The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-08-09
WERE In PERFECT ACCORD
OPERATIONS OF ARMY AND
NAVY AT SANTIAGO

lication OF Extracts of the Re-
port of Admiral sampsOn-Mes-
sages Between Shafter and TOral.
WASHINGTON, Aug. ga good deal
of light is thrown upon the relations
between the army and navy during the
critical period just preceding the sur
render of Santiago. by the following
extracts from Admiral Simpsons re-
port. dated July Is. which Is now made
public by the navy department.:
On July 1 a demonstration was made
by Michigan volunteer regiment at
Aguadores. under command Of Gen.
Duffield. 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 ar
rive until 800. The small river San
Juan cuts through a deep def1le and
is spanned by an iron railroad bridge.
There is an ancient fort near the water,
and on the hill two small rifle pits.
Some sixteen or twenty of the enemy
had been counted while waiting for the
troops, but disappeared 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. Des-
ultOry firing was kept up between our
troops end the Spanish. the troops re-
turning to Siboney about 1880.
On the evening of July 1, the admiral
was advised by Gen. Shafter that the
army would assault at daylight on the
End, and the navy was requested to
keep up a fire at the batteries on the
bluff. The squadron consequently clos
ed 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 date.
On the night of July l the Reina
Mercedes was sunk by the Spaniards,
so as to impede the ships. Extensive
shore batteries existed, 50 that if small
Ter vessels had been sent in and sunk
by the mines or batteries, the harbor
would have been closed against us. 1t
was essential to the new scheme Of at
tack upon the combined forces, that the
position occupied 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
explained to him that 1t was Of primary
Importance that these points should
first be carried, as their possession in
sured the destruction Of the mines, the
entrance Of heavy ships into the harbor
and the assault on Cervera's fleet. This
was heartily consented to by Gen. Shat
ter, who stated that the entrance to the
harbor was the key to the situation.
This was repeated In his interview with
Gen. Garcia at Acerraderos.
IN PERFECT ACCORD.
It had been the admiral's desire to do
everything possible to cooperate with
Gen. Sbafter. Such an attack as that
proposed by the general was in COM
plete accord with the views held by the
admiral and discussed with his staff.
1t was proposed to bring up the ma
rines 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 the 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 a
force Of 1000 or 5000 men from the
army and, proceeding by Aguadores, oc-
cupy 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
went instead. The following arrange
ment was made:
Camp Near San Juan River, Cuba, July 6,
1S9S-Minutes Of a conversation between
Capt: Chadwick. Of the navy, representing
Admiral Sampson, and Gen. Shafter: That a
long continued bombardment be made of
Santiago from the sea with the heavier guns
Of the fleet. the fleet firing slowly and con-
tiinually during. say, twenty-four hours. at
the rate Of one shell every five minutes, ex-
cepting one hour. at the rate Of one every
two minutes. This refers to the eght-inch
and to 13-inch shells. If this be not suf-
fcient to bring the enemy to terms. that an
assault be arranged on the socapa battery,
using marines and the Cuban forces under
Gen. Cabreco, and an effort made to enter
the harbor with some Of the smaller ships
of the squadron. This attack to be made
upon knowing the result of a 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 feet, ETC.,
etc.. and the number of forces opposed to
him. To give him time to consider the mat
ter, the date of the bombardment is fixed at
noon of the 9Th, unless he positively refuses
to consider it at all. when 1t will be begun
at such time as is convenient to ourselves.
Gen. Shafter will furnish admiral with cor
rect map showing where his lines will be
surrounding the city, and open to telegraph
by way Of Siboney down to near Aguadores
to give information to the falling of