miletus12
Squadron vice admiral
To get yourself lost, just follow the signs.
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Post by miletus12 on Jun 1, 2022 22:54:50 GMT
On this issue *I am an expert, Steve. Chichester had specific instructions. If not British secured dependence, a la Egypt, then he was to make sure that the Germans did not get the archipelago. Much like British shenanigans and designs on Hawaii, there was the stench of "Empire" involved in his activities, even of his supposed support of Dewey, when the crisis with Diederichs came. As for Aguinaldo and the Germans... Aguinaldo would eventually turn tyrant and then traitor to the Filipino people. You see, Steve, George Dewey was quickly disabused of any illusions concerning Emilio Aguinaldo. The man was as slippery and twisty as a greased electric eel. Except that a million Filipinos died under Japanese misrule out of about 10 million, Steve. Aguinaldo's claim was utterly bogus. He was a Marcos before there was a Marcos. The only traitor worse was Jose P. Laurel. You think your an expert but then your vision is so limited and distorted that that makes such statements dubious. It would have helped if you had a working link but that one is faulty. The primary stench of empire here is the American one. At least the Philippines did eventually end up independent unlike the population of Hawaii. [If they had come under a British protectorate they would be an independent state today rather than a displaced minority. It would also add another substantial team for the rugby world cup.  ] I do not "think" about this subject, Steve. I am well aware of who the actual problems in the area were and why they were the problems. Here is what else happens, later, as the Americans chase Aguinaldo around in Northern Luzon (1899) and finally catch him and put him in a Guam prison for stealing Filipino tax monies. In about 1 year, the BRITISH will organize an expedition to Beijing to reimpose European control over the Qing dynasty and suppress a Chinese nationalist movement. They will bungle it completely. Oh the Boxers will be suppressed, but the Japanese, who supposedly are the British proxy muscle in this exercise, will use the expedition and the subsequent chaos engendered to expand their footprint out of Korea into the area of Manchuria. In about five years after that mistake, due to a Pacific naval arms race in part SUPPLIED by the British with loans to both Japan and RUSSIA, a naval war will erupt. The Japanese will WIN it, but it will be the AMERICANS who broker the peace. The British will be frozen out. As for the link. The PDF is "Emilio Aguinaldo The Germans And The Austrian Ferdinand Blumentritt Contacts And Mutual Relations Between 1897 And 1901" The author is Karl-Heinz Wionzek. Aguinaldo was a weasel, a liar, a con man and he defrauded the "revolution" he misled, to the tune of an estimated 3 million 1898 USD with the tax money he "collected". (Stole.) It was one of the many reasons he had the Bonifacios killed. They knew about it. How do you suppose he remained rich after the Americans released him from his Guam prison? Being practical imperialists, the Americans used him, allowed him to keep "some" of the stolen money as a bribe for his 'purported loyalty' while using the bulk of the recovered loot (Taft) to set up an actual Filipino government run by Filipinos (Something the British DID NOT DO in Malaya and India.). He, Aguinaldo, in turn later betrayed the Filipinos and the Americans, as he usually betrayed everyone, when the Japanese came south and cut their own deal with him. |
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miletus12
Squadron vice admiral
To get yourself lost, just follow the signs.
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Post by miletus12 on Jun 2, 2022 0:26:33 GMT
Day 42 of the Spanish–American War, June 1st 1898CubaRear Admiral Sampson arrives at the entrance to the harbor of Santiago de Cuba. His arrival added to the already considerable forces of the Flying Squadron under the command of commodore Winfield S. Schley. The combined fleet sets about blockading the harbor. Admiral Pascal Cervera y Topete was anchored well out of range and safe behind the harbor’s fortifications and its narrow entrance, but chances of escape were small, but still a possibility. Cervera could slip out at night or pass the blockading fleet during bad weather. Moreover, every day the bulk of American naval forces are concentrated outside a single harbor gives blockade runners a chance to land arms and supplies for the Spanish Army elsewhere, prolonging the war and the suffering of the Cuban people. True. But then it was a long-confused process to attain this position of bottling up Cervera's fleet. It was a rather small USN that was attempting to seal off Cuba and neutralize a raid force.   The procedure which will be evolved over the next week is that the Americans will picket the fjord at the 6 mile or 50 fathom line during the day and then close in to the 4 mile line or 15 fathom line at night. The searchlight battleship at 3,500 yards was usually the USS Massachusetts. Its job was to shine a carbon arc light into the eyes of any Spanish helmsman who tried to steer one of Cervera's ships through one of the split channels at the harbor mouth. One pilot mistake and the grounded ship could be pummeled and sunk in place, by the two American picket battleships, thus corking the entire Spanish fleet inside the fjord. From the American point of view, even if Cervera blew his ships up and or scuttled in the harbor, the Americans could recover the lot in those shallows and increase their own navy by about 30% with the prizes.  Digging Cervera out of there was now a job for the army. We can compare Sampson's plan with another 'evolution'. It was his 'inspiration' for his own plan.  If one remembers, the Earl and his chief lieutenant bungled that 'evolution' too.
'Naval Leadership and the 'Art of War': John Jervis and Jose' de Mazzareddo Compared' (1797-9) author is Agustin Guemera' I can summarize it. After the Earl St. Vincent won the Battle of the Cape of St. Vincent, he laid blockade to Cadiz and failed to eliminate the Spanish fleet therein. Mazzareddo outfoxed him and managed a successful fleet in being strategy. The British could not and did not close the deal. Baler, Philippines
Spanish Captain Enrique de Las Morenas y Fossí, commander of a fifty-seven man Spanish detachment of the Second Expeditionary Rifle Battalion orders his men to begin digging a well, stock food supplies and ammunition and to fortify the church compound of San Luís de Toledo in Baler's town square against a possible attack. We will see these fellows again. It is a sad tale of Spanish obstinacy and heroism that ends BADLY. |
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lordroel
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Post by lordroel on Jun 2, 2022 2:48:34 GMT
Day 43 of the Spanish–American War, June 2nd 1898
Cuba
Rear Admiral Sampson Sampson orders the robust blockade of Santiago Harbor. He splits the blockaders into two squadrons. He commands the first and Commodore Schley is assigned commanded of the second. The blockading ships are formed in a semi-circle around the entrance to Santiago Harbor with the First Squadron on the east side and Second Squadron on the west. The larger vessels occupy positions farthest from the shore; the smaller, faster vessels are ordered to patrol closer in. Sampson believes that the smaller, faster vessels will best be able to engage Spanish torpedo boat destroyers, which, he fears, might sink one of his capitol ships with a torpedo attack. During the day all of the ships are positioned six miles from shore, but during the night Sampson orders the ships to position themselves closer to the harbor. He uses spotlights at night to illuminate the narrow channel entrance. This use of spotlights—an innovative tactic-is instituted to insure that Cervera’s squadron does not “sneak out” of the harbor entrance undetected under cover of darkness.
United States - Lieutenant Commander William W. Kimball, Commander, Atlantic Torpedo Flotilla, To Commodore Arent S. Crowninshield, Chief Of The Bureau Of Navigation
Naval Station,
Key West,Florida,
June 2d,1898.
Memo for Chief of Staff.
Referring to the matter of keeping the Torpedo Boats in an efficient condition for service,in connection with the verbal and written report heretofore made.
Although the boats are at present more or less inefficient owing to the service which the conditions of the present war have required of them,they can all be made seriously formidable for attack work by overhauling them here,and at Mobile.1
When so overhauled,if they could be furnished with a small collier that could carry two or three fills up with good coal,water,oil,waste,and some of the heavier tools and stores necessary for making small repairs immediately these last are indicated; and that could be used to tow the boats by day and so save bunker coal,there is no apparent reason why the Flotilla could not be kept ready for good work at all times,anywhere around the coasts of Cuba and Porto Rico,for 30 days at a stretch.
If the fuel vessel were at the disposition of the Flotilla,it is evident that she could always be moved to a place sufficiently sheltered for coaling when the sea were too heavy at any particular station assigned; and that such a place could be found not far from any station.
Coaling in quite rough water could be accomplished if the collier were provided with a boat as large as a ship’s cutter,fitted with pull and haul lines,and with coal bags for use when coaling a torpedo boat astern of the collier.
Always at night,and under all probable circumstances by day the Flotilla could protect its collier without aid from ships.
