The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1898-12-06

/ Entertainments at its entrance guarding
mine fields, and that the general has ncy-
CT made Il move to do this. although
before his army landed he stated that
such was the primary object OF his opera
tons.
Il have been ready ut any tine dur
ing thc last three weeks to silence works.
to clear entrance OF mines and to enter
harbor whenever the army Will DO the
part which the proper conduct OF War as
signs to it. To throw my ships to Ger
tain destruction upon mine fields would
he suicidal folly. and | have not the
force to form a landing party strong
enough to insure the capture Of the forts.
No diSagreements mentioned by the paper
have been brought To my notice by Gene
raj Shaftcr.'
JOINT ACTION PROVED.
Admiral Sampson gives Il number Of
dispatches showing that he was asked
to participate in the terms Of the sur
render and tried to find out when he
should send a representative. but owing
To ONE or two delays 10 time WAS fixed.
Sampson comments as follows:
The foregoing certainly shows clear
ly the most absolute joint action. and [
took for granted that we should be joint
signers OF any COMPUTATIONS. as is
customary in all services in such cir
c~uinStanccS.
Captain Chadwick arrived at the
front ut the earliest hour it was posi-
bic fer him to do 50. and informed Gen
cral Shaftcr Of MY expectancy in the
matter. but General Shafter perempto-
rily refused. The convention had al
ready been signed. and he stated as one
reason that nothing had been said Of
the army III my report of the fleet action
of July Sd. There would have been as
much reason for mentioning the navy
IL the report CT the land action Of July
LIST. when assault was made by ourear-
my on the Spanish lines.
mention was made of the ship
ping in the capitulations and Captain
Chadwick informed General Shafter
that ali Spanish ships would be regarded
by us as property to he turned over to
the navy. lie said he would refer such
a matter to the Secretary OF War. but
that, of course. could have no bearing
upon what ! considered my duty in the
matter. particularly in the view OF our
late experience Of Spanish perfidy III
regard 10 injury Of ships, which, III my
opinion. made it necessary to look after
their safety ut once. | thus, after the
hauling down Of the Spanish flag. sent
prize crews ON board the @lntoat Ava
RADIO and the five merchant steamers
in the harbor. An officer Of the army
was found on board the Alvarado. who
stated he had been sent to take charge
of her WhereupCn / addressed the fol-
lowing letter 10 General Shafter:
t. s. Flagship New York.
July 18th. 1898.
Sir: Upon sending i'll an officer To
take charge OF the captured Spanish
%-unbo&t. the -Aivarado. it was found
that one Of Your officers was on board.
evidently with the expectation of tax
ing charge OF her. 1t should hardly be
necessary to remind YOU that III all Joint
operations Of the character of those
which have resulted III the fail Of San
tia&o all floating material is turned over
to the navy, az all forts. etc. go to the
army. i have been lying within zoe
yards OF the MorTo. from which the
Spanish flag was hauled down at :.
o'clock and upon which the United
States FLAG has not Yet, at , y. m, been
hoi>ted. Although my forces have fire.
uucntly engaged these forts and yours
have not exchanged a shot With them.
! await the arrival Of Il detachment OF
your troops to take possession. rs they
must eventually occupy them. | expect
the same consideration.
Il request that YOU will relieve Lieu
tenant Caruthers Of the duty given. as
/ have directed Lieutenant Marble to
assume command of the Alvarado."
Shaftcr'S rcjoiner came Oh August list.
directed TO Admiral Sampson. as fol
lows:
Santiago de Cuba ok
l. I-I, 49,. " -
Il do not acknowledge the authority
OF the Secretary of the Navy III the
matter III which YOU wire me. The
surrender Of Santiago WAS made
by General Toral in person.
i'll surrendering verbally all the
prisoners and public property of Spa. in
the district commanded by him. and I
accepting the same i'll the presence Of
troops representing all the respective
armies. The details for carrying this into
effect were arranged by three commission
erS on each side. These articles were
signed by the respective commissioner
in duplicate. one copy was handed to
General Toral and the other sent by me
to the Secretary Of War. Neither Gen.
loyal nor myself signed them. Certainly
| d1uld not and would not submit these
articles to any officer fer signature, my
own not being affixed, and | shall protest
to the Secretary Of War against your
signature to that document. | respect
fully invite our attention to the fact that
no claim for credit for the capture of
CerVera and his feet has been made by
the army. although it is Il fact that the
Spanish fleet did not leave the harbor I'M
til the investment Of the city was prac-
tically completed and Cervera had suffer
cd losses Oh land on July 1st and md.
notably among them his chief Of staff.
(Signed) w. X. SIAE"TER.
Major General
Sampson says that he acknowledged
receipt Of the above without argument
and that the matter should be decided
at Washington. Meanwhile he cites a
number of kilograms and signals to show
that Shafter had the assistance of thn
fleet i'll bringing about the surrender.
It's Il consolation TO some men who arc
short on hair to know that they are long
on brains.