The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-12-01
INDEFINITE TRUCE.

INDEFINITE TRUCE.
After referring t. the existence of
what he terms ar indefinite truce at
that time. Sampson quotes message
from Shafter dated July 10, asking him
tn begin ring on the city according to
programme, bu- 10 be careful to put
his shots well to the westward, near
the bay. to avoid a disastrous moral
effect upon his soldiers, and the admiral
says that reports from army headquar-
,ers show that shells We're fired with
great effect, starting several fires in the
city and only a few falling in the water.
He quotes a dispatCh Of Skaters to
this effect. He also quotes dispatch
from Secretary Long saving that the
secretary of war desires Sampson to
force the harbor; that he wishes to do
All that Is reasonable to bring about
the surrender. and leaves the matter to
SampsOn's discretion. except that the
United states armured vessels must not
be- riSked.'
The admiral says: Il take this to he
u continuation Of the preceding matter
t. which | have referred. | think that
The falsity of the suggestion that the
navy was unwilling to cooperate in
forcing an entrance to Santiago Is al"
ready sufficiently shown. | would.
however. add. to show the good viii Of
the nav" ana my desire and under
standing that in case the enemy failed
To- come to terms through lombard.
mcnt. tho hdrbor entrance should he
forced, that IN the meanwhile all prep
arations were completed for counter
mining. the mines having been removed
for this purpose from the Resolute to
the collier Lebanon. I.ieutenants Roy
smith anG f. T.. Caphart. who are min
ing experts. were placed aboard the
Lebanon ana everything arranged for
action whenever desired. The only rea-
sons for postuonement came from the
general commanding the army.
The navy has been placed in such
an invidous and falls" position before
the country through the very unwise
publication of General Shafter's tele-
grams that | think this matter should
li some way be made clear to the pub
lie"
when Shafter signallcd that Miles
nid hn-selt wrrr to have Il conference
locking to the surrender of Santiago
sampson sent a message to Shaftei
SaHing he desired to be represented In
any conference which included the sur
render of the shipping. Shafter agreed
to this.
ETTER TO SECRETARY LONG.
ON July IA, Sampson sent the follow.
n,g to Secretary Long:
July "A. lS9|: Published telegram oi
GencraI Shafter, Herald Of July t. reflect
ON the navy. | wish the department anc
the president to understand that the frs
requisite to opening harhor of Santiag,
de cuba is the occupation of forts and en-
t'enchments at its ontlanc" guarding
mine fields and that the general has never
made a move to do this. although before
his army landed he stated that such was
the primary object of his operations. II
the general chooses to ignore tn, sea ap
proaChcs and to attack Santiago TO th,
east and north that is his affair. but if
should he clearly understood that this at
tack does not infiuenc" the situation a
the har",r entrance from which his lcf
Hank is distant not less than four miles
| have been .rHdy at any tine during tn,
last three weeks to Silcn," works, tC
clear entrance Of mireS and to enter har
hor whCneN,: his army will do the par
which the Proper conduct of war assign,
10 il. - throw my ships to certain &c
Struction uvrr mine fields would be sui
ridal folly and ! have not the force I,
form landing party strong enough to in
sure tn capture of thu forts, No dis
agreements mentioned by the paper hav
been brought To my notice by Genera
Shaftor.
Admiral sampson gives "A number q
dispatches showing that he was askec
To participate in the terms of surrende
and tried To find out when he Should
send a representative; but owing I,
one or two delays, no time was fixed
SIMPSONS comments follow:
The foregoing certainly shows clear
~ the most absolute joint action and
took for granted that we should b
joint signatOricS of any capitulations