excepting one hour, at the
rate of one every two minutes This re-
fers to the S-inch and 13-inch shells If this
De not sufficient to bring the enemy to
terms, that an assault be arranged on the
Socapa battery, using marines and the
Cuban forces under Gen. Cebreco, and an
EFFORT made to enter the harbor with some
OF the elnaller ships of the squadron. This
attack - be made upon knowing the result
OF second demand made upon the COM
mandlng officer of the Spanish forces for
surrender of the place, stating to him the
conditions that surround him-destruction
OF the Spanish fleet, etc, etc, and the num-
Der of forces opposed to him To give him
time to consider the matter, the date of
Commandment is fixed at noon of the 9th
unless he positively refuses to consider it
at all, when it will be begun at such time
as is convenient to ourselves. Gen Shafter
will furnish admiral with correct map
showing where his lines will be surrounding
the city, and also open telegraphic COM
munication by the way of Sibouney down
inf
to the falling of Shots
Offer to the Spanish.
This was followed by the following corre-
spondence:
Headquarters 9TH Army Corps
Camp Near San Juan River Cuba,
July @, 1898.
The General-in-Chief, Commanding the
Spanish Forces Santiago de Cuba:
Sir: In view of the events of the I'd inst
have the honor to lay before your excel-
lency certain propositions, to which trust
your excellency will give the consideration
which in my opinion they deserve.
= l lncloSe a bulletin Of the engagement
or sunday morning, which resulted in the
complete destruction of Admiral Ceryera's
fleet the loss OF 900 of his officers and men
and the capture of the remainder. The ad-
miral General Paroles ard all others who
escaped alive are now prisoners on board
the Harvard and st. Louis, and the latter
mp III WHICH are the admiral, General Pa
redes and the surviving captains (all except
the captain of the Almirante Oquendo. who
was slain), has already sailed for the Unit
ed States. If desired by you, this NAV be
connrmed by your excellency sending an
or1lcer under flag of truce to Admiral
sampson. and he can arrange to visit the
harvard. which will not sail until tomor-
row, and obtain the details from Spanish
ofncers and men aboard that ship.
b our fleet is now perfectly frse to act
ana nave the honor to state that unless a
surrender be arranged by noon of the 9th
INST bombardment of the city will be be-
gun and continued with the heavy guns of
our ships The city is within easy range of
these guns. the efght-inch being capable of
hring $500 yards, the thirteen-inch. of
course much further. The ships can so lie
that with a range of 5000 yards they can
reach the center of the city.
L. l make this suggestion of surrender
purely IN 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 circum-
stances so disadvantageous to your excel
Iency being foregone conclusion.
.. AS your excellency may wish to make
reference OF so momentous a question to
your excellency's home government. 1t is
Tor this purpose that / have placed the time
or the resumption of hostilitjes sufficiently
far In the future to allow reply being re-
ceived.
q. l beg an early answer from vour excel-