It is evident from our own experiences,and especially from those of foreign nations,that to make torpedo boats serious as such,they must be grouped and not scattered; in this connection it is to be observed that the rivalry between the boats when endeavoring to keep a high state of efficiency on duty common to a group makes for good work nearly as much as does the mutual support that can be rendered.
Even if the boats were never required for real torpedo boat work,it is probable that more efficiency for dispatch and blockade duty could be gotten out of them when grouped and given a sort of floating base as above indicated,than when scattered and made dependent on the ships of the fleet; but this memorandum is more particularly offered for consideration in case the developments of present hostilities should indicate the disenability of properly preparing the Flotilla for attacking the enemy’s ships or for defending our own against night attacks.
Lieut.Commander,U.S.N.,
Commanding Atlantic T.B.Flotilla.
Germany - United States Ambassador To Germany Andrew D. White To Secretary Of State William R. Day
Embassy of the United States
Berlin
June 2nd, 1898.
Sir,
Our Consul at Hamburg, Mr. Pitcairn, writes informing me that he “learns through a most reliable source that the Spanish government through the firm of Mario Cresta has bought a great quantity of arms amounting to nearly a half a million Marks”; that in order to avoid difficulty with German Government the parties concerned have persuaded the Consul of a South American Republic to give his certificate that the arms are bought by and destined for his country; that confirmation of this report comes from other South American Representatives; and he wishes instructions, especially desiring to know whether I authorize him to employ a detective in order to keep as fully informed as possible regarding this shipment.
On consulting our Naval Attaché, Commander Barber, as to our interest at Hamburg just at this juncture, he strongly advises, for reasons which seem to me convincing, against our taking any active and open steps in the matter at present, the ground for such apparent non-action on our part being the danger that in the present position of our affairs here much more harm than good may be done to the interests of our own country.
I need not here enter into the particulars of the subject since Commander Barber’s communications with Washington will doubtless make the whole matter clear in its details if they have not already done so.
My conduct, therefore, as regards immediate interference will for the present be based on this advice coming as it does from our Naval Attache who in the matter concerned must be regarded as an expert.
But it still seems to me important that the Consul keep himself and the Embassy as exactly informed as possible, and I have therefore stated to him that while I have no instructions that enable me to authorize him to employ a detective, I advise him to do so and will present the Department the reasons for making the necessary allowance for the same.
This brings up the whole subject of employing special and detective aid in matters of the kind above indicated, and the question whether the Department5 is prepared to authorize every Consul to employ such detective aid or whether it would be thought best to give the Embassy power to authorize Consuls within its jurisdiction to do so (1), after a proper consideration by it of the facts in each individual case.
In my opinion the latter would be the simpler and safer way. It will be evident to the Department that there is frequently not sufficient time for a Consul to lay a case before the Department and secure from it an authorization; but with the very complete telegraphic and telephonic systems now established in Germany a case could be stated by any Consul likely to be concerned and an answer returned in a very short time, and I therefore respectfully submit that it would be well during the war now going on, for the Department to authorize the Consulates to employ detective aid, either directly or through the Embassy as above indicated, would ask for instructions on the subject, and in view of the pressing importance of the matter I would suggest that they be forwarded to me by cable.
I am, Sir, very respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
Andrew D. White
Footnote 1: Locations of American consulates in Germany: Hamburg, Frankfurt, Munich, Aix la Chapelle, Barmen, Coburg, Cologne, Dresden, Erfurt, Breslau, Hanover, Kehl, Leipzig, Magdeburg, Nuremburg, Plauen, Stettin, Stuttgart, and Bremen.
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stevep
Fleet admiral
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Post by stevep on Jun 2, 2022 12:08:50 GMT
You think your an expert but then your vision is so limited and distorted that that makes such statements dubious. It would have helped if you had a working link but that one is faulty. The primary stench of empire here is the American one. At least the Philippines did eventually end up independent unlike the population of Hawaii. [If they had come under a British protectorate they would be an independent state today rather than a displaced minority. It would also add another substantial team for the rugby world cup. ] I do not "think" about this subject, Steve. I am well aware of who the actual problems in the area were and why they were the problems. Here is what else happens, later, as the Americans chase Aguinaldo around in Northern Luzon (1899) and finally catch him and put him in a Guam prison for stealing Filipino tax monies. In about 1 year, the BRITISH will organize an expedition to Beijing to reimpose European control over the Qing dynasty and suppress a Chinese nationalist movement. They will bungle it completely. Oh the Boxers will be suppressed, but the Japanese, who supposedly are the British proxy muscle in this exercise, will use the expedition and the subsequent chaos engendered to expand their footprint out of Korea into the area of Manchuria. In about five years after that mistake, due to a Pacific naval arms race in part SUPPLIED by the British with loans to both Japan and RUSSIA, a naval war will erupt. The Japanese will WIN it, but it will be the AMERICANS who broker the peace. The British will be frozen out. As for the link. The PDF is "Emilio Aguinaldo The Germans And The Austrian Ferdinand Blumentritt Contacts And Mutual Relations Between 1897 And 1901" The author is Karl-Heinz Wionzek. Aguinaldo was a weasel, a liar, a con man and he defrauded the "revolution" he misled, to the tune of an estimated 3 million 1898 USD with the tax money he "collected". (Stole.) It was one of the many reasons he had the Bonifacios killed. They knew about it. How do you suppose he remained rich after the Americans released him from his Guam prison? Being practical imperialists, the Americans used him, allowed him to keep "some" of the stolen money as a bribe for his 'purported loyalty' while using the bulk of the recovered loot (Taft) to set up an actual Filipino government run by Filipinos (Something the British DID NOT DO in Malaya and India.). He, Aguinaldo, in turn later betrayed the Filipinos and the Americans, as he usually betrayed everyone, when the Japanese came south and cut their own deal with him.
The same old tactics. When defeated change the subject and twist the facts to suit your arguments. Your problem is that you let your desires drive your arguments and hence you will never actually understand anything. Because to you ideology and belief are more important than reality.
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lordroel
Administrator
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Post by lordroel on Jun 2, 2022 13:05:20 GMT
Okay let’s keep it civil here.
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miletus12
Squadron vice admiral
To get yourself lost, just follow the signs.
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Post by miletus12 on Jun 2, 2022 13:09:34 GMT
I do not "think" about this subject, Steve. I am well aware of who the actual problems in the area were and why they were the problems. Here is what else happens, later, as the Americans chase Aguinaldo around in Northern Luzon (1899) and finally catch him and put him in a Guam prison for stealing Filipino tax monies. In about 1 year, the BRITISH will organize an expedition to Beijing to reimpose European control over the Qing dynasty and suppress a Chinese nationalist movement. They will bungle it completely. Oh the Boxers will be suppressed, but the Japanese, who supposedly are the British proxy muscle in this exercise, will use the expedition and the subsequent chaos engendered to expand their footprint out of Korea into the area of Manchuria. In about five years after that mistake, due to a Pacific naval arms race in part SUPPLIED by the British with loans to both Japan and RUSSIA, a naval war will erupt. The Japanese will WIN it, but it will be the AMERICANS who broker the peace. The British will be frozen out. As for the link. The PDF is "Emilio Aguinaldo The Germans And The Austrian Ferdinand Blumentritt Contacts And Mutual Relations Between 1897 And 1901" The author is Karl-Heinz Wionzek. Aguinaldo was a weasel, a liar, a con man and he defrauded the "revolution" he misled, to the tune of an estimated 3 million 1898 USD with the tax money he "collected". (Stole.) It was one of the many reasons he had the Bonifacios killed. They knew about it. How do you suppose he remained rich after the Americans released him from his Guam prison? Being practical imperialists, the Americans used him, allowed him to keep "some" of the stolen money as a bribe for his 'purported loyalty' while using the bulk of the recovered loot (Taft) to set up an actual Filipino government run by Filipinos (Something the British DID NOT DO in Malaya and India.). He, Aguinaldo, in turn later betrayed the Filipinos and the Americans, as he usually betrayed everyone, when the Japanese came south and cut their own deal with him. The same old tactics. When defeated change the subject and twist the facts to suit your arguments. Your problem is that you let your desires drive your arguments and hence you will never actually understand anything. Because to you ideology and belief are more important than reality.
