The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-12-01
SAMPSON AND SKATER SPAT.
CentInued from Flrst Page.

SOSS over again All the circumstances COIL
rected with the joint operations before
Santiago in order, as ne says. that more
complete history of the action of the fleet
in combination with the army may be at
the disposal Of the department.
Some of the additions follow: When
Shafter telegraphed that Miles and him
self were to have a conference looking to
the surrender of Santiago. Sampson sent
a message to Shafter saying he desired
10 be represented in any conference, which
included the surrender Of the shipping,
= Shafter agreed to this.
On July II, Sampson sent the following
10 Score ary Long:
July H. 1S9S-PubIished kilograms of
Gen. Shafter in the Herald of July 8, re-
fleet on the navy. l wish the department
and the President 10 understand that the
first requisite to opening harbor of San
tiago. Cuba, Is the occupation of forts
and entertainments at its entrance guard
ing mine fields, and that the general has
never made a move to do this although
before this army landed he stated that
such was the primary object of his opera
lions.
4 have been ready at any time during
the last three weeks to silence works,
10 clear entrance of mines, and to enter
I harbor whenever the army will do the
signs to il. To throw my ships to GER
tain destruction upon mine fields would
be suicidal folly, and 1 have not the force
to form landing party strong enough 10
insure the capture of the forts No dis
agreements mentioned by the paper have
been brought to my notice by Gen. Shat
ter
Admiral Sampson gives dispatches
showing that he was asked to participate
in the terms of surrender, and tried to
find out when he should send a repre-
sentative, but, owing TO one or two delays,
no time was fixed.
Sampson comments as follows: 1.-The
foregoing certainly shows clearly the most
absolute joint action, as l took for grant
ed that we should be joint sgnatories of
any captulations as is customary in all
services in such circumstances.
capt. Chadwick arrived at the front
at the earliest hour it was possible for
him to do so, and informed Gen. Shafter
of my expectancy in the matter, but Gen.
Shafter peremptorily refused. The con-
vention had already 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 8. There would
I have been as much reason for mentioning
| the navy in the report of the land action
| of July ], when assault was made by our
army on the Spanish lines.
mo mention was made of the shipping
in the capitulations, and Capt. Chadwick
informed Gen. Shafter that all Spanish
ships would be regarded by us as property
to be turned over to the navy. He said
he would refer such a matter to the Sec
rotary of War, but that, of course, could
have no bearing upon what l considered
my duty in the matter, particularly in the
view of our late experience of Spanish per-
fidy in regard to injury of ships, which,
in my opinion, made it necessary to look
after their safety al once. 1 thus, after
the hauling down of he Spanish flag, sent
prize crews on board the gunboat Alvaredo
and to the five merchant steamers in the
harbor. An officer of the army was found
on board the Alvaredo, who stated he had
been sent to take charge of her where
upon I addressed the following letter to
Gen. Shafter:
United States Flagship New York, July
17.--Sir: Upon sending in an officer to
take charge of the captured Spanish gun
boat Alvarado it was found that one of
your officers was on board evidently with
the expectation of taking charge of her
1t should hardly be necessary to remind
YOU that in all joint operations of the
character of those which have resulted
in the fall of Santiago all floating material
is turned over to the navy, as all forts,
etc go to the army. L have been lying
within 500 yards of the MORO from which
The Spanish flag was hauled down at 8
o'clock and upon which the United States
flag has not yet Cat p. NO., been hoisted.
Although my forces have frequently en-
gagged these forts and yours have not ex-
changed a shot with them, l await the
arrival of a detachment of your troops
10 take possession, as they must eventu-
ally occupy them. l expect the same con-
sideration.
II request that you viii relieve Lieut..
Car11thers of the duty given as l have d.
rected Lieut.. Marble TO assume command
Of the A.varado. Very respectfully, etc"
After quoting some further correspond
ence on the matter, in which Sampson
claims the prizes, he refers to the eXpul-
ion of Lieut. Doyle from captured YES
sells, and the failure of Shafter to invite
any of the squadron officers to be present
! at the surrender, and said: This may
have been a mere oversight but it is, of
course TO be regretted that any such
shoiild take place Had the navy been
withdrawn after the action OF the 3d-after
which all the fleets operations were to aid
the army-an the shipping referred to
would have escaped and our army have
become the besieged instead of the besieg-
ors. as. of course, the Reina Mercedes and
The eunboat A.varado would have been
free TO destroy or drive off the transport
fleet do not think the commanding gen
eral quite appreciates how necessary
part our forces were to the reduction of
Santiago and the surrender Of its garrison,
which was undoubtedly one of the princi-
pal causes of the surrender at this time
Skaters rejoindsr came on Aug. /, d.
rected to Admiral Sampson, as follows.
Santiago. Avg /, 1851 do not acknowl-
edge the authority of the Secretary OF the
Navy in Abe matter of which you wire
The surrender Of Santiago was made by
Gen. Toral in person in surrendering YER
bally all the prisoners and property Of
spain in The district commanded by him,
and l accepting the same in the presence
of troops representing all the respective
armies. The details for carrying this into
effect were arranged by three commits
sioners on each side. These articles were
signed by the respectiv commissioners in
duplicate. one copy was handed to Gen.
Toral and the other sent by me 10 the
Secretary of War. Neither Gen. Toral or
myself signed them. l certainly could
not and would not submit these articles to