Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1898-12-08

the shells were fired with great effect,
starting several fires IN the city 4ad
only d 4ew falling IL tie wate-. tie
also quotes a dispatch from Secretary
Long saying that the secretary of war
desires Sampson to force the harbor;
that he wishes to do all that is reason
able to bring about surrender but
leaves it to Simpsons discretion, lex
cept that the United States ermored
vessels must not be risked.''
The admiral says: Il think the falls
ity OF the suggestion that the navy
was unwilling to cooperate in forcing
an entrance TO Santiago is already
sufficiently shown. | would, however,
add, to show the good will of the navy
and my desire and understanding, that
in case the enemy failed to come to
terms through the bombardment of the
harbor, an entrance should be forced,
that in the meanwhile all preparations
were completed for counter-mining
mines having been removed for this
purpose from the Resolute to the
collier Lebanon. Lieutenants Roy
Smith and E. E. Capehart, who are
mining experts, were placed aboard the
Lebanon and everything arranged for
a" ion whenever desired. The only
reasons for postponement came from
the general commanding the army
The navy has been placed in such an
invidious false position before the
country through the unwise publica-
ton of Skaters kilograms, that
think this matter should be in some
way made clear to the public
In report dated July %, Sampson
informs Secretary Long that steps
should be taken at once to garrison
and clean up Guantanamo and says he
is perfectly willing to aid in the work.
but would not take any steps without
request from the army. In another
report, dated August /, from Sampson
to the secretary of the navy, Sampson
goes over again all the circumstances
connected with the joint operations
before Santiago in order, as he says.
that more complete history of the
action of the feet in combination with
the army may be at the disposal OF the
department. Some of the additions
follow:
When Shafter signaled that Miles
and, himself were to have a conference
looking to the surrender of Santiago,
Sampson sent a message to Shafter
saying that he desired to be represent
ed in any conference which included
the surrender of the Spanish. Shafter
q n Tr11tr Go
sent the following to Secretary Long:
published kilograms of Gen Shafter
in the Herald of July reflect on the
navy. | wish the department and the
president to understand that the first
requisite to the opening of the harbor
of Santiago de Cuba is the occupation
of the intrenchments at it's entrance
guarding the mine fields, and
that the general never made
move to do this, although
before his army landed he stated that
such was the primary object of his
operation. When, if the general
chooses to ignore the sea approaches
and attack santiago on the east and
north that is his affair, but it should
does not influence the situation at the
harbor entrance, from which his eft
flank is distant not less than four
miles. l have been ready at any time
during the last three weeks to silence
the works, to clean the entrance of the
mines and enter the harbor whenever
the army will do the part which the
proper conduct of war assigns to it.
To throw my ships to certain lestruc-
ton upon mine fields will be suicidal
folly, and | have not the force to form
landing party strong enough to en-
sure the capture of the forts
Sampson gives a number of dis
patches showing that he was asked to
participate in the terms of the sur
render and tried to fnd out when be
should send a representative; but ow-
ing to one or two delays no time was
fixed. Sampson comments as follows:
THE foregoing certainly shows
clearly most absolute joint action and
| took it for granted that we should be
joint Signatories of any capitulationS,
as is customary in all services in sucb
circumstances. Captain Chadwick ar
rived at the front at the earliest hour
possible and informed ,Shafter of my
expectancy in the matter, but Shafler
peremptorily refused. The conven-
ton already had been signed, and he
stated as one reason that nothing had
been said of the army in my report of
the feet action of July 3. There
would have been as much reason for
mentioning the navy in the report Of
the land action of July 1st, when The
assault was made by our army on the
Spanish lines. No mention was made
of the shipping in the capitulatioas,
and Capt. Chadwick informed Shafter
that all Spanish ships would be re-
garded by us as property to be turned
over to the navy. He said that ne
would refer such matter to the secre-
| tary of war. But that, of course,
could have no bearing upon what /
considered my duty in the
matter, particularly in view OF
our late experience with Spanish
perfidy in regard TO the injury OF
ships, which, in my opinion, made it
necessary to look after our safety at
once Thus, after the hauling down OF
the Spanish flag, / sent prize crews on
board the gunboat Alvarado and to five
merchant steamers in the harbor An
| officer of the army was found on board
the Alvarado, who>stated that he had
been sent TO take charge of her, where
upon / addressed the following letter