Just to be clear, how are real historical facts directly related to the topic discussed in this thread a change in tactics? ================================================================== Day 43 of the Spanish–American War, June 2nd 1898Cuba
Rear Admiral Sampson Sampson orders the robust blockade of Santiago Harbor. He splits the blockaders into two squadrons. He commands the first and Commodore Schley is assigned commanded of the second. The blockading ships are formed in a semi-circle around the entrance to Santiago Harbor with the First Squadron on the east side and Second Squadron on the west. The larger vessels occupy positions farthest from the shore; the smaller, faster vessels are ordered to patrol closer in. Sampson believes that the smaller, faster vessels will best be able to engage Spanish torpedo boat destroyers, which, he fears, might sink one of his capitol ships with a torpedo attack. During the day all of the ships are positioned six miles from shore, but during the night Sampson orders the ships to position themselves closer to the harbor. He uses spotlights at night to illuminate the narrow channel entrance. This use of spotlights—an innovative tactic-is instituted to insure that Cervera’s squadron does not “sneak out” of the harbor entrance undetected under cover of darkness. See previous comments about Sampson's plan. One noteworthy mistake Sampson makes is this one. (See chart.)  Sampson splits the semicircle of picket ships into TWO commands. He puts Schley in charge of the west half of the semicircle with orders to prevent a Cervera breakout and run to Cienfuegos. This is an independent command and allows Schley considerable active leeway; BUT... if Sampson does this, he has to recognize that Schley will need to act to use the whole fleet to execute his instructions if Sampson should do something stupid, like run off to argue with somebody when the 'enemy sortie signal' is raised. If Sampson wants to command the blockade in this era, he has to be present for duty, so that his instructions can be signaled to all ships present. The idiot has thus committed the greatest naval error one can commit as a fleet admiral. He has split his fleet in two and confused the chain of responsibility in the face of a powerful, clever and dangerous adversary. A fleet in a local battlespace cannot be divided in half like a baby without the Solomonic consequences that would ensue. It will be a mistake the USN does not learn from as Savo Island in 1942, forty four years later demonstrates, when Richmond Kelly Turner, does the same exact thing, only three ways. And like Turner, Sampson will compound the huge administrative error with future further lapses in judgement. Stay tuned for those to occur... United States - Lieutenant Commander William W. Kimball, Commander, Atlantic Torpedo Flotilla, To Commodore Arent S. Crowninshield, Chief Of The Bureau Of NavigationNaval Station, Key West,Florida, June 2d,1898. Memo for Chief of Staff. Referring to the matter of keeping the Torpedo Boats in an efficient condition for service, in connection with the verbal and written report heretofore made. Although the boats are at present more or less inefficient owing to the service which the conditions of the present war have required of them, they can all be made seriously formidable for attack work by overhauling them here, and at Mobile.1 When so overhauled, if they could be furnished with a small collier that could carry two or three fills up with good coal, water, oil, waste, and some of the heavier tools and stores necessary for making small repairs immediately (when) these last are indicated; and that could be used to tow the boats by day and so save bunker coal, there is no apparent reason why the Flotilla could not be kept ready for good work at all times, anywhere around the coasts of Cuba and Porto Rico, for 30 days at a stretch. If the fuel vessel were at the disposition of the Flotilla, it is evident that she could always be moved to a place sufficiently sheltered for coaling when the sea were too heavy at any particular station assigned; and that such a place could be found not far from any station. Coaling in quite rough water could be accomplished if the collier were provided with a boat as large as a ship’s cutter, fitted with pull and haul lines, and with coal bags for use when coaling a torpedo boat astern of the collier. Always at night, and under all probable circumstances by day the Flotilla could protect its collier without aid from ships. It is evident from our own experiences, and especially from those of foreign nations, that to make torpedo boats serious as such, they must be grouped and not scattered; in this connection it is to be observed that the rivalry between the boats when endeavoring to keep a high state of efficiency on duty common to a group makes for good work nearly as much as does the mutual support that can be rendered. Even if the boats were never required for real torpedo boat work, it is probable that more efficiency for dispatch and blockade duty could be gotten out of them when grouped and given a sort of floating base as above indicated, than when scattered and made dependent on the ships of the fleet; but this memorandum is more particularly offered for consideration in case the developments of present hostilities should indicate the dis-inability of properly preparing the Flotilla for attacking the enemy’s ships or for defending our own against night attacks. Lieut. Commander, U.S.N., Commanding Atlantic T.B. Flotilla. Some observations. 1. It is clear that LTCDR W.M. Kimball has sent a missive to Arent Crowninshield, not because Crowninshield at the moment handles naval personnel matters and is responsible for charts and marker aids, but because Crowni9nshield is a member of the War Board, soon to become the General Board, the cover name of the United States Navy General Staff. Kimball is trying to educate the War Board about the lessons he learns with regards to the operation of his command, which heretofore has been "unacceptable". It is also an explanation as to why it has been "unacceptable" and what Kimball thinks needs to change to make it "acceptable". 2. Kimball stresses the need for a base ship, or a destroyer tender for USN torpedo boats as a range extender, floating billet for torpedo boat crews, squadron headquarters ship, collier, repair ship and tow vessel. This is a fuel, dry stores, maintenance, and command ship for a squadron. This a TAKR ship before there was ever a TAKR ship anywhere. As far as I know, this is the first time such a concept has been broached as a necessity in the USN. The Italians have discussed something like it in the early 1890s (de Brin), but even they have not mentioned it as an offensive weapon. 3. Coaling astern was the approved "British method". Schley is discovering that side by side, is better as one ship can act as a wind and wave shield and the process can be undertaken underweigh in open seas as opposed to being a "sitting duck" on a chain tether. This is one reason why the USS Merrimac is NOT suitable. One cannot cross transfer underweigh from a powerless towed barge. It is too dangerous. 4. Kimball makes a reference to Sampson's frittering away of the torpedo boats in an oblique fashion. If not readily apparent, Sampson has used his torpedo boats as avisos and general-purpose errand boys. Kimball knocks down that notion that the TBs cannot defend themselves or their charges by claiming that in squadron strength they can screen their proposed base ships and defend themselves against enemy heavy ships, a claim which Sampson and a lot of other naval officers in the USN did not believe as of this date. As for this claim, I suspect Kimball is aware of French doctrine of how torpedo boats are to be employed. The French have successfully used this squadron doctrine in their recent naval war with China. 5. Kimball then makes the argument that squadron concentration could work even if the boats were used in their present role as 'errand boys' as they would be where the fleet was and could support the fleet as scouts and avisos. This last argument has prudent weight since Schley (Remember him?) has complained that he has no scouts or avisos in the numbers he needs to stand a blockade. Come to think of it, a TAKR is also something Schley complains he needs. What do you know? Kimball and Schley are reading the same sheet music! Germany - United States Ambassador To Germany Andrew D. White To Secretary Of State William R. DayEmbassy of the United States Berlin June 2nd, 1898. Sir, Our Consul at Hamburg, Mr. Pitcairn, writes informing me that he “learns through a most reliable source that the Spanish government through the firm of Mario Cresta has bought a great quantity of arms amounting to nearly a half a million Marks”; that in order to avoid difficulty with German Government the parties concerned have persuaded the Consul of a South American Republic to give his certificate that the arms are bought by and destined for his country; that confirmation of this report comes from other South American Representatives; and he wishes instructions, especially desiring to know whether I authorize him to employ a detective in order to keep as fully informed as possible regarding this shipment. On consulting our Naval Attaché, Commander Barber, as to our interest at Hamburg just at this juncture, he strongly advises, for reasons which seem to me convincing, against our taking any active and open steps in the matter at present, the ground for such apparent non-action on our part being the danger that in the present position of our affairs here much more harm than good may be done to the interests of our own country. I need not here enter into the particulars of the subject since Commander Barber’s communications with Washington will doubtless make the whole matter clear in its details if they have not already done so. My conduct, therefore, as regards immediate interference will for the present be based on this advice coming as it does from our Naval Attache who in the matter concerned must be regarded as an expert. But it still seems to me important that the Consul keep himself and the Embassy as exactly informed as possible, and I have therefore stated to him that while I have no instructions that enable me to authorize him to employ a detective, I advise him to do so and will present the Department the reasons for making the necessary allowance for the same. This brings up the whole subject of employing special and detective aid in matters of the kind above indicated, and the question whether the Department5 is prepared to authorize every Consul to employ such detective aid or whether it would be thought best to give the Embassy power to authorize Consuls within its jurisdiction to do so (1), after a proper consideration by it of the facts in each individual case. In my opinion the latter would be the simpler and safer way. It will be evident to the Department that there