The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-12-01
SAMPSON AND SHAETER.
Their Controversy Regarding the
>VEa Capture Of Santiago. .s4.s'' ;44Gs'
ADMIRAL SAYS He WAS SN O BBED
The General PeremptOrlly Refused to
Permit the Naval Commander to
! Participate In the Surrender of Gen.
eral TOrnl and His Forces.

| efal IOrnl ana Ills fOrcess
, Washington, Dec. 1.-The navy de-
partment yesterday made public re-
port from Admiral Sampson covering
the operations of the United States
blockading fleet off Santiago after the
destruction of Cervera's squadron. The
report begins with dispatch dated
From the flagship New York, July IL,
md winds up with one from the same
Hagship dated Guantanamo, Aug. 4. In
The first report Admiral Sampson tells
of the demonstration made against
Aguadores by the Michigan troops un-
aer Duf1leld. the point of which was
that as soon as the ships took part in
The firing the Spaniards disappeared.
He says that the bombardment of San
lago on the I'd Of July served no par
fcular end. because Skaters attack
had been postponed. He quotes dis
patches from himself to Shafter stat
Ing that 1t Is impossible to force an
Entrance to the harbor until the mines
had been removed, and that work could
be accomplished only after the troops
had taken the forts.
Shafter replied that he could not tell
when he could take the batteries. II
they were as difficult as those against
which he was pitted It would take
Bome time and great loss Of life. Says
= he. II am at u loss to see why the
nayy cannot work under a destructive
Hre as well as the army. Ny loss yes
{, lerday was over 500 men. BY all means
III, t,,c CT
demolished. l expect, however, with
lime and sufficient men to capture the
forts along the bay" An hour later
)n the same day, July 2, Shafter again
appealed to Sampson to farce the har-
Dor entrance Immediately, SO as to
)vod future loss among his men, al
3eady very heavy. Says he: You can
Dperate with less loss of life than
ean." In reply on the same day Ad-
niral Sampson pointed out that the
ihannel of the harbor was well strewn
With mines, which would certainly re-
.Dult In the sinking of one or more of
bis ships If he attempted to enter the
barbor and that by sinking one the
barbOr would be blocked against the
Intrance of the others.
He had hoped that Shafter would
lake the batteries from the rear, 50
that he might drag for the torpedocs, but
rs it was. Skaters earnest desire that
he should force the entrance he would
prepare'to undertake it, thinking, how
ever, that the position of both army
snd navy would be made more difficult
II they failed in the attempt. Says
Bampson: 1T Is not so much the loss
H men as it is the loss of ships which
have until now deferred me from max
Ing direct attack upon the ships
Ki,hln the port"
After the battle with Cervera's fleet
Shafter renewed his request that Samp-
ION force an entrance, saying his pres
pnt position had cost him a thousand
men. and he did not wish to lose any
more. Sampson in comment says this
shows complete misrepresentation of
the circumstances. He alleges that the
yinking of the Mercedes would obstruct
the entrance Of the larger American
ships, and that, extensive shore bat
leres were known to exist. His chief
u staff had indicated to Shafter the
points that should be carried before any
Intention was paid to the city, and the
laking of these points would have in
yured the destruction of the mines and
lhe entrance of the American fleet.
Says Sampson: Il have been sur
prised to see published in the papers
my statement of refusal on my part
10 endeavor to force my way into the
harbor, and cannot Understandable case
Ihe newspaper report be truthful
ytatemcnt sent by him-Shafter's send
hg any report of this kind.
81 here, moreover, would animadvert
npon the apparently extraordinary
ppenness which every detail Of hope.
kffort or suggestion on the part of the
Army has been published. The un-
wisdom of such procedure is too
manifest for discussion.
'The navy has been placed in such
m invidious and false position before
The country through the very unwise
publication of General Skaters tele-
grams that / think this matter should
IN some way be made clear to the pub
he"
Admiral Sampson gives number OF
dispatches showing that he was asked
10 participate in the terms of surrender
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