Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1898-12-01
.'THE WAR OF THE RIVALS
Admiral Sampson Discusses the
Surrender Of Santiago.
ADMIRAL SAYS he WAS sNUBBED
General shafter PeremptorIly Refus-
ed to Permit the Naval Commander
to Participate in the Surrender of
General roral and His Forces.

General Shafter PeremptorIly Refus-
ed to Permit the Naval Commander
to Participate In the Surrender of
General roral and His Forces.
Washington, Dec. 1.-The navy de-
partment yesterday made public re-
port from Admiral Sampson covering
the operations Of the United States
blockading fleet off Santiago after the
destruction of Cervera's squadron. The
report begins with dispatch dated
from the flagship New York. July IS,
and winds up with one from the same
flagship dated Guantanamo Aug. 4. In
the first report Admiral Sampson tells
of the demonstration made against
Aguadores by the Michigan troops I'M
der Dufield, the point of which was
that as soon as the ships took part in
the firing the Spaniards disappeared.
He says that the bombardment Of San
tiago on the I'd of July served no par
ticular end. because Skaters attack
had been postponed. He quotes dis
patches from himself to Shafter stat
ing that it is impossible to force an
entrance to the harbor until the mines
had been removed. and that work could
had taken the forts.
Shafter replied that he could not tell
when he could take the batteries. II
they were as difficult as those against
which ne was pitted it would take
some time and a great loss of life. Says
he: II am at loss to see why the
navy cannot work under a destructive
fire as well as the army. My loss yes
fard " xxo G oxor 6nn mon Nv M aor,s
keep up fire on everything in sight until
| demolished. | expect, however, with
time and sufficient men to capture the
forts along the bay"
After the battle with Cervera's fleet
| Shafter renewed his request that Samp-
| son force an entrance, saying his pres
emit position had cost him a thousand
men, and he did not wish to lose any
more. Sampson in comment says this
shows complete Misrepresentation of
| the circumstances. He alleges that the
sinking of the Mercedes would obstruct
the entrance of the larger American
ships, and that extensive shore bat
teries were known to exist His chief
of staff had indicated to Shafter the
points that should be carried before any
attention was paid to the city. and the
sured the destruction of the mines and
| the entrance of the American fleet.
| Says Sampson: 81 have been sur
prised to see published in the papers
any statement of refusal on my part
to endeavor to force my way into the
karbor, and cannot Understandable case
| the newspaper report be a truthful
statement sent by him-Shafter's send
/ inc of Iii
II here, moreover, would aninladvert
upon the apparently extraordinary
| openness which every detail of hope,
army has been published. The I'm
| wisdom of such procedure is too
manifest for discussion.
1.-THE navy has been placed in such
an invidious and false position before
| the country through the very unwise
publication of General Skaters tele-
grams that think this matter should
in some way be made clear to the pub
! lic.''
| Admiral Sampson gives a number of
dispatches showing that he was asked
\ to participate in the terms of surrender
and tried to find out when he should
send a representative. but owing to
/
Sampson comments as follows:
''The foregoing certainly shows clear
| ly the most absolute joint action. and
took for granted that we should be
! joint signatories of any capitulations,
as is customary in all services in such
| circumstances. Captain Chadwick ar
rived at the front at the earliest hour
| it was possible for him to do so and
e., Il =.
| pectancy in the matter, but General
| Shafter peremptorily refused. The
convention had already been signed,
and he stated as one reason that moth
| ing had been said of the army in my
report of the fleet action of July 8.
Referring to General Skaters failure
| to invite any of the squadron officials
to be present at the surrender Ad-
miral Sampson says:
This, of course, may have been
mere oversight, but it is, of course, to
be regretted that any such thing should
| take place. Had the navy been with
drawn after the action of the 3d--after
| which all the fleets operations were
| to aid the army-all the shipping re-
| ferred to would have escaped, and our
army have become the besieged in
stead of the besiegers."
| Skaters rejoinder was in substance
| as follows:
! IT do not acknowledge the authority
! of the secretary of the navy in the
matter in which you wire me. The
surrender of Santiago was made to me
| by General Toral in person. Neither
General Toral or myself signed the ar
| ticles. Certainly could not and would
not permit these articles to any Of
| ficer's signature, my own not being
affixed, and / shall protest to the Sec
rotary of war against your signature
| to that document. No claim for any
credit for the capture of Cervera and
| his fleet has been made by the army.
although it is fact that the Spanish
feet did not leave the harbor until the
| investment of the city was practically
completed"
Sampson says that he acknowledged
| the receipt of the above without argu-
ment. and that the matter should be
decided at Washington.
D0INGS In NEW JERSEY