The herald., 1898-08-09

of the Army, Washington: Sanitary report
for August 7: Total number of sick, 3446:
total number of fever cases, 2,49S; total
number of new cases, Az; total number OF
fever cases returned to duty, 40s; deaths
August, IL.
Troops Coming Home
SANTIAGO DE CUBA, Aug. s, $3.50 p.m.-
The transports Miami, Mattewan and
Vigilance, with United States troops, sailed
for the United States today. Tomorrow
the transport Grand Duchess will leave
with 742 men and officers of the Thirteenth
infantry and six companies of the Seventy
first New York, aggregating 45S men and
officers.
Cannot Save the Colon
PLAYA DEL. ESTE, Province Of San
tiago de Cuba, Aug. S-The Merritt and
Chapman wrecking steamer Potomac has
arrived at the scene of the battle Of July
, 3D. and has visited the Cristobal Colon.
The wreckers report her to be in very
bad situation and they fear it is impossi-
bic to save her.
The Maria Theresa has not yet been
hoated.
The auxiliary gunboat Vixen has re-
turned to Guantanamo bay from Santiago.
OtnerWlSe tneFe mas Deen no movement VI
the vessels comprising the American fleet.
Tho warships are ready TO sail at twelve
hours notice.
Gen. Shaftcr and the Spanish genera
Toral held a consultation at the palace this
afternoon with regard to the embarkation
OF the Spanish prisoners of war.
AS a result of the conference 1000 of the
Spanish sick and wounded will be taken
tc,,, 1ty,tr
and sent to Spain as soon as the vessel is
properly loaded.
There is to be no punching or waiting Of
transports. Each will sail soon as 1t
can be loaded after arrival here.
SIMPSONS Report
WASHINGTON, Aug. S.-A good deal OF
light Is thrown upon the relations be-
tween the army and navy during that
critical period Just preceding the surrender
of Santiago by the following extracts from
Admiral SIMPSONS report, dated July 10,
which Is now made public by the Navy
Department
On July /, a demonstration was made by
a Michigan volunteer regiment at Aqua
dores under command of General Duffield.
THE New York, Gloucester and Suwanee
moved up at the request of the army to
assist in an attack which was to begin at
daylight, but the troops which came by
rail, did not arrive until 900. The small
river San Juan cuts through deep defile
and is spanned by an iron railroad bridge
There is an ancient fort near the water, and
on the hill are the small rifle pits. Some
sixteen to twenty of the enemy 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 be-
tween our troops and the Spanish, the
troops returning to Siboney, about half
past ten o'clock. The evening of July
/ the Admiral was advised by General
Shafter that the army would assault at
daylight on the I'd. and the navy was re-
quested to keep up a fire at the batteries
on the bluff. The squadron consequently
closed In early on the morning of the I'd
and kept up vigorous fire two hours, but
the attack proposed by General Shafter
did not take place on that date. On the
night of July 10, the Reina Mercedes was
sunk by the Spaniards so as to obstruct
the ships. Extensive shore batteries ex-
listed, and If smaller vessels had been sunk
by the mines or batteries, the harbor
would have been closed against us.
Scheme Of Attack
1t was essential to the new scheme OF
attack of combined forces that the position
occupied by the eastern and western bat
teries should be carried and this was the
scheme Of action first proposed by General
Shafter on the day of his first arrival. 1t
was at that time explained to him that it
was Of primary Importance that these
points should first be carried, as their
possession insured the destruction of the
mines, the entrance Of heavy ships into TIE
! harbor and the assault on Cerveras fleet.
I This was heartily consented to by Gen.
eral Shafter. who stated that the entrance
to the harbor was the key to the situation.
This was repeated In his interview with
Gener.", Garcia Acerraderos. 1t has beer
the Admral's desire to do everything pos
I ible to cooperate with General Shafter.
Such an attack as that proposed by the
General was in complete accord 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 must be landed either at the foot
of tbs Moro in Estrella cove to assault the
Morto or to the westward for the purpose of
assaulting the west battery. At the same
time la detachment Of two or three thousand
men from the army would proceed by Aqua
dores, occupy the ground between the Nor
70 and just to the northward of It, visit
to General Shafter was arranged, but the
Admiral being Ill, his chief of staff went IN
stead.
Final Arrangements
The following arrangement was made:
i, ,"Camp near San Juan River, Cuba, July
D, 1885,
Minutes of conversation between Cap
tain Chadwick of the navy, representing
Admiral Sampson, and General Shafter:
"That long, continuous 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
1--WE minutes, excepting one hour at the rate
OF one every two minutes; this refers to
the eight-inch to thirteen-inch Shells If
this be not sufficient to bring the enemy
to terms, that an assault be arranged on
the Socapa battery. using marines and the
Cuban forces under General Cedbreco, and
an effort be made to enter the harbor with
some or the smaller ships of the squadron.
This attack 10 be made upon knowing the