Daily new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1897-1906, 1898-12-01
FRICTION WITH sHAfTER.
Admiral Sampson Gives Some Details of
His Difficulties with the General,
Before Santiago.

pdIbIu61U III adB DuDllc report ITOn
Admiral Sampson covering the opera
tions of the United States blockading
feet off Santiago after the destruction
of Cervera's squadron.
Shafter complained because he did
not force the harbor.
Sampson said f5at he was willing to
do this, but that the channel was mined
and there was great danger of a war
ship being sunk III the narrow channel,
which would block it and keep the
other vessels ouH. thus defeating the
plan. He had an order from Secretary
Long not to risk any of his armored
ships. He said the plan of campaign
was for Shafter TO capture the batteries.
Then the mines were to be removed and
9he feet enter and help reduce the city.
Ii this plan had been followed, it would
have bee1 much more satisfactory.
Nevertheless he had made fLl prepare
tlons to conrtermine and then enter the
harbor, but Shafter failed to give the
word.
He further shows cooperation be-
tween navy and army throughout the.
cam aign.
When Shafter signalled that Miles
anu ulInse We're To nave u conference
looking to tie surrender of Santiago,
Sampson SENT message to Shafter say
ing he desired to be represented in any
conference, which included the sur
render of the shipping. Shafter agreed
to this.
Admiral sampson gives number of
dispatches showing that he was asked
to participate i'll the terms of surrender
and tried TO find out when he should
a +at I,,t 20
or two delays no time was fixed
When Captain Chadwick arrived, at
the earliest hour possible, Shafter re-
fused to allow him to sign -
The convention had already been
signed, aud he stated as one reason that
nothing had been said Of the army i'll
Sampson S report of the fleet action of
July 3. There would have been as much
reason, kSampson said, Tor mentioning
the navy in the report of the land action
OF July |, when assault was made by
the army ca the Spanish lines.
Np mention was made of the shipping
III the capltulations, and Captain Chad
wick informed General 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 secretary of war. In view
OF the late experience of Spanish perfidy
IN regard to injury Of ships, Sampson
Thought 1t necessary for him to look
after their safety at once. He sent
pr1ze crews on board the gunboat Alva-
RADIO and TO the five merchant steamers
IN the harbor. An officer Of the army
was found on board the Alvarado, who
stated he bad been sent to take charge
Of her.
Sampson wrote q letter Shafter say
ing that in all joint operations, the
floating uia5erIal went to the navy and
all f0rts, !, TO the army He reminded
hin that he nad been lying within 500
yards of the Moro, from which the
Spanish nag had been down from 8 to
2o'ciock, yet he had not landed force
to take possession, although he had fire.
queltiy engaged the forts, with which
the army hau not exchanged a shot, yet
he awaited the arrival of detachment
of troops. He said he expected the
same consie Grafton. He further said:
@sLrequest that you relieve Lieutenant
Garuthers of the duty given him, as
have directed Lieutenant Marble to as
sumo command of the Alvarado.''
Aft + quoting some further CORE
Bpondence on the matter, in which
Sampson CLAIMS the prizes. he refers TO
the expulsion Of Lieutenant Doyle from
captured vessels and the failure of
Shafter to invite any of the squadron
officers to be present at the surrender,
adds in part:
tsHad the navy been withdrawn after
the action of the 3d-after which all
the fleets operations were to aid the
army-all the shipping referred to
would have escaped and our army have
become the besieged instead of the be-
slegers, as Of course the Reina Mercedes
and the gunboat Alyarado would have
been free to destroy or drive off the
transport fleet"
Shafter replied that General Toral
surrendered to him verbally all the
prisoners and public property OF Spain
in the district. Neither he nor Togal
signed the articles, the commissioners
signing them. He further sal:
Certainly could not ana would not
permit thee articles to go TO any officer
for signature, my own not being affixed,
and / shall protest to the secretary of
war against your signature to that docu
ment. | respectfully invite your atten-
ton to the fact that 10 claim for any
credit for the capture of Cervera and
his fleet has been made by the army,
although it is fact the Spanish fleet
did not leave the harbor until the in.
vestment of the city was practically
completed, and .Cervera had sufficient
losses on land on July 4 and Q, notably
among them his chief of staff"