is frequently not sufficient time for a Consul to lay a case before the Department and secure from it an authorization; but with the very complete telegraphic and telephonic systems now established in Germany a case could be stated by any Consul likely to be concerned and an answer returned in a very short time, and I therefore respectfully submit that it would be well during the war now going on, for the Department to authorize the Consulates to employ detective aid, either directly or through the Embassy as above indicated, would ask for instructions on the subject, and in view of the pressing importance of the matter I would suggest that they be forwarded to me by cable. I am, Sir, very respectfully, Your obedient servant, Andrew D. White Footnote 1: Locations of American consulates in Germany: Hamburg, Frankfurt, Munich, Aix la Chapelle, Barmen, Coburg, Cologne, Dresden, Erfurt, Breslau, Hanover, Kehl, Leipzig, Magdeburg, Nuremburg, Plauen, Stettin, Stuttgart, and Bremen. The US State Department was the functional US foreign intelligence service in this era. The hiring of German 'private detectives' would be quaint to track and interrupt an arms shipment from Germany to Spain. The "cutout" or third party used to disguise this illegal sale of arms is a company of some curious note. We find it mentioned in connection to Cuba, here. In this context; "the expression, 'something is rotten in Denmark' " is kind of obvious, since the Americans are also doing business with these guys, too. (although not while the war is on.). The consul of a South American republic was 'bribed'. (Argentina). The Chilean consul ratted him out. The meat of the letter is concerned, not with the interruption of the shipment of Krupp cannons and ammunition, but more with how one gets authorization to use 'rent-a-traitors' to do the dirty work while one looks the other way and whistles "Dixie". In this regard, the USN attaché, squelches the notion as right now, Germany and the US are in the midst of a kabuki death dance at Manila Bay. An act of overt espionage would give the Kaiser the excuse he needs to make difficult things for the US far worse in that quarter. Nevertheless, Ambassador White gently nudges his boss that maybe the State Department better figure out how to conduct such espionage as the need arises, because it is obvious that the Germans are up to something. |
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lordroel
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Post by lordroel on Jun 3, 2022 6:21:53 GMT
Day 44 of the Spanish–American War, June 3rd 1898
Cuba
Commodore Schley's US Flying Squadron, supported by Rear Admiral Sampson's US North Atlantic Squadron attempts to block the entrance to the harbor at Santiago de Cuba by sinking the collier USS Merrimac in the main channel. Small Spanish gunboats and mines prevent the ship's proper positioning, and the harbor remains open. Assistant Naval Constructor Richmond P. Hobson and his crew of seven are captured.
First contact of the commanders of the US Marines and leaders of the Cuban Liberation Army, aboard the armored cruiser USS New York at which the revolutionary forces provided detailed information for the campaign.
United States - Office of the Naval War Board
OFFICE OF NAVAL WAR BOARD,
Washington, June 3,1898.
SIR: In view of the publicity which is being given to moveIp.ents of the expeditionary force said to be embarking at Tampa, and the necessity for greater secrecy in the future, it is recommended that the commanding officer of the army in Tampa and of the navy at Key West be directed to seize and detain all press boats, of whatever character, in those ports, and to l;lrevent their following the expedition, placing, if necessary, a file of soldiers or marines on board to enforce obedience; and likewise that the commanding naval officer of the convoy be directed, in case a press boat joins the fleet, to take charge of her and compel her to remain until he reaches the commander in chief, who shall also detain her so long as 'he thinks expedient to do so. The lack"Qf secrecy that now exists may very well eventuate in the needless loss of thousands of lives of American soldiers.
Very respectfully, M. SICARD,Rear-Admiral, U. S. N., President of the Board. The SECRETARY OF 'THE NAVY.
United States - Adjutant-Generals Office
Washington, June 3,1898. (Sent in cipher 9.30 p. m.)
Major-General SRAFTER, Tampa, Fla.:
The Secretary of War and the Navy have agreed that all press boats, of whatever character, shall be seized and detained in the ports of Tampa and Key West to prevent following the expedition, placing, if necessary, a file of soldiers or marines on board to enforce obedience; and likewise that the commanding naval officer of the convoy be directed, in case a press boat joins the fleet, to take charge. of her and compel her to remain until he reaches the commander in chief, who shall also detain her, so long as he thinks expedient to do so. By command Major-General Miles:
H. C. CORBIN, Adjutant-General.
United States - Sectary of War
TAMPA BAY HOTEL, Tampa, Fla., June 3,1898-3.11 p. m.
SECRETARY OF WAR, Washington, D. C.:
There will be 13 volunteer regiments with first expedition. Owing to the fact that several regiments came without arms, and the impossibility of properly equipping raw recruits, I am obliged to send more dismounted cavalry than I anticipated. As a good part of General Wheeler's command goes, I think it proper to send him with General Shafter. Have withdrawn all troops from Mobile except two unarmed Texas regiments, and think it advisable to organize second expedition here under General Coppinger. MILES,
Major-General Commanding Army
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miletus12
Squadron vice admiral
To get yourself lost, just follow the signs.
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Post by miletus12 on Jun 3, 2022 23:03:49 GMT
Day 44 of the Spanish–American War, June 3rd 1898CubaCommodore Schley's US Flying Squadron, supported by Rear Admiral Sampson's US North Atlantic Squadron attempts to block the entrance to the harbor at Santiago de Cuba by sinking the collier USS Merrimac in the main channel. Small Spanish gunboats and mines prevent the ship's proper positioning, and the harbor remains open. Assistant Naval Constructor Richmond P. Hobson and his crew of seven are captured. First contact of the commanders of the US Marines and leaders of the Cuban Liberation Army, aboard the armored cruiser USS New York at which the revolutionary forces provided detailed information for the campaign. Two items: 1. The operation to plug the harbor was bungled. See comments above in green. M.
2. The Marines (and Schley) had come up with a scheme to seize an advanced anchorage. It is known as Guantanamo Bay. United States - Office of the Naval War Board OFFICE OF NAVAL WAR BOARD, Washington, June 3,1898. SIR: In view of the publicity which is being given to movements of the expeditionary force said to be embarking at Tampa, and the necessity for greater secrecy in the future, it is recommended that the commanding officer of the army in Tampa and of the navy at Key West be directed to seize and detain all press boats, of whatever character, in those ports, and to prevent their following the expedition, placing, if necessary, a file of soldiers or marines on board to enforce obedience; and likewise that the commanding naval officer of the convoy be directed, in case a press boat joins the fleet, to take charge of her and compel her to remain until he reaches the commander in chief, who shall also detain her so long as 'he thinks expedient to do so. The lack"Qf secrecy that now exists may very well eventuate in the needless loss of thousands of lives of American soldiers. Very respectfully, M. SICARD, Rear-Admiral, U. S. N., President of the Board. The SECRETARY OF 'THE NAVY. 3. It is that such OBVIOUS necessary measures have to be ordered for operational security that causes people like me to wince when I read this stuff. William Tecumseh Sherman knew how to handle this nonsense without needing an admiral (Who is about to go insane by the way.) telling him how to do it. United States - Adjutant-Generals OfficeWashington, June 3,1898. (Sent in cipher 9.30 p. m.) Major-General SRAFTER, Tampa, Fla.: The Secretary of War and the Navy have agreed that all press boats, of whatever character, shall be seized and detained in the ports of Tampa and Key West to prevent following the expedition, placing, if necessary, a file of soldiers or marines on board to enforce obedience; and likewise that the commanding naval officer of the convoy be directed, in case a press boat joins the fleet, to take charge. of her and compel her to remain until he reaches the commander in chief, who shall also detain her, so long as he thinks expedient to do so. By command Major-General Miles: H. C. CORBIN, Adjutant-General. 4. The order was sent. United States - Sectary of WarTAMPA BAY HOTEL, Tampa, Fla., June 3,1898-3.11 p. m. SECRETARY OF WAR, Washington, D. C.: There will be 13 volunteer regiments with first expedition. Owing to the fact that several regiments came without arms, and the impossibility of properly equipping raw recruits, I am obliged to send more dismounted cavalry than I anticipated. As a good part of General Wheeler's command goes, I think it proper to send him with General Shafter. Have withdrawn all troops from Mobile except two unarmed Texas regiments, and think it advisable to organize second expedition here under General Coppinger. MILES, Major-General Commanding Army 5. By now Miles has the bad news that he will not be officer in tactical command at Santiago. 6. The news from Camp Thomas at Chicamauga Battlefield has arrived and Miles knows the true state of the army. He will have to send more "Regulars" to Santiago, because the militia are not properly equipped or trained. What is not stated, is that the Regular troops he will have to use are AFRICAN AMERICAN cavalry units. Miles is a bigot and a racist. 7. Joe Wheeler, the only general officer who appears to have known what he was doing in V Corps, i s an Unreconstructed Confederate. He is apparently, by the accounts we have of him, at this calendar date, either senile or insane. Teddy Roosevelt thought the man was nuts. Guess who will be in command of those African American cavalry units as well as the Rough Riders? 8. Who is General Coppinger? Whatever his faults, Coppinger knew the "right people" and punched the "right tickets". Did this track record qualify him for a serious command? No. Even Schaffter had more practical time in the field. |
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lordroel
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Post by lordroel on Jun 4, 2022 8:41:20 GMT
Day 45 of the Spanish–American War, June 4th 1898
United States - Assistant Secretary Of The Navy Charles H. Allen To Commodore Arent S. Crowninshield, Chief Of The Bureau Of Navigation
June 4th, 1898.
