New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-10-17

AUTHORSHIP OF THE LETTER THAT
CAUSED TORAL'S SURRENDER.
WRITTEN ny CAPTAIN CHADWICK sAMPsoNs
CHIEF OF sTAFF-THE ADMIRAJs STATE

WRITTEN ny CAPTAIN CHADWICK. SIMPSONS
CHIEF OF srAFr-r1fE ApMIRATs STATE
MENT NO CAUSE FOR SURPRISE
lBr TELEGRAPH TO The rRIBuSEl
Washington. oct 16-The establishment az
fected in some quarters over the statement IN
Rear Admiral SIMPSONS speech at Morgantown.
W Va. last week. when a sword was presented
tC Captain Chadwick, to the effect that Chad
wick had written the letter signed by General
Shafter which brought about Torals surrender
Of Santiago has all the marks Of A confession
Of historical ignorance. Admiral Sampson In
what he said certainly had no idea of springing
a novelty on the public or creating sensation.
for he had described the whole matter fully in
his official report over a year ago That report,
dated at Guantanamo August ]. 1898. was
widely published the time 1t contained
copies ~ all the documents relating to Army and
Navy cooperation at Santiago. with a running
account connecting the dispatches in a lucid
narrative 1t showed. among other things. that
after the humiliation Of Cervera's fleet General
Shafter continued TO telegraph to Washington
that he regarded # essential for the Navy to
force It's way into Santiago Harbor to save his
army. and Chadwick was finally sent ashore on
July 6 70 see the General It contains the min
utes Of their conversation. In which Shafter be
came convinced that the Navy should not make
the great sacrifices necessary to force an en-
trance. and continues as follows:
A tacit understanding was at this time in
force by which no firing was carried on by either
side. and this was continued by the following
letter. drafted by my chief Of STAFF. who offered
1t as suggestion, and sent by General smarter
Headquarters Fifth Army Corps.
Camp near san Juan River. cuba July s. 1898.
Sir. In view ~ the events Of the 81 Inst nave
the honor TO lay before Your txeelenfy certain
propositions 10 which trust Your EXcellency WI!
give the consideration which, in my OPINION u'e'
inclose bulletin Of tho engagement Of Sunday
morning. which resulted in the complete DESTRUCTION
OF Admiral Cerveras feet the loss Of six hundred
OF his officers and men and the capture or the re-
mander. The Admiral. General Paroles and az
others who escaped alive are now prisoners on
hoard the Harvard and the St Louis and the latter
ship in which the Admiral. General Paroles and
the surviving captains Call except the captain OF the
Amirante Oqucndo. who was Slam has already
sailed for the United States. II desired by YOU
this may he confirmed by Your Exceliency sending
and he can arrange to visit the Harvard. which Will
not sail until tomorrow, and obtain me details
from Spanish officers and men aboard that ship.
our fleet Is now perfectly free TO act ana have
ranged by noon Of the 9th inst. bombardment q
the city will be begun and continued by the neavy
Of these guns. the s-inch being capable Of firing
100 Yards the lS-nch: Of course mlca ,Hrtneir
they can reach the centre OF the city ,.. = .
humanarian spirit do not wish to cause me
slaughter OF any more men. either Of Your Excel
lfnCNS
circumstances so Instantaneous 10 Your Excel
ency being foregone conclusion.
As Your EXcellency may wish 10 make reference
OF so momentOus q question 10 Your Excellency .
home Government IL is for this purpose that have
placed the time OF the resumption Of hostilities SUI
nclenfy far in the future 10 allow reply being re-
cciNcd.
have the honor 70 he Your Exceency's Obedient
servant WILLIAM X SHAFIf-N'
Major General Commanding Fifth Army Corps
| The General I'm chief Commanding tho Spanish
forces. Santiago De cuba
To any one who had read General Shafter's
letters ana dispatches in the Cuban campaign
IT was evident that he could not have COMPOSED
the letter given above In fact. no one but a
naval officer could have written II, and until the
present time its authorship has never been
questioned for moment