The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-04-30
WHEELER rs A WARRIOR
Fighting Joe Sure TO Be a
Major General.
LEES RANK TO Be LOVER.
Virginian TO Be Given Only a Brig
adler Generalship.
POLITICS PLAYING A PART.
Some Democrats Jealous Of Lees
Prominence.

Washington, April cit seems to be
settled that Gen. Joe Wheeler is to re-
coive a commission as major general of the
volunteers, but contrary TO popular ex-
recitation, it is not certain that Gen. Fitz-
hugh Lee will be one of those chosen to
the highest rank. In fact it comes from
4 a source very close to the. President that
Gen. Lee will be rendered only the COM
mand of a brigade.
Il Because of the fact that Gen. Lee has,
n through his magnificent service as consul
general at Havana, been very much in the
public eye for the past year or more, it has
i been generally expected that he too would
be made a major general, but the pressure
upon the President for these appointments
is so great that it now looks as If only one
Southern man will be chosen and that Gen.
Wheeler will be that man.
The choice of Gen. Wheeler over Gen.
Lee is based solely, SO those close to the
President declare, upon Gen. Wheeler's SUI
periority as a cavalry commander over
probably any other man who now survives
the civil war.
Another famous cavalry leader who,
from all indications. is to be given a ma
i jor generalship is Gen. James H. Wilson
of Delaware, who, during the. war, was at
the head of the command known as Will
sons Raiders.
There is no tendency to belittle or
minimize Gen. Lees ability, but he is not
considered by military authorities as in
the same class with Gen. Wheeler and
Gen. Wilson. Every general of the North
ern. army; who had dealings with Gen.
Wheeler in the sixties has testified to
his magnificent ability. It is known that
Gen. Miles, the comlnander-in-chiefo of the
army, has urged upon the President the
appointment of Gen. Wheeler, and so have
all the others of his military advisors.
In addition to these strong recommended
tons and endorsements of his military
4 ability, which come from Gen. Sherman
4 and Gen. Grant and other great leaders,
n now dead Gen. Wheeler has the advan-
tage of the strength personal friendship of
4 the President, with whom he served in
Congress.
A Il
general he is sure. to be given a highly
important command. He was at the war
department to-day and also spent some
time at the state department, closing up
home matters pertaining to the Havana
consultation.
When seen he said with emphasis that
he had no intimation as 10 when he would
return to Cuba, or in what capacity He
s. fad that as soon as he finished some
business which brought him back to
" ashington he would return again to
z Richmond to be with his family.
Gen. Lee stated that he considered the
idea of securing as many yellow fever i'm
munes as possible for the army that is to
first go to Cuba an excellent one. He Re
hevesp that several thousand men can be
enlisted in those. portions of the South
which have had yellow fever within the
pas few years and that these men would
be better able to Withstand Cubas sum-
mer climate than others, though he is not
inclined to consider the danger from this
source as great as it is regarded in some
quarters.
Politics is said to be at the bottom of
The effort to deprive Gen. Lee of a major
- A'll dlSilip. 0en. Lee dSSultu tHC Nloih-
M News correspondent to-day that the
resident has never spoken to him on the
subject of an army commission and he
Knows nothing about the probabilities of
a selection for a command beyond what
r. has seen stated in the newspapers. He
totally ignorant of any public influence
e'ing at work for or against him, and he
-elines to discuss the recent rumors on
tae subject which were numerous around
t4e war department and the White House
today.
Many Democratic politicians appear to
% Jealous of the prominence Gen. Lee has
b7en given by reason of his able and pa
CIouc performances in connection with
I'e Cuban question. Senator Martin of
fsinia fears he may have considerable
u hculty in retaining his seat in the Sen
II the wave Of popularity sweeps any
"aher in the old dominion.
J'her Southern leaders are opposing Gen.
Lee further elevation because of his
una money views. The rampant advo-
0tles OF free silver are disposed TO weigh
~ men and measures in silver scales Gen.
VIII have to contend against the pre-
I'lc &c which his financial views has en-
endered. His opponents are disposed to
''eede him one of the brigadier general
lps at the head Of the Virginia volun-