In addition to the light-draft vessels of the regular Navy, such as the [Leyden], Annapolis, Vicksburg, Helena, Bancroft, Wilmington, etc., three lighthouse tenders and six revenue cutters, there are, at the disposal of Admiral Sampson, the following named purchased yachts and tugs, all at the present time on the coast of Cuba:
The Eagle, Gloucester, Hawk, Hornet, Oneida, Scorpion, Vixen, Wasp, Uncas, Wompatuck and Osceola. This list does not include any of the tugs assigned to duty in the harbor of Key West.
The Department asks to be informed whether it is considered advisable to send any more of the purchased vessels south. The Dorthea is available.
The following yachts were assigned to duty under Admiral Erben and are now ready for service: The Hist, Viking, Restless, Aileen, Uncanoomick; the following are assigned to duty under Admiral Erben, but are not ready for service: The Inca, Enquirier, Free Lance and Frolic, and Yankton. These boats are all small.
The Department requests to be informed whether the War Board considers it advisable to send them to the coast of Cuba.
CH Allen
Acting Secretary.
United States - Sectary of War
TAMPA, FLA., June 4, 1898.
SECRETARY OF WAR, Washington, D. C. :
Several of the volunteer regiments came here without uniforms; several came without arms, and some without blankets, tents, or camp equipage. The Thirtysecond Michigan, which is among the best, came without arms. Gen. Guy V. Henry reports that five regiments under his command are not fit to go into the field. There are over 300 cars loaded with war material along the roads about Tampa. Stores are sent to the quartermaster at Tampa, but the invoices and bills of lading have not been received, so that the officers are obliged to break open seals and hunt from car to car to ascertain whether they contain clothing, grain, balloou material, horse equipments, ammunition, siege guns, commissary stores, etc. Every effort is being made to bring order out of confusion. I request that rigid orders be given requiring the shipping officers to forward in advance complete invoices and bills of lading, with descriptive marks of every package, and the number and description of car in which shipped. To illustrate the embarrassment caused by present conditions, 15 cars loaded with uniforms were sidetracked 25 miles away from Tampa, and remained there for weeks while the troops were suffering for clothing. Five thousand rifles, which were discovered yesterday, were needed by several regiments. Also, the different parts of tha siege train and ammunition for same, which will be required immediately on landing, are scattered through hundreds of cars on the side tracks of the railroads. Notwithstanding these difficulties, this expedition will soon be ready to sail.
NELSON A. MILES,
Major-General Commanding.
United States - Sectary of War
WAR DEPARTMENT, Washington, June 4,1898.
Major-General SHAFTER, Tampa, Fla. :
Admiral Sampson cables to-day Merrimac in channel. Cervera, with 4 ships and 2 torpedo boats, in harbor safely bottled up. He urges immediate aid from your troops. He reports 7 intrenched in Juragnacito and Daiquiri; 5,000 at Morron de Cuba; 4,000 at other points; in bay, 500 with small Hotchkiss gun. Cervera sent flag of truce supposedly to exchange prisoners for Naval Constructor Hobson and 7 men, who, unharmed with him on Merrimac, were taken prisoners, in recognition of their bravery. We are sure Cervera is there.
ALGER, Secretary of War.
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miletus12
Squadron vice admiral
To get yourself lost, just follow the signs.
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Post by miletus12 on Jun 4, 2022 11:04:39 GMT
Day 45 of the Spanish–American War, June 4th 1898United States - Assistant Secretary Of The Navy Charles H. Allen To Commodore Arent S. Crowninshield, Chief Of The Bureau Of NavigationJune 4th, 1898. In addition to the light-draft vessels of the regular Navy, such as the [Leyden], Annapolis, Vicksburg, Helena, Bancroft, Wilmington, etc., three lighthouse tenders and six revenue cutters, there are, at the disposal of Admiral Sampson, the following named purchased yachts and tugs, all at the present time on the coast of Cuba: The Eagle, Gloucester, Hawk, Hornet, Oneida, Scorpion, Vixen, Wasp, Uncas, Wompatuck and Osceola. This list does not include any of the tugs assigned to duty in the harbor of Key West. The Department asks to be informed whether it is considered advisable to send any more of the purchased vessels south. The Dorthea is available. The following yachts were assigned to duty under Admiral Erben and are now ready for service: The Hist, Viking, Restless, Aileen, Uncanoomick; the following are assigned to duty under Admiral Erben, but are not ready for service: The Inca, Enquirier, Free Lance and Frolic, and Yankton. These boats are all small. The Department requests to be informed whether the War Board considers it advisable to send them to the coast of Cuba. CH Allen Acting Secretary. 1. What we do not see here, is the reason all of these yachts are now bobbing around in USN service. At the moment, if not cowering out of reach of Camara's Expedition in the Aegean (US Mediterranean Squadron which Camara heavily outgunned, some four or so "peace cruisers".), or out of position and contact in the South Atlantic (Two more "peace cruisers".), or elsewhere globally employed (Indian Ocean and South Pacific, about a good dozen more "peace cruisers".), the yachts are being rented, modified with a couple of guns and sent out to form a picket line of scouts to protect the Eastern Sea Frontier from Galveston, Texas to Bangor, Maine from Spanish raiders on American coastal shipping. The yachts are now being proposed to service as gap-fillers in the Cuba blockade, because the War Board remembers what happened during the American Civil War to the Anaconda Plan, once the Union navy had to concentrate for coastal operations to support the Union army during operations in South Carolina and Virginia in 1862-1863. It opened naval gaps in the coverage through which British and French blockade runners waltzed unmolested. These blockade runner ships from Jamaica, the Bahamas, Bermuda and Saint Martinique delivered ammunition and ordnance to the Confederacy, sent from Europe, that some American historians now estimate added a full two years to the American Civil War. 2. Right now, virtually every available American warship available in the Caribbean Sea is concentrating either at Key West or Tampa, Florida for the convoy escort mission for V Corps to Santiago de Cuba, or is off Santiago de Cuba. Puerto Rico and large sections of Cuban coasts, including Havana, and at least another dozen Cuban ports are loosely or completely uncovered. 3. Note again that letter from the US Ambassador from Germany to the SecState, about that half million dollars' worth of Krupp ordnance and ammunition being sent to "Argentina"? 4. Who is Henry Urben? He had a typical USN career during the ACW. He did good service in Florida and then bounced around various commands. He was relieved from command of USS Baron deKalb (cause unknown), then took on the USS Sumter. That was the sole Confederate survivor of the naval Battle of Memphis. The Union navy refloated her, rebuilt her, and gave her to Erben to command. He ran her aground and wrecked her. Being a bit short of qualified officers, the USN tried Erben out again with the USS Tunxis. Erben was supposed to bring her into service but Erben's reports on how badly Alban C. Stimers, redesigned her (Caxco class monitor), after Dupont's bungled attacks on Charleston, South Carolina revealed the urgent need for more armor on this proposed class, meant she was "unacceptable". Erben's reports on the USS Tunxis, auto-sinker condition, contributed to Mister Stimers being fired and ruined. The USN tried again with USS Pinola. He was rather successful with this gun bark, so he was learning how to command ships. After the ACW, Erben served as Superintendent of the New York Maritime School, and other billets until he became commodore of the USN Mediterranean squadron. He retired from that post in 1894 at the mandatory age of 62 years age. In 1898, at the age of 66 years, he was recalled to the colors and given command of all those yachts above and told to guard the US east coast against Spanish raid fleets after Schley was sent south to Cuba with his Flying Squadron. He did "okay" by all accounts. I mean no Spanish raid squadrons showed up, but during Erben's short stint in command, army-navy cooperation was good, US coastal trade was convoy protected, and there was no internal political friction within his command. He sent and received ships as directed to and from other commands and he did not complain about things. He did his job. United States - Sectary of War
