New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-12-01
THE NAVY AT SANTIAGO.
SIMPSONS REPORT ON OPERATIONS
AFTER DESTRUCTION OF
CERVERAS FLEET.
RELATIONS WITH GENERAL sHAFTER-ARRANGE-
MENTs FOR FORCING AZ ENTRANCE INTO
TIE EATBO

THE HATBoR-
Washington Nov. 3o-The Navy Department TO-
6av made public n report from Admiral sampson
covering the operations OF the hlockadng flee; OF
Santiago after the destruction OF Cervera squad
ron. The report begins with dispatch dated flag
shin New-York July - and winds Up with one
from ne same flagship. dated Guantanamo August
In the first report Admiral Sampson tells OF
.he demonstration made against AGuadores ny 'he
Nrchtran troops under General Dufiield. the point
Of which was that soon IS the ships took part
:, the Nght tho Spaniards disappeared. lie says
that the bombardment OF Santiago on July served
no particular end. because General Shaiters at
tack had been postponed. He quotes dlspa'ches
from himself 10 General Shafter saying mat II wac
,-onosshle to force an entrance 70 the harbor until
.be mines had been removed. and that work could
he ACCOMPLISHED only after the troops had taken
,ha <or,s General shafter replied that he could
no. tell when he could take the batteries j. they
were as difficult those against which ne was
ptted II would take some time sAd great loss
0: life. lie continued;
an, a. a loss to see why the Navy cannot woih
under a destructive fire a well as ne Arihya NlE
loss Yesterday was over 1--WE hundred men By al,
mears keep up tire on eyerythnF N sFh "a u nf
demolished. I expect however wa I'm, .'-t SUI
acient men. to capture the ior's a4o"s the pay
,1- ,a.e- o, the same day July .. Shafter
sgs,n a-oealcd 70 Sampson TO force the harbor On
--anca Immediately. 50 as 10 aF"d future loss
among his men. already very heavy. he says
..You can operate win less loss OF HE thaH can.
same cay, <a'4iI4'" '''.i-''' t~'-''
81 on that the channel Of tho haroor was W."
s,ravr with mines which would certainly result IN
the sinking OF one more Of his SHIPS II -e AZ
tempted 20 enter the harbor. ana 'hat 10y SHINING
one the harbor would be blocked against me en-
franc. a. the others He had hoped tAat Smarter
would take tho batteries from the rear SO ma Ire
,irh drag or tho torpedOes but Z I was Sh"lt e! 5
earuo; desire that he should force the entrance "e
would prepare 20 undertake H. saElhR' "O"e','
that the position Of both Army anu Navy "V"'u "9
made more d.ricult Il he failed in the attempt ~
-ro-nises 20 use mines at Guantanamo 10 counter
mine those Al Santiago. which would consume con
siderable time. 1t IS not 50 nucn the loss o.
men he continues "as IS the loss Of SHIPS which
has until now deferred me from making u'Iec'
etiack upon the ships within the port
Aftcr ne battle with Cervera : meet Sh"4'e' t.
reve5 hss request that Sampson force an entrance
saving that his present position had cost "lin e"
thousand men and ne did not wish 10 lose an!
more. Sampson. in comment says NH's S"0"' ."
complete msapprehension OF the e'c"'"S '"'''''
COOPERATION WITH THE ARMY
He alleges tina, the sinking Of the Mercedes "ou'd
obstr,lct the entrance OF the larger American shps
aid that extensive shore batteries were known 10
exist HIS chief OF staff had Indicated 10 Sha!'o'
the points that should be carried before any al'e"-
lion yyas paid to the city. and the taxing OF les@
points would have insured the destruction % ''e
mines and the entrance OF the american ne"
sha.ter had cordially consented 10 this ana Sainp-
.on dtd not know why the plan was changed IN
less the troops had been advanced 700 lar 10 DC
diverted He expresses the belief that an adnei-
ence 10 the original plan would have resulted !" d
much quicker surrender Of the Spanish troops anu
lees loss Of He except 10 the Navy. which would
have borne the brunt OF the attack Sampson tens
how he contemplated bringing up the marine DAT
TALON from Guantanamo. landing II at the loo' u
MORO 70 assist IN the assault or 10 take the west
battery and had 70 doubt Of the success Of his
plan He arranged 70 visit Shafter 10 TAX ms
over but being III. obliged 10 send his chlel
OF staff. Captain Chadwick They reached an ar
rsngement 70 lombard Santiago from the sea tor
tventy-four hours with the heavy guns. and, II
that failed bring the enemy % terms. tEcn 10
assault the Socapa Battery with the marines and
Cubans and force entrance 10 the harl ~ with
some OF the smaller ships. Admiral Sampson then
says.
have been surprised 10 see published In the
papers any statement Of refusal on my part 10 en-
deayor 10 force my way into the harbor, and
cannot understand-in case the newspaper report
be a truthful statement Of what was sent by him
GsSsraI Skaters sending any report Of this Kind