The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-12-01

terms through bombardment the harbor
entrance should be forced, that in the.
meanwhile all preparations were complet-
ed for countermining, the mines having
been removed for this purpose from the
Rcsoute 10 the collier Lebanon. Lieuten-
ants Roy Smith and +. e. Capehart, who
are mining experts, placed aboard the
Lebanon and everything arranged for ac-
ton whenever desired. The only reasons
for p9stponement came from the general
commanding the army.
"rhe navy has been placed in such an
invidious and false position before the
country through the very unwise publica-
ton of General Shafters kilograms that
think this matter should i'll some way,
be made clear to the public.
On July 14th Sampson sent the fol-
lowing to Secretary Long:
July 14th, 1898.
Published kilograms of General Shaft
err. Herald. of July 9th reflect on the
navy. | wish the department. and the
President to understand that the first
requisite to opening the harbor of Santa
go de Cuba is the occupation Of forts and
intrenchments at its entrance guarding
mine fields, and that the general has new
err made Il move to do this. although
before his army landed he stated that
such was the primary object of his opera
tons
II have been ready at any time dur
ing the last three weeks to silence works,
10 clear entrance of mines and to enter
harbor whenever the army will do the
part which the proper conduct of war as
signs to it. To throw my ships to GER
tain destruction upon mine fields would
be suicidal folly. and ! have not the
force to form landing party strong
enough to insure the capture of the forts.
No disagreements mentioned by the paper
have been brought to my notice by Gene
raj Shafter."
JOINT ACTION PROVED.
Admiral Sampson gives a number of
dispatches showing that he was asked
to participate in the terms Of the sur
render. and tried to find out when he
should send Il representative. but owing
to one or two delays no time was fixed.
Sampson comments as follows:
THE foregoing certainly shows clear
ly the most absolute joint action, and /
took for granted that we should be joint
signers Of any capitulations, as is
customary in all services in such cir
cumstances.
Captain Chadwick arrived at the
front ut the earliest hour it was posi-
bic for him to do SO, and informed Gen
eral Shafter of my expectancy in the
matter, but General Shafter perempto-
rily refused The convention had al
ready been signed. and he stated as one
reason that nothing had been said of
the army in my report of the fleet action
of July Sd. There would have been as
much reason for mentioning the navy
in the report of the land action of July
LIST. when assault was made by our ar
my on the Spanish lines.
No mention was made of the ship
ping in the mpitulations and Captain
Chadwick informed General Shafter
that all Spanish ships would he regarded
by us as property to he turned over to
the navy He said he would refer such
4; matter to the Secretary of War, but
that. of course. could have no bearing
upon what | considered my duty in the
matter, particularly in the view of our
late experience of Spanish perfidy in
regard to injury of ships, which. III my
opinion made it necessary to look after
their safety ut once. | thus. after the
hauling down of the Spanish flag, sent
prize crews on board the gunboat Ava
RADIO and the five merchant steamers
in the harbor. An officer of the army
was found on board the Alyarado who
stated he had been sent to take charge
of her, whereupon | addressed the fol-
lowing letter TO General Shafter:
Il. S. Flagship New York
July 18th. 1893.
''Sif: Upon sending in an officer to
take charge of the captured Spanish
gunboat, the AKarado, it was found
that one of your officers was on board,
evidently with the expectation of TAX
ing charge of her. 1t should hardly be
necessary to remind You that i'll all joint
operations of the character of those