TAMPA, FLA., June 4, 1898. SECRETARY OF WAR, Washington, D. C. : Several of the volunteer regiments came here without uniforms; several came without arms, and some without blankets, tents, or camp equipage. The Thirty-second Michigan, which is among the best, came without arms. Gen. Guy V. Henry reports that five regiments under his command are not fit to go into the field. There are over 300 cars loaded with war material along the roads about Tampa. Stores are sent to the quartermaster at Tampa, but the invoices and bills of lading have not been received, so that the officers are obliged to break open seals and hunt from car to car to ascertain whether they contain clothing, grain, balloon material, horse equipments, ammunition, siege guns, commissary stores, etc. Every effort is being made to bring order out of confusion. I request that rigid orders be given requiring the shipping officers to forward in advance complete invoices and bills of lading, with descriptive marks of every package, and the number and description of car in which shipped. To illustrate the embarrassment caused by present conditions, 15 cars loaded with uniforms were sidetracked 25 miles away from Tampa; and remained there for weeks while the troops were suffering for clothing. Five thousand rifles, which were discovered yesterday, were needed by several regiments. Also, the different parts of the siege train and ammunition for same, which will be required immediately on landing, are scattered through hundreds of cars on the side-tracks of the railroads. Notwithstanding these difficulties, this expedition will soon be ready to sail. NELSON A. MILES, Major-General Commanding. 5. There is rather much more going on here. Marshall I. Ludington should have been relieved for cause, court-martialed and imprisoned for dereliction of duty. His department was responsible for the monumental screw-up that had V Corps supply trains jammed up from Tampa, Florida all the way to Atlanta, Georgia and Columbia, South Carolina. HE was responsible for allowing the siege train to be scattered from Tampa to Atlanta. He was responsible for the federal arsenals, both for stores and for manufacture to be caught flat-footed without orders for issue and production AFTER a full month of war. His bumbling department was responsible for lax administration and accounting practices which led to no record trail or proper bills of lading being issued from points of departure and shipment of supplies from the federal arsenals and depots. As with the Beef Scandal and that idiot, Charles Eagan (US Commissary General), the Dodge Commission under the leadership of that friend to humanity, spy, railroad builder, and good close personal William McKinley friend, Grenville Dodge, found no legal cause to proceed against this officer. Sheesh! United States - Sectary of WarWAR DEPARTMENT, Washington, June 4,1898. Major-General SHAFTER, Tampa, Fla. : Admiral Sampson cables to-day Merrimac in channel. Cervera, with 4 ships and 2 torpedo boats, in harbor safely bottled up. He urges immediate aid from your troops. He reports 7 intrenched in Juragnacito and Daiquiri; 5,000 at Morron de Cuba; 4,000 at other points; in bay, 500 with small Hotchkiss gun. Cervera sent flag of truce supposedly to exchange prisoners for Naval Constructor Hobson and 7 men, who, unharmed with him on Merrimac, were taken prisoners, in recognition of their bravery. We are sure Cervera is there. ALGER, Secretary of War. 6. Well, that science fiction (lie) is making the official rounds. By now Long knows the Merrimac operation was bungled. He does not tell Alger this fact, yet. The troop estimates are also grossly inaccurate. Linares has some 18,000 to 24,000 personnel scattered in the vicinity of Santiago Province. This is future based on how many of them surrender after Santiago de Cuba "transfers" to American / Cuban insurrecto "administration". Officially the place never "surrenders". See map for the province. Daiquiri, just down the road from Siboney and thence to Santiago city and port, then and now is the WORST possible place to stage a landing. Except that it has the only suitable pier.  Here is what awaits.  Siboney, Cuba is a little better... but we are used to "over the beach logistics" these days.  Wait until you see V Corps actually try to land in that mess.  |
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lordroel
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Post by lordroel on Jun 5, 2022 6:16:32 GMT
Day 46 of the Spanish–American War, June 5th 1898
United States
The U.S. Secret Service publicizes the existence of a Spanish spy ring in Canada.
United States - Adjutant-Generals Office
TAMPA BAY HOTEL, Tampa, Fla., June 4,1898. (Received June 5, 1898, 6.32 a. m.)
ADJUTANT-GENERAL,U. S. A., Washington, D.C.:
Replying to your dispatch that President wishes report of the situation, I have to say that everything possible is being done to get away, but dellrys occur that can not be prevented or foreseen. Siege guns have only been assembled late this evening. They will be loaded on cars to-night and sent to transports early in the morning and the loading rushed. Will begin putting men on to-morrow p. m. if possible, and be ready to start Monday night or Tuesday morning. The last of the troops from Chickamauga are expected to-night. Officers engaged in loading transports have worked night and day. The main cause for delay has been the fact that great quantities of stores have been rushed in promiscuously and with no facilities to handle or store them. The last 10 miles before reaching the wharf is a single track and very narrow place in which to work. The capacity of this place has been greatly exceeded. Could have put the troops on and rushed them off, but not properly equipped as I know the President wishes them. I will not delay a minute longer than is absolutely necessary to get ~y command in condition and start the earliest moment possible.
SHAFTER, Major-General.
United States - Adjutant-Generals Office
Major-General SHAFTER, Tampa, Fla.:
WASHINGTON, June 5, 1898.
Cipher message should read: "He reports 7,000 men intrenched in Juraguacito and Daiquiri."
CORBIN, Adjutant-General.
United States - Sectary of War
TAMPA, FLA., June5,1898-1t.t4p. m.
The SECRETARY OF WAR, Washington, D.C.:
This expedition has been delayed through no fault of anyone connected with it. It contains the principal part of the Army, which for intelligence and efficiency is not exceeded by any body of troops on earth. It contains 14 of the best-conditioned regiments of volunteers, the last of which arrived this morning. Yet these have never been under fire. Between 30 and 40 per cent are undrilled, and in one regiment over 300 men had never fired a gun. I request ample protection at all times for this command from the Navy. This enterprise is so important that I desire to go with this army corps, or to immediately organize another and go with it to join this, and capture position No.2. Now that the military is about to be used, I believe it should be continued with every energy, making the most judicious disposition of it to accomplish the desired result.
MILES, Major-General Commanding .Army,
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miletus12
Squadron vice admiral
To get yourself lost, just follow the signs.
