The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1898-12-01

ANDSHAFTER
Their Controversy Regarding the
Capture Of Santiago.
ADMIRAL SAYS HE WAS sNUBBED

The General Peremptorily Refused to
Permit the Naval Commander to
Participate in the surrender of Gem
eral roral and His Forces.
Washington, Dec. THE navy de-
partment yesterday made public a 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 a dispatch dated
from the flagship New York, July 15,
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 un-
der Duffield, 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 1t is impossible to force an
entrance to the harbor until the mines
had been removed, and that work could
be accomplished only after the troops
had taken the forts.
Shafter replied that he could not tell
when he could take the batteries. If
they were as difficult as those against
which ne was pitted it would take
some time and great loss of life. Says
he: 81 am at a loss to see why the
navy cannot work under a destructive
fire as well as the army. My loss yes
terday was over 500 men. By all means
keep up fire on everything in sight until
demolished. | expect however, with
time and sufficient men to capture the
forts along the bay" An hour later
on the same day. July 2, Shafter again
appealed to Sampson to force the har-
Dor entrance Immediately, so as to
avoid future loss among his men, al
ready very heavy. Says he: You can
operate with less loss of life than l
can" In reply on the same day Ad-
miral Sampson pointed out that the
channel of the haTbor was well strewn
with mines, which would certainly re-
suit in the sinking of one or more of
his ships If he attempted to enter the
harbor, and that by sinking one the
harbor would be blocked against the
entrance of the others.
He had hoped that Shafter would
take the batteries from the rear, so
that he might drag for the torpedOes, but
as it was Skaters earnest desire that
he should force the entrance he would
prepare to undertake It, thinking, how
ever, that the position of both army
and navy would be made more difficult
if they failed in the attempt. Says
| Sampson: 1T is not so much the loss
| of men as 1t is the loss of ships which
have until now deferred me from max
| ing a direct attack upon the ships
within the port"
After the battle with Cervera's feet
| Shafter renewed his request that Samp-
| son force an entrance, saying his pres
| ent position had cost him a thousand
| men, and he did not wish to lose any
more. Sampson in comment says thi:
shows a complete misapprehension o.
the circumstances. He alleges that thu
sinking of the Mercedes would obstruc
| 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 tht
taking of these points would have in
|
the entrance of the American fleet.
Says Sampson: "I have been sur
prised to see published in the paper!
any statement of refusal on my par
to endeavor to force my way into tn
harbor, and cannot understand-in cas-
the newspaper report be a truthful
statement sent by him-Shafter's send
ing any report of this kind.
| nj ma n We
upon the apparently. eXtraordinar,
openness which every detail of hope
effort or suggestion on the part of tn
army has been published. The un
wisdom of such procedure is to-
manifest for discussions.
THE navy has been placed in sucl
) an invidious and false position befor
the country through the very unwis
publication of General Skaters tele
grams that 1 think this matter shoul
in some way be made clear to the pub
lie"
Admiral Sampson gives a number o
dispatches showing that he was aske
/, to participate in the terms OF surrende
and tried to find out when he shoul
! send a representative, but owing I
one or two delays no time was fixed
Sampson comments as follows:
THE foregoing certainly shows clear
ly the most absolute joint action, an
, 1 took for granted that we should b
, joint signatories of any capitulationi
, as is customary in all services in sue
: circumstances. Captain Chadwick al
rived at the front at the earliest hou
it was possible for him to do so an
a informed General Shafter of my e1
pectancy in the matter but Generi
Shafter peremptorily refused. Tt
convention had already been signe'
and he stated as one reason that moth
= ing had been said of the army in m
report of the fleet action of July 8.
mo mention was made of the shiI