New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-08-09

SIMPSONS RELATIONS WITH SKATER
BEFORE THE FALL OF SANTIAGO.

port dated July 10. which is no" Haue Pu0'i0
by the Navy Department:
on July / demonstration was mace by a
Michigan volunteer regiment at Aguadores IN
der command Of General Duffield. Inc New,
York. the Gloucester and the Snwanee nioVeu
up at the request Of the Army TO ASSIST IN an
aftack which was TO begin at daylight Out the
troops which came by rail. did not arrive u"'''
900 O'Clock. ,. . soo,
The small river san Juan cuts through deep
defle and is spanned by an iron railroad DfloSe'
There is an ancient fort near the water, ana on
the hill two small rifle pits. Some sixteen OF
twenty Of the enemy mad been encounters
while waiting for the troops. but dlsappedled
when the ships began firing. The troops al
yanced as far as the bridge. corner oi tne lor,
was knocked off by the shells OF the Navy, anu
The flagstaff was shot away. Desui,or3S ~, w.
ing was kept up between our troops ana me
snan,sh the troops returning 10 Siboney ABOUT
10 80 o'clock.
On the evening o, July the Admiral was al
vised by General Shafter that the Army wouid
assault at daylight on the I'd, and the Navy
was requested TO keep up fire at the batteries
on the bluff. The squadron consequently ciooe'
IN early on the morning Of the I'd, and kept up
a vigorous fire for two hours, but the dt'ao"
proposed by General shafter did not take place
on that day.
On the night OF July the Re,na Mercedes was
sunk nv the Standards so as 10 obstruct the
ships Extensive shore batteries existed ana II
the mines or batteries. the harbor would nave
been effectually closed against us
II WAS essential to the new scheme or attack
Of the combined forces that the position occo-
pied by the eastern and western batteries shouio
be carried. and this was the scheme OF acIioi
first proposed by General Shafter on 'he Gay oi
his first arrival. 1t was at that time expldineu
TO him that 1t OF primary importance thal
these points should first be carried, as their
nossession insured the destruction OF the Mines
the entrance of heavy ships into the Maroon
and the assault on Cervera's fleet
This was heartily consented TO by Generai
shafter. who stated that the entrance TO the
harbor was the key to the situation THIS was
repeated in his interview with General Garcia at
Acerraderos.
II had been the Adnirars desire to DO every-
thing possible TO cooperate with General
shafter Such en- attack that proposed by
the General was in complete accord with the
views held by the Admiral and discussed with
his staff. 1t was proposed to bring up the
marines from Guantanamo and add them 10
the marines Of the squadron. thus making
force of nearly thousand men. which might he
landed either at the foot Of the MORO in Es-
trella Cove TO assault the MORO. or to the west
ward for the purpose of assaulting the west
battery at the same time detaching force or
two thousand or three thousand men from the
Army and proceeding TO Aguadores occupy the
ground between the Moro and that just 70 the
northward of 1t.
CONFERENCE WITH GENERAL sHAFTER
A visit TO General Shafter arranged, but
the Admiral being III. his chief OF staff went In
stead. The following arrangement was made:
Camp near San Juan River. Cuba, July ., 1898.
Minutes Of a conversation between Captain
Chadwick, OF the Navy representing Admiral
Sampson, and General Shafter:
That lols-continued bombardment he made
Of Santiago from the sea. with the heavier guns
OF the fleet, the fleet firing Slowly and contin-
ually during, say twenty -four hours, at the rate
Of one shell every five minutes, excepting one
jhour at the rate Of one every two minutes.
This refers to the S-inch to 13-inch shells. If
this be not sufficient to bring the enemy 10
terms, that an assault be arranged on the So
capa Battery, using marines anu the Cuban
forces under General Cebreco. and effort
made 70 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 sur
round him. destruction of the Spanish fleet, etc,
etc. and the number of forces opposed to him.
To give him time to consider the matter. the
date of the bombardment is fixed at noon OF the
9th. unless ne positively refuses to consider II
at ALL when 1t will begin at such time as is con-
venient 10 ourselves. General Shafter will fur
nish the Admiral with correct map. showing
where his lines will be surrounding the city.
and also open teleg-aphic communication by the
way OF siboney down TO near Aguadores to give
information TO the falling Of shots.
SURRENDER OF SANTIAGO DEMANDED.
This was followed by the following correspond
ence:
Headquarters Fifth Army Corps. Camp near
San Juan River. Cuba
July G. 1893.
The General-in-Chief commanding the Spanish
forces. Santiago de Cuba.
Sir: /. In view Of the events Of the Sd inst
have the honor TO lay before Your Excellency
certain propositions, to which trust Your Elk
cellency will give the consideration which. in
my opinion. they deserve.
g inclose bulletin OF the engagement Of
Sunday morning, which resulted in the COM
plete destruction of Admiral Cervera's fleet. the
loss of 600 Of his officers and men, and the capt
ure of the remainder. The Admiral General
Paroles and all others who escaped alive
now prisoners board the Harvard and the 81.
Louis. and the latter ship. in which are the Ad-
miral, General Paroles and the surviving cap
tains (all except the captain of the Almirante
Oquendo. who was Slam. has already sailed
for the United States. II desired by you this
may be confirmed by Your Excellency sending
an officer under flag OF truce 10 Admiral
Sampson, and he can arrange a visit to the
Harvard. which will not sail until to-morr0\v.
and obtain the details from Spanish officers and
men aboard that ship.
g. Our feet is now perfectly free to act. and
have the honor 10 state that unless a surrender
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
40 lie that with a range of 5000 yards. they can
reach the centre of the city
4. make this suggestion of a surrender
purely in a humanitarian spirit. ] do not wish
to cause the slaughter Of any more men. either
OF Your Excellency's forces or my own the
an 81 disa1-
vantageous to Your Excellency being foregone
conclusion
8. AS Your Excellency may wish to make
reference OF so momentous a question 10 Your
Excelencys home Government. it is for this
purpose that have placed the time OF the re-
sumption OF hostilities sufficiently far in the