The sun., 1898-08-09
FLEET AIDED THE ARMY.
HITHERTO UNPUBLIsHED PARTS or
ADMIRAL SIMPSONS REPORT

in Active Cooperation with the Army
Sampson and shafter in Complete Accord.
WARRINGTON. Aug. S.-The extracts from
Admiral Sampsons report heretofore with
held were made public by Secretary Long this
morning. 1t was said unofllcially at the Navy
Department that the extracts were given out
for the purpose OF demonstrating that the
navy was ready and willing at all times TO as
sist the army in the taking OF Santiago. The
extracts follow:
On July demonstration was made by
Michigan volunteer regiment at Aguadores.
under command Of Gen DufIleld. The New
York, Gloucester. and Suwanee moved up at the
request OF the army to assist In an attack. which
was to begin at daylight. but the troops which
came by rail. did not arrive until 9:20. The
small river San Juan cuts through deep defle
and is spanned by an iron railroad bridge.
There is an ancient fort near the water.
and on the hill two small rife pits. Some
sixteen or twenty of the enemy had been
counted while waiting for the troops. but dis
appeared when the ships began firing. The
troops advanced as far as the bridge. A corner
OF the fort was knocked off by the shells OF the
navy and the Flagstaff shot away Desultory
firing was kept up between our troops and the
Spanish. the troops returning to Siboney about
1880.
On the evening Of July l the Admiral was
/ advised by Gen. Shafter that the army would
assault at daylight on the I'd, and the navy was
requested to keep up a fire at the batteries on
! the bluff. The squadron consequently closed
in early on the morning Of the I'd and kept up
! vigorous fire for two hours. but the attack
proposed by Gen. Shafter did not take place on
that day. On the night OF July l the Reina
Mercedes was sunk by the Spanards. so as to
| obstruct the ships. Extensive shore batteries
existed. and IL smaller vessels had been sent in
| and sunk by the mines or batteries the harbor
would have been effectually closed against us.
! 1t was essential to the new scheme OF attack
| OF the combined forces that the position occu-
E! pied by the eastern and western batteries
! should be carried. and this was the scheme Of
| action first proposed by Gen. Shafter on the
day of his first arrival. 1t was at that time ex-
| planned to him that it was of primary i'm
| portance that these points should first be car
rled. as their possession insured the destruction
| OF the mines, the entrance Of heavy ships into
| the harbor. and the assault on Cerveras feet
| This was heartily consented to by Gen. Shafter.
| who stated that the entrance to the harbor was
| the key to the situation. This was repeated in
| his interview with Gen. Garcia at Aserradero.
." 1t had been the Admirars desire to do
| everything possible to cooperate with Gen.
| Shafter. Such an attack as that proposed by
| the General was in complete accord with the
| views held by the Admiral and discussed with
| MS stall 1t was proposed to bring up the ma
| rlnes from Guantanamo and add them to The
| marines Of the squadron. thus making force
of nearly 1000 men which might be landed
| either at the foot of Moro. in Estrella Cove to
| assault the Moro. or to the westward for the
purpose Of assaulting the west battery; at the
same time detaching force OF 1000 or 5000
men from the army. and, proceeding by Aqua
dores occupy the ground between the Moro
| and that Just to the northward of it. A visit to
Gen. Shafter was arranged. but. the Admiral
being i'll, his chief of staff was sent instead
The following arrangements were made:
CAMP NEAR SAN JUAN RIVER. Cuba, July g.
Minutes OF conversation between Capt. Chad
wick of the navy, representing Admiral Samp-
son. and Gen. Shafter:
That lonG-continued bombardment be
made of Santiago from the sea with the heavier
guns OF the fleet. the fleet firing slowly and
continually during say twenty-four hours at
the rate of one shell every five minutes, except
ing one hour at the rate OF one every two min
utes. This refers to the 8 to l3 inch shells
II this be not sufficient to bring the enemy
to terms. that assault be arranged on
| the Socapa Battery. using marines and the
Cuban forces under Gen. Cebreci. and an ef-
fort made to enter the barbor with some Of
the smaller vessels OF the squadron. This
attack to be made upon knowing the result of
second demand made upon the commanding
officer of the Spanish forces for the surrender
OF the place. stating to him the conditions that
surround him. destruction OF the Spanish fleet,
DC, and the number of forces opposed to him.
To give time to consider the matter, the date
Of the bombardment is fixed at noon OF the
9th unless he positively refuses to consider it
at all. when it will be begun at such time as Is
convenient to ourselves Gen. Shafter will fur
nish Admiral with correct map. showing where
his lines will be surrounding the city. and also
open telegraphic communication by the way of
Siboney down to near Aguadores to give infor-
nation as to the falling of shots
This was followed by the following corre-
spondence:
HEADQUARTERS FIFTH ARMY CORPS.
camp NEAR ST. JUAN RIVER. CUBA,
"'July6 g. 1898
"'7ne Generalin- -cnier. Commanding the SpGnish
Forces, Santiago de Cuba.
SIR: In view OF the events Of the Sd In
slant, have the honor to lay before your Ex-
cellency certain propositions to which trust
your Excellency will give the consideration
which, in my opinion. they deserve.
-. incoSe bulletin of the engagement
OF Sunday morning which resulted in the COM
plete destruction OF Admiral Cerveras feet, the
loss of 800 of his officers and men. and the cap
ture of the remainder.
The Admiral. Gen. Parades and all others
who escaped alive are now prisoners on board
the Harvard and ST. Louis. and the latter ship
In which are the Admiral. Gen. Parades and
all the surviving Captains TALL except the Cap
tain OF the Almirante Oquendo. who was slain)
has already sailed for the United States. II de-
sired by you this may be confirmed by your
Excellency sending an officer under a flag Of
truce to Admiral Sampson. and he can arrange
to visit the Harvard. which will not sail until
tomorrow. and obtain the details from Spanish
officers and men aboard that ship
"'3 Our feet is now perfectly free to act. and
have the honor to state that unless a surren-
der be arranged by noon OF the 9th inst bonn
bardment OF the city will be begun and con-
tinued with the heavy guns of our ships. The
city is within easy range of these guns the
S-inch being capable OF firing $500 yards. the
13-inch OF course much further, The ships
can so lie that with range Of 5000 yards they
can reach the centre OF the city.