The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-08-12
Relations Between these Two Arms of the
Service at the Attack on Santiago.
THE CRUISER CRISTOBAL COLON
Reported by the Wreckers to be in Very Bad Condiion--Fears of Inn.
possibility to Raise Her--Morc of Skaters Army Leave Sam
tiago-Spanish Prisoners to Begin Embarking Today.
Admiral Sampson Expressed Desire to be Repre-
scented in Negotiation for Surrender of
the CITY of Santiago.

Cantiago de Cuba, August s. $3.50 p.
m.-The transports Miami, Mattewan
and Vigilancfa, loaded with United
States troops, sailed for the United
States this morning. Tomorrow the
transport Grand Duchess will leave,
with 742 men and officers Of the Thir-
teenth infantry and six companies Of
the Seventy-first New York, aggregat-
ing 458 men n officers.
Playa del Este, Province of Santiago
de Cuba August 8, Noon.-The Merritt
& Chapman wrecking steamer Potomac
has arrived at the scene of the battle
of July 3rd, and has visited the Cristo-
bal Colon. The wreckers report her tc
be in a very bad situation, and they
fear it is impossible to save her.
The Maria Teresa has not yet been
fioated.
The auxiliary %gunboat Vixen has re-
turned to Guantanamo bay from San
tiago. Otherwise there has been no
movement of the vessels composing the
American fleet. The Warships are
ready to sail at twelve hours notice.
Santiago de Cuba, August 8, 5:29 p.
m.-General Shafter and the Spanish
general, Toral, held a consultation at
the palace this afternoon with regard
to the embarkatiOn of the Spanish pris-
oners of war. AS a result of the con-
ference, 1000 Spanish sick and wound-
ed VIII be taken on board the Alicante
tomorrow morning and sent to Spain
as soon as the vessel is properly load
ed. There is to be no punching or
waiting of transports. Each will sail
&C GOnn 40 If ppn he 1nn6a6 oftnr -
rival here.
Washington, August 8.-A good deal
Of light is thrown upon the relations
between the army and navy during the
critical period just proceeding the sur
render of Santiago, by extracts from
Admiral SIMPSONS report, dated July
18th, which is now made public by the
navy department.
1t had been the admiral's desire to
do everything possible to cooperate
with General Shafter. The attack as
proposed 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, repre-
senting Admiral Sampson and General
Shafter. This was followed by consid-
cradle correspondence.
On July 9Th General Shafter sent to
the commanding general of the Span
ish forces a proposition for surrender
n saying that unless this was ar
ranged by noon of the 9th, a lombard
ment of the city would be begun and
continued with the heavy guns of the
ships, the city being within easy range
of the guns. General Shafter said:
Il make this suggestion of a surren-
der purely in a humanitarian spirit.
1 do not wish to cause the slaughter
of any more men either of your excel
lency's forces or my own; the final
result under circumstances so disad-
vantageous to your eXcellentcy being a
fOregOne conclusion
July 9Th Genera Shafter sent word
to Admiral Sampson that the Span
ish commander 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 1 will notify you of it's discontin-
uance."
Next day the general informed the
admiral that it was expected the bonn
bardment would begin the same even
ing or the next morning following his
Though no date is indicated) the ger
eral said. II desire you to begin fir
ing upon Santiago de Cuba as near 4
p. m. today as possible"
Then appear this letter from Shat
ter to Sampson Under date of Siboney,
July 9th:
Messages I sent you yesterday and
today have apparently been received
by you. l have just asked that you
commence firing on Santiago at 4 p.
m, and sent you this morning our lat
est map of our position. Can you be-
gin bo~mbardment tomorrow morning?
If you can, please do so and continue
it as arranged with Captain Chad
wick"
On the morning of the 9th the navy's
position was taken up close into the
beach at Aguadores, when the Brook
lyn and the Indiana continued the
~bombardment of Santiago from 9:27
o'clock a. m. until l o'clock p. m, at
which hour it was requested by Gen.
eral Shafter that it should cease.
On July 18th a report was sent from
the army as to the fall of shell, show
ing that the fire had been very effec-
tive and that several fires had started
in the city n nearly all the shell
fell within the city limits.
Admiral Sampson notified General
Shafter on the 18th that he proposed
to begin the b~ombardment next morn
ing with 13-inch she'll. The Oregon,
Massachusetts and Indiana were
promptly on hand on the morning of
ening of the 18th the admiral was no.
titled that a truce existed and that all
firing must be discontinued during
hostilities. To this the admiral re-
Piled:
Il am now prepared to shell the city
of Santiago with three of my largest
1rOn-clads with 13-inch projectileS;
can at short notice. Will
await your signal"
July 14th the enemy surrendered
without further action by the fleet.
Admiral Sampson had on the previ-
Gus day informed General Shafter that
he desired to be represented in the ne
gotiations for surrender, as it was the
result of the work of the combined
forces.
IN DEFENSE OF SAMPSON.
Washington, August S.-The secre-
tary of the navy has received several
letters violently attacking Admiral
81 mncn L n ronlr "a n Of fhorn tho