The herald., 1898-12-01

party strong enough to insure the capture of
the forts. No disagreements mentioned by
the paper have been brought to my notice
by Gen. Shafter."
COULDN'T FIND OUT
Admiral Sampson gives a number of dis-
patches, saying he was asked to participate
in the terms OF surrender and tried to find
out when he should send d representative,
but, owing to one or two delays, no time
was fixed. Sampson comments as follows
THE foregoing shows clearly the most alb.
solute joint action, and l took it for granted
that we should be joint signatories of any
capitulation, as is customary in all services
in such circumstances.
Capt. Chadwick arrived at the front at the
earliest hour possible for him to do so, and
informed zen. Shafter of my expectancy in
the matter, but Gen Shafter peremptorily
refused. The convention had already been
signed, and he stated as one reason that
nothing had been said of the army in my
report of the fleet action of July Sd. There
wonld have been as much reason for men,
tioning the navy in the report of the land
action of July LIST, when assault was made
by our army on the Spanish lines.
"No mention was made of the shipping in
the capitulations, and Captain Chadwick in
formed General Shafter that all Spanish
ships would be regarded by us as property
to be turned over to the navy. He said he
would refer such matters to the secretary OF
war, but that, of course, had no bearing upon
what l considered my duty in the matter,
particularly in the view of our late expert
ence of Spanish perfidy in regard to the in.
jury of ships, which, in my opinion, made it
necessary to look after their safety at once.
thus, after the hauling down of the Spanish
flag, sent prize crews on board the gunboat
Alvarado and to the five merchant steamers
in the harbor
A NOTE TO SHAFTER
"An officer of the army was found on board
the Alvarado who stated that he had been
sent to take charge of her, whereupon ad-
dressed the following letter to General
Shafter:
UNITED States Flagship New York, July
II, 1898.
"'Sr: Upon sending in an officer to take
charge of the captured Spanish gunboat, tho
Alvarado, it was found that ono of your off.
GERS was on board, evidently with the expec-
tation of taking her in charge. 1t should
hardly be necessary to remind you that in all
joint operations of the character of those
which have resulted in the fall of Santiago,
all floating material is turned over to the
navy. | have been lying within five hundred
yards of the MORO from which the Spanish
| flag was hauled down at o'clock and upon
which the United States flag has now 10
p. m.), been hosted. Although my forces
have frequently engaged the forts and yours
have not exchanged shot with them,
await the arrival of detachment of your
troops to take possession, as they must
eventually occupy them. | expect the same
consideration.
L request that you will relieve Lieutenant
Caruthers of the duty given him as l have
directed Lieutenant Marble to assume COM
mand of the Alvarado.
every respectfully, ETC. ="
A MERE OVERSIGHT
After quoting some further correspondence
on the matter in which Sampson claims the
prizes, he refers to the expulsion of Lieut..
Doyle from captured vessels and the failure
of Shafter to invite any of the squadron Off.
GERS to be present at the surrender and adds:
This, of course, may have been a mere
oversight, but it is, of course, to be regretted
that any such thing took place. Had the navy
been withdrawn after the action of the Sd
after which all the fleets operations were
to aid the army-all the shipping referred
| 10 WOttlu nave escaped anu our army DecOmo
the beseiged instead of the beseigers. OF
course the Rena Mercedes and the gunboat
Avarado would have been free to destroy
or drive off the transport fleet. l do not
think the commanding general appreciates
how necessary part our forces were to the
reduction of Santiago and the surrender Of
its garrison in any case, independently Of
the effect of our shell, which latter was un.
doubtedly one of the principal causes Of the
surrender at this time
SIIAFTER'S REJOINDER
Skaters rejoinder came on August g. He
declined to acknowledge the rights claimed
by Admiral Sampson and stated that as the
terms of surrender were only signed by the
commission appointed by him and not by
himself nor General Toral, he should protest
against Admiral Simpsons signing them.
Sampson cites number of kilograms to show
that Shafter had the assistance of the fleet
in bringing about the surrender.
|