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Post by miletus12 on Jun 5, 2022 10:26:09 GMT
United States
The U.S. Secret Service publicizes the existence of a Spanish spy ring in Canada. United States - Adjutant-Generals Office
TAMPA BAY HOTEL, Tampa, Fla., June 4,1898. (Received June 5, 1898, 6.32 a. m.) ADJUTANT-GENERAL,U. S. A., Washington, D.C.: Replying to your dispatch that President wishes report of the situation, I have to say that everything possible is being done to get away, but delays occur that can not be prevented or foreseen. Siege guns have only been assembled late this evening. They will be loaded on cars to-night and sent to transports early in the morning and the loading rushed. Will begin putting men on to-morrow p. m. if possible, and be ready to start Monday night or Tuesday morning. The last of the troops from Chickamauga are expected to-night. Officers engaged in loading transports have worked night and day. The main cause for delay has been the fact that great quantities of stores have been rushed in promiscuously and with no facilities to handle or store them. The last 10 miles before reaching the wharf is a single track and very narrow place in which to work. The capacity of this place has been greatly exceeded. Could have put the troops on and rushed them off, but not properly equipped as I know the President wishes them. I will not delay a minute longer than is absolutely necessary to get my command in condition and start the earliest moment possible. Imported from the "The Spanish American War, Lessons Learned the Hard Way, Lessons Ignored and Lessons Forgotten." Thread. Tampa Bay, Florida 1898. One can tell a LOT about what is right and wrong about an army by looking at it as it is at work.    The fat man wearing the stars is the commander of V Corps. The 'gentleman' wearing the white trousers is the Corps Medical Officer who will get about half the troops sick with Malaria and Yellow Fever. Leonard Wood, the ONLY one present who knew what he was doing, is the one in the rocking chair. He is suffering from malaria by the way and is obviously ill. More on Schafter...
That is V Corps trying to get ashore at Daiquiri, Cuba. Again.  One can easily see why Teddy Roosevelt was a mite bit military reform minded when he became President? To summarize, the incompetence demonstrated at Tampa, Florida was unnecessary. The wrong general had been selected. 'Pecos Bill' had never administered a massive movement or really any unit competently, either on land or water, above company level. He was barely qualified to lead a platoon in a latrine digging detail. He did not understand how to use a railroad, or how to manage a port embarkation. He could or would not understand "staffing" and "administration". He was no Winfield Scott at all, or not even qualified as a mere McClellan or a Halleck when it came to "clerking". People despise "clerking". Without such "clerking" in 1898, you get "THAT" (^^^). While General Ludington created the catastrophe originally, one could, as Schaffter should have, set up a receiving depot outside Tampa city and poyt proper and assigned designated troops and hired competent civilian freight contractors to take the supplies as freighted to Tampa, Florida and off-loaded, examined and repacked for sea transport, and in palletized cargo lots, with unit assignments and proper bills of lading created on the spot at the receiving depot. Once this necessary "clerking" had been accomplished, the supplies could have been staged forward in unit regimental lots, with the assigned troops who were to receive these supplies, to the port to arrive at their assigned transport TOGETHER. There were also these things in existence. (See Photo).  That is crane lift support for heavy loads. And there are these.  That is a Great Lakes TRAIN ferry from Ann Arbor, Michigan. Circa 1898. It has a stern ramp You roll a train onto it via the railed gangway stern ramp. You could walk horses onto it. OR men. And roll aboard supply wagons. And walk and roll them off onto a quay or a BEACH. This was not unknown to the Americans, especially the army who did that thing during the American Civil War at a place in Virginia called City Point, during the siege of Petersburg in 1865. It is the kind of thing the Americans did then as a matter of routine. But then one has to be a mere clerk like McClellan (1862 during the Peninsula Campaign), or a competent general like GRANT (1865). Alas, this is 'Pecos Bill' the 'Indian fighter' who leads this circus and he does not think about such things. He is too busy stuffing himself with bonbons and holding social events at the Tampa hotel we see in the photo above. United States - Adjutant-Generals OfficeMajor-General SHAFTER, Tampa, Fla.: WASHINGTON, June 5, 1898. Cipher message should read: "He reports 7,000 men intrenched in Juraguacito and Daiquiri." That is "clerking". The American NAVY was "clerking". United States - Sectary of WarTAMPA, FLA., June 5,1898-1t.t4p. m. The SECRETARY OF WAR, Washington, D.C.: This expedition has been delayed through no fault of anyone connected with it. It contains the principal part of the Army, which for intelligence and efficiency is not exceeded by any body of troops on earth. It contains 14 of the best-conditioned regiments of volunteers, the last of which arrived this morning. Yet these have never been under fire. Between 30 and 40 per cent are undrilled, and in one regiment over 300 men had never fired a gun.
I request ample protection at all times for this command from the Navy. This enterprise is so important that I desire to go with this army corps, or to immediately organize another and go with it to join this, and capture position No.2. Now that the military is about to be used, I believe it should be continued with every energy, making the most judicious disposition of it to accomplish the desired result. MILES, Major-General Commanding .Army, More science fiction. a. The Regulars have never exercised above brigade strength in a generation. b. The volunteers have no officers who have exercised in a field problem, though they are beginning to have West Pointers (Rough Riders for example) assigned to either advise or lead, as the 'unfit' are weeded out at Tampa. c. How can one praise the troops and at the same time state: and do so without contradiction or the immediate convening of a board of inquiry to find out what is going on? Aside from the misuse of the pronoun "from" instead of "by", there is a LOT of humorous truth in that statement. At times, V Corps would need protection from buffoons like Sampson, who will shortly shell them by mistake. But seriously, the V Corps actually needs protection from the idiots who currently mismanage it; which would be Schaffter and his staff. Translation: "Let me lead this expedition to success so I can run for President in 1900." McKinley will answer. "No." |
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lordroel
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Post by lordroel on Jun 6, 2022 6:36:43 GMT
Day 48 of the Spanish–American War, June 6th 1898
Cuba: Battle of Guantánamo Bay
The unprotected cruiser USS Marblehead, captained by Commander Bowman H. McCalla, and the auxiliary cruisers USS St. Louis and Yankee, commanded by Willard H. Brownson. Commander McCalla had been detached by Admiral Sampson from the blockading fleet at Santiago and ordered to reconnoiter Guantánamo Bay for a naval base. The captain of St. Louis was to cut the cables which had their terminus in a small station on Fisherman's Point, and connected Cuba with Haiti and the outside world.
United States - US Navy Department
NAVY DEPARTMENT,
Washington, June 6,1898.
SIR: This Department has received from Admiral Sampson, off Santiago de Cuba, a telegram, from which the following is an extract: "Very important we should know immediately whether the army expedition has sailed for Santiago, and its number of vessels." You are respectfully requested to give information on the above points as soon as practicable, in order that it may be communicated to the admiral. It is respectfully urged that the expedition should get off as soon as possible. The naval force is all ready to convoy it. Very respectfully,
CHARLES H. ALLEN, Acting Secretary. The Honorable the SECRETARY OF WAR.
United States - World Bureau
NEW YORK, June 6, 1898-7.,40 p. m.
C. S. ALBERT,
World Bureau, Washington, D. C.: Please convey this to the President, Secretary Alger, and Secretary Long, with the World's compliments. Cablegram just received from Gibraltar from a man specially detailed by the World to charter boat under British flag and go into Cadiz, says: "Fleet still there. All reports as to its departure for cruise or maneuvers untrue. Reason alleged among officials for its detention is, Government apprehends serious revolt in southern provinces at first decisive defeat of Spain. This fear also accounts for the concentration of the troops here, which still continues. Great scarcity of food prevails. Destitution among masses people daily intensifying." Also another message from Madrid dated Sunday, which says: .. Contradict rumors departure fleet Cadiz for Cuba. Minister marine and Camara assure Government it would be madness to send out fleet only composed of one battle ship, one protected cruiser, two small unarmored cruisers, and three destroyers. All of the vessels now require months to get ready. "In diplomatic circles openly stated no European government will attempt to do anything for Spain until she makes up her mind to allow Cuban independence as a basis of negotiations."
WORLD.
Hong Kong - Rear Admiral George Dewey, Commander, Asiatic Squadron, To Secretary Of The Navy John D. Long
TELEGRAM
Hong Kong, June 6, 1898.
Secretary of Navy,
Washington.
There are no guns of recent design available to mount upon shore, being without breech mechanism, mounts, or ammunition (1). There is no telegraphic communication Bolinao to Hong Kong. Have just received 4,500 tons of coal; I have sufficient coal for two months. Insurgents have been engaged actively within the province of Cavite during last week; they have won several small victories, taking prisoners about 1800 men, 50 officers, Spanish troops not native. I am preparing arsenal and Cavite for the occupation United States troops, and will have vessel off Cape Egano to meet United States transports (2).
DEWEY.
Footnote 1: Dewey was referring to guns captured from the Spanish.
Footnote 2: Cape Engaño is located off the northern tip of the island of Luzon.
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miletus12
Squadron vice admiral
To get yourself lost, just follow the signs.
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Post by miletus12 on Jun 6, 2022 10:35:09 GMT
Day 48 of the Spanish–American War, June 6th 1898Cuba: Battle of Guantánamo BayThe unprotected cruiser USS Marblehead, captained by Commander Bowman H. McCalla, and the auxiliary cruisers USS St. Louis and Yankee, commanded by Willard H. Brownson, (and) Commander McCalla had been detached by Admiral Sampson from the blockading fleet at Santiago and ordered to reconnoiter Guantánamo Bay for a naval base. The captain of St. Louis was to cut the cables which had their terminus in a small station on Fisherman's Point, and connected Cuba with Haiti and the outside world. This has just started this date and will be ongoing. See the problem?  The Insurrectos hold the west coast and the shore south of Camanera. The Spaniards are forted up in Camenara city, they hold the railroad and the city of Guantanamo 10 miles inland. They have a chain of blockhouses along the railroad and they control the wells, the only SAFE source of potable water in the region. There are plenty of Spaniards and 'guerillas' (What the Americans call 'loyalist' Cuban troops, about 5,000 of them.) to make it more than difficult for available Insurrectos and the few Americans combined to attempt anything. Spanish forts were located at Fisherman's Point (Camp McCalla on the map.) and at the knob hill that dominates the east shore shore of the Toro Key passage. Two Spanish gunboats are berthed at Camanera. A "tough" problem to crack indeed. United States - US Navy DepartmentNAVY DEPARTMENT, Washington, June 6,1898. SIR: This Department has received from Admiral Sampson, off Santiago de Cuba, a telegram, from which the following is an extract: "Very important we should know immediately whether the army expedition has sailed for Santiago, and its number of vessels." You are respectfully requested to give information on the above points as soon as practicable, in order that it may be communicated to the admiral. It is respectfully urged that the expedition should get off as soon as possible. The naval force is all ready to convoy it. Very respectfully, CHARLES H. ALLEN, Acting Secretary. The Honorable the SECRETARY OF WAR. One can see that Admiral Sampson is a bit worried? He should be. Cervera is trying everything he can to fuel up and get out of the trap, before the Americans get organized. United States - World BureauNEW YORK, June 6, 1898-7.,40 p. m. C. S. ALBERT, World Bureau, Washington, D. C.: Please convey this to the President, Secretary Alger, and Secretary Long, with the World's compliments. Cablegram just received from Gibraltar from a man specially detailed by the World to charter boat under British flag and go into Cadiz, says: "Fleet still there. All reports as to its departure for cruise or maneuvers untrue. Reason alleged among officials for its detention is, Government apprehends serious revolt in southern provinces at first decisive defeat of Spain. This fear also accounts for the concentration of the troops here, which still continues. Great scarcity of food prevails. Destitution among masses people daily intensifying." Also another message from Madrid dated Sunday, which says: .. Contradict rumors departure fleet Cadiz for Cuba. Minister marine and Camara assure Government it would be madness to send out fleet only composed of one battle ship, one protected cruiser, two small unarmored cruisers, and three destroyers. All of the vessels now require months to get ready. "In diplomatic circles openly stated no European government will attempt to do anything for Spain until she makes up her mind to allow Cuban independence as a basis of negotiations." WORLD. Camara is still parked, waiting for Madrid to make up their collective minds whether to attempt a rescue of the Philippines Archipelago or raid the US east coast. ( What the Americans would not give for this.) Hong Kong - Rear Admiral George Dewey, Commander, Asiatic Squadron, To Secretary Of The Navy John D. LongTELEGRAM Hong Kong, June 6, 1898. Secretary of Navy, Washington. There are no guns of recent design available to mount upon shore, being without breech mechanism, mounts, or ammunition (1). There is no telegraphic communication Bolinao to Hong Kong. Have just received 4,500 tons of coal; I have sufficient coal for two months. Insurgents have been engaged actively within the province of Cavite during last week; they have won several small victories, taking prisoners about 1800 men, 50 officers, Spanish troops not native. I am preparing arsenal and Cavite for the occupation United States troops, and will have vessel off Cape Egano to meet United States transports (2). DEWEY. Footnote 1: Dewey was referring to guns captured from the Spanish. Footnote 2: Cape Engaño is located off the northern tip of the island of Luzon.  1. The Spaniards made off with the breech blocks and dumped them in Manila Bay. 2. It would take time to build pivot carriages for the 6.5 and 4.7 inch guns that were the only recoverable and usable guns available. There were resources at Cavite for the purpose and the Filipinos knew how, but then the Spanish had made off with the breech blocks and those would have to be found for the guns. 3. Dewey forgot about the 4.7 inch guns and Bustamente mines strewn to rot across the beach of Grande Isle at Subic Bay. The Spaniards had not sabotaged those yet. 4. Cape Engano, which will be the battlespace and name given to the battle between Admiral Ozawa's decoy force and the incompetent Marc Mitscher's rumped down TF 38. of 24 October 1944 is a bit of comedy. Mitscher will routinely bungle the sink-ex as he does almost everything else he touches in his fleet mismanagement, a trait he shares with Halsey, but that is not what is 'ironic'. Ozawa was there, as bait, to lure Halsey's Third Fleet north away from the landings at Leyte Gulf to give Kurita's and Nishimura's fleets a chance to get at MacArthur's transports and wipe them out. "Engano" is the Spanish word for "deceit". It is a tricky eddy current off the point that wrecks unwary ships. |
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lordroel
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Post by lordroel on Jun 7, 2022 2:48:01 GMT
Day 49 of the Spanish–American War, June 7th 1898
Cuba: Battle of Guantánamo Bay
USS Marblehead, USS St. Louis and USS Yankee enter Guantánamo Bay at dawn, Spanish soldiers clustered about the blockhouse on the hill known today as McCalla Hill. The blockhouse and the village were speedily cleared by fire from USS Marblehead's six-pounder gun, along with a single 5 in (130 mm) shell. The Spanish gunboats Alvarado and Sandoval came down the channel from Caimanera to meet the attack but retired precipitately on discovering the caliber of guns against them. The one cannon of the fort on Cayo del Toro opened fire on USS Marblehead without effect until it was silenced.
The telegraph cables leading east to Cap-Haïtien, west to Santiago, and the small cable in the bay connecting Caimanera and Guantánamo City with Cap-Haïtien were all successfully cut, and from 7 June to 5 July the town of Guantánamo had no communication with the outside world.
United States - Sectary of War
TAMPA, FLA., June 7, 1898-9 p. m.
SECRETARY OF WAR, Washington, D. C. :
I will sail to-morrow morning. Steam can not be got up earlier. There is loaded to-night 1 division of infantry, 9 regiments; 16 companies of dismounted cavalry, 4 light batteries, 2 siege batteries artillery, 2 companies of engineers, and the troops from Mobile. I will try and get on the rest of the cavalry and another division of regular infantry by morning. I will sail then with whatever I have on board.
SHAFTER, Major-General.
United States - Adjutant-Generals Office
TAMPA, FLA., June 7,1898-9.5£ p. m.
ADJUTANT-GENERAL, U. S. A., Washington, D. C.:
The following organizations have arrived to-day by rail from Mobile: The Fifth Cavalry and Nineteenth Infantry. Troops have also arrived from Jefferson Darracks, Mo. The Eleventh Infantry is expected to-night. Embarkation of troops progressed all night last night and all day to-day, and will continue to-night. It is slow work, as wagons can not be driven within one-half mile of the transports, and everything has. to go on a single-track road. Will wire in the morning how we are progressing. It has been very satisfactory to-day. Troops are loaded as fast as the railroad can put them at the dock.
SHAFTER, Major-General, United States Volunteers, Commanding.
United States - Assistant Secretary Of The Navy Charles H. Allen To Secretary Of War Russell Alger
June 7, 1898.
Sir:
I have the honor to transmit, herewith, the following copy of a telegram, dated the 6th instant, received from the United States Consul at San Juan, Porto Rico (now at St. Thomas, W. I.):
“If our Government intends to invade Porto Rico, I consider it important not to underrated Spanish strength. Fortifications San Juan strengthened since last bombardment. Mines have been placed outside, cannons along shore at all sea ports. Her army consists of 5000 regulars, 7000 colonial; besides these, 16,000 volunteers are reported, likely to increase. We cannot now risk no less than 25,000 to take island, without hard fighting
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