The record-union., 1898-07-10
WITH THE FLEET.
Bombardment of the Harbor De-
fenses Has Not Yet Begun.

fenses Has Not Yet Begun
WASHINGTON, July 9.-It was ex-
pected at the Navy Department that
SIMPSONS big guns would begin work
at the fortifications at the entrance of
Santiago harbor, though it cannot be
learned that explicit notice of such a
purpose has been received, the depart
ments knowledge being confined to the
fact that this was the plan of campaign
arranged between Shafter and Sampson
at their meeting three days ago. The
details of the plan to be pursued are
not yet known either to the Navy or
War Department, having been left en-
tirely within the discretion of Sampson
and Shafter, each acting in his own
domain, the sole injunction laid upon
them being to confer and cooperate
toward the single end of capturing San
uaSo. 1t is assumed at the Navy De-
partment however, that Sampson will
follow his former plan of pounding
away at the Notifications until he has
silenced them, and then following up
by possessing himself of the easements
ashore, which control the electrical con-
nections to the submarine mines, if
there be any electrically controlled
mines, and after exploding these and
clearing up the channels with grapnels,
enter the harbor and take the Spanish
in the rear.
One of the most important results
expected to follow SIMPSONS appear
ance in the harbor is the cutting off Of
the retreat of the Spanish forces to the
interior of Cuba. Our troops now con-
troll the approaches to the town from
the south to the northeast, and can
easily close the semi-circle to the north
In the rear to the west, however, there
are high and rugged hills, across which
the Spaniards might retreat toward
Manzanillo. If SIMPSONS vessels en-
ter the harbor and approach the town
closely, it is believed that their guns
will control the line of the retreat over
these hills so effectually that were the
Spaniards to attempt the passage they
would go to certain destruction.
The Navy Department is having great
difficulty in communicating by wire
with Sampson, though it is not known
whether this comes from bad cable
service or the distance at which Samp-
son lies from the cable station All
that came from him last night was a
brief report as to the condition of the
i
Admiral has had some of his experts
examine the ships as they lie beached,
and the report is encouraging to the
authorities, who are particularly pleas
ed with the prospects of recovering
some of these vessels and adding them
to the American navy. The only ap-
proach to this type of armored cruisers
in our navy are the New York and
In h1a p
of sixty miles on July Sd the Spanish
vessels showed more than once the pos
sibility not only of escape, but of MAX
ing a destructive fight, had they been
handled with anything like the skill and
GOODNESS displayed by our own naval
commanders. The Colon in particular
came very near getting away, and from
Captain Evans recital of the chase, it
appears that had it not been for the
Oregon's splendid exhibition, the Span
ish cruiser might have escaped to the
westward and given our navy endless
trouble before running her down.
The text of Admiral SIMPSONS dis
patch is as follows:
PLAYA DEL ESTE, July S.-Secre-
tary of Navy, Washington: Prelimin-
airy report from board ordered to ex-
anime wrecks stated that wrecking ap-
planes should be gotten here imme-
diately. Think no doubt about saving
Vizcaya, Maria Teresa and Cristobal
Colon if haste be made. Colon is much
the most valuable, being in perfect or
der. Would recommend most perfect
appliances be sent at once.
SAMPSON
The department had already arranged
with the Merritt-Chapman Wrecking
Company TO undertake the salvage of
these vessels and two of the vessels of
that company are now on their way to
Santiago. AS SIMPSONS dispatch makes
out much stronger possibility of saw
ing the ships than was supposed, a copy
Of it has been sent to the contractors
with the request to hasten the work and
TO be prepared to send additional assist
ance